The Buckeye, September/October 2017

September / October 2017

Vol. 28, Issue 5

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

INSIDE: 2018 ANNUALS: BART HAYES' TOP PICKS THE SIGHTS—AND SOUNDS—OF RETAIL MARTY GRUNDER'S BUSINESS BUZZ

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September/October 2017 Vol. 28, Issue 5

The Buckeye is published six times per year by The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, OH 43081 614.899.1195 | www.onla.org

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year alana@onla.org OFFICERS Josh Posey, President Buckeye Resources, Inc. Steve Maddox, Jr., Immediate Past President Bower & Branch Andy Doesburg, President-Elect Thornton Landscape DIRECTORS James Beardslee Beardslee Nursery Lenny Garrard Bobcat Enterprises Columbus Tom Hilgeman Bower & Branch Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College Ellen Gallucci Purcell Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd. STAFF Ken Fisher, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Keith Manbeck, Sales Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Alana Settle, Marketing & Communications Mary Ann Shrum, Education Tracie Zody, MGIX 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.

16

Jim Chatfield shares why he's Savoring the Summer of '17

CONTENTS

3 Executive Director's Message 5 President's Perspective 6 Branches of Government 13 Members Spotlight 15 Employee Safety: Preventing Back Injury 16 Landscape Awards Program Application

FEATURE STORIES

10 18 24 28 30

Business Buzz 2018 Preview: Must Have Annuals Retail Roundtable: Customer Entertainment Landscape Design: Fire Pits Savoring the Summer of '17

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 2 The Buckeye

13 New Members • 35 Service Providers • 36 Calendar of Events • 37 Classifieds, Advertising Index onla.org

What We Do Together Matters Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director

What we do together matters when it comes to recruiting and developing future workers for the nursery, landscape, and horticulture industry. Without a well-trained workforce, our businesses and our industry won’t reach their full potential. Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association and our consortium of education and industry partners are focused on investing in workforce development programs to ensure an adequate labor pool for the future. As ONLA members, your support of the Ohio High School Landscape Olympics this fall and the educational programs at MGIX in January can help ensure our success.

designed by industry professionals to build students' landscaping skills in a fun team environment. The event includes ten indoor and outdoor competitions, a career exploration fair, kick-off party, and awards ceremony.

As I travel the region visiting with nursery growers and landscape companies, the number one concern continues to be availability of labor. In early August, we enjoyed a beautiful day at the NGLCO Field Day and conversations were upbeat about the current season with optimism for next year. But labor is the key. Even if a grower has adequate labor, they are concerned about the landscapers who don’t. We’re all in this together.

I would encourage you to join us Thursday, November 2 & Friday, November 3, at the OSU ATI Campus, Wooster, OH to cheer these students on and encourage them to become part of the industry.

Those who utilize the seasonal worker visa programs— H-2A, H-2B—are finding it more difficult to get workers and the pool is aging. The average age of these workers is 40, which is much higher than it used to be. The “young people” handling the physical labor of growing plants are getting older. The average seasonal worker employee has 14 years’ experience in the field, and seven with the same employer.

Where will the future workers, managers, and owners of nursery and landscape businesses come from? We don’t intend to leave that up to chance.

Last year, ONLA started The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO). This unique and important program tests students' skills through hands-on, competitive events onla.org

Ohio High School Landscape Olympics broadens the high school education experience and introduces students to the many opportunities offered by a career in the green industry. Last year, this two-day event welcomed more than 150 students and 17 schools. This year, it is expanding to 20 Ohio High Schools and will include over 200 students.

You can also support this program by becoming a sponsor. Ohio High School Landscape Olympics would not be possible without the generous support of green industry businesses and associations. Various sponsorship opportunities are available which allow you and your company to connect with your future workforce and build brand awareness. You can download a Sponsor Packet at ONLA.org or call 614.899.1195 for more information.

When it comes to workforce development, what we do together matters. Your continued membership and participation in ONLA events will encourage others to join. I appreciate your continued support of ONLA. Help us get the word out: the industry benefits from a growing ONLA membership.

Because “what we do together matters”.

Ken Fisher can be contacted at ken@onla.org September/October 2017

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President's Perspective Josh Posey, 2017 ONLA President

As Don Henley once wrote, “I wallowed in the Springtime now I’m welcoming the Fall.” Spring 2017 has come and gone. In talking with many of you over the past several weeks, this past spring definitely has mixed reviews. Here in the Buckeye State we got off to a very slow start with having the two coldest days of the winter in March, and for a lot of us, it sure seemed like we needed boats, not trucks, due to all the rain. In a seasonal industry, with most of us trying to do a years’ worth of business in four or five months, this type of weather can cause havoc with our businesses. One of the things I have learned in 15 years in this industry is that we are all very resilient in keeping the ship afloat, no pun intended. As the dog days of summer start to wind down, all businesses of the green industry, whether it be manufacturing, growing, landscape, or retail, I think it’s safe to say we are all looking forward to a cool, dry fall!

ONLA has several events coming up, so please add these dates to your calendar! Our partners at AmericanHort will be hosting Impact Washington on September 11–13 in our nation’s capital. It has been several years since the last event in Washington and it has already sold out! Many thanks to all of you who have signed up to attend. I would also like to thank Ken Fisher, Craig Regelbrugge, and the rest of the AmericanHort staff for organizing this event. As I have stated before, participation in advocacy on the national, state, and local level is the most important thing we can all do for the future of the green industry.

On Friday, September 22, ONLA will host a golf outing at Bent Tree Golf Club in Sunbury, OH. This outing benefits the second annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO) which will be held on November 2 and 3 at the Ohio State University ATI in Wooster, Ohio. After the success of last year’s competition, we are excited to welcome new schools and students to participate in this year’s event.

OHLO has been a great way to expose the next generation of potential green industry workers to all the benefits we

onla.org

as an industry have to offer. If you can make time on November 2 or 3, I would really encourage you to come to Wooster to see what these young folks have accomplished.

ONLA has sponsorship opportunities available for this great event. If you are interested, or want to help in any way, please contact the ONLA office for details.

On Monday, September 25, there will be a PAC event at my house in Worthington. The following day, ONLA will host its annual Committee meetings. Thanks to all of you who are taking time out of your busy schedule to serve and attend these important meetings. If you would like to serve on a Committee, please contact me or the ONLA staff.

The President’s article would not be complete without mentioning that MGIX 2018 is just around the corner. Please plan to exhibit, attend first-class education classes, and walk the show. This Midwest Show is a fantastic opportunity to get 2018 started off in a great way. Please check out www.mgix18.com or contact the ONLA office for more information. See you there!

In any business or industry, you have strength in numbers.

Please make an effort to attend these upcoming events.

Getting involved is a great way to give back, and more importantly, be informed! As fast as things change, your judgement is no better than your knowledge. Believe me, participating in these events is very rewarding. It’s good for your professional development, good for your business, and good for the green industry. ONLA needs your questions, ideas, and knowledge as we move into the future.

Thank you for taking the time to read your association's magazine. I hope everyone has a prosperous fall and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Until Next Time...

Josh Posey can be contacted at josh@buckeyeresources.com

September/October 2017

5

Branches of Government Belinda Jones, Capitol Consulting Group, Inc.

2018 GUBERNATORIAL RACE As the summer has flown by, and it is now "back to school", like it or not 2018 will be here before we know it. Next year will be a big election year with all statewide offices up for grabs. In a subsequent article, we will feature candidates running for all statewide offices. Today, we start with the biggie: Governor of Ohio. Governor John Kasich, as you may know, is term limited, thus, a number of prominent candidates have lined up to succeed him.

On the Republican side, four high profile candidates have emerged—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, and Congressman Jim Renacci. DeWine was the last to enter the race, but has the benefit of high name recognition—in addition to his term as Attorney General, he has served as a member of Congress, Lieutenant Governor, and US Senator during his long career. While DeWine is the apparent frontrunner, Secretary Husted is also posting strong fundraising numbers. Husted has served as Ohio’s elections chief for the past eight years and also served as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and State Senator. Kasich’s Lieutenant Governor, Mary Taylor, is also seeking higher office but she got a late start and is forced to distance herself in the primary from the currently unpopular (at least with the Tea Party) incumbent Kasich.

Rounding out the Republican field is Congressman Jim Renacci, who just began his third term in the US House of Representatives. Renacci has already branded himself as the most “pro-Trump” candidate in the field and was an outspoken Trump supporter during the 2016 election.

Like Trump, Renacci is relatively new to politics but has been a successful businessman. Trump allies, including former campaign chief Cory Lewandowski, have already taken steps to support Renacci’s gubernatorial bid. Trump’s 6 The Buckeye

former Ohio Campaign Chairman, Bob Paduchik, is now an RNC co-chair and Trump has already shown an interest in Ohio politics by supporting Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken’s bid to oust former ORP Chairman Matt Borges. Renacci will certainly be Trump’s choice for Governor of a key swing state.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Ohio are eager for a win, though past electoral defeats have left the party without a dominant bench of candidates to consider and little money in the coffers. Many Democratic insiders are hoping that former Ohio Attorney General and current Federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau head Richard Cordray will enter the race. Mr. Cordray has not commented on the 2018 election, but his surrogates continue to fuel speculation that he will enter the race. Cordray heads a federal agency that is unpopular with Congressional Republicans and many Trump Administration allies have been lobbying the President to sack him.

In addition to the Cordray speculation, the Democratic side of the Governor’s Race features candidates with regional support but no significant statewide profile.

Many observers felt that former Congresswoman Betty Sutton would emerge as the frontrunner should CFPB head Richard Cordray stay out of the race. However, Congresswoman Sutton posted less than stellar fundraising numbers and has not garnered much media attention thus far in the race. Former State Representative Connie Pillich, who unsuccessfully challenged Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel in 2014, has taken an early fundraising lead but does not have significant name recognition outside of southwest Ohio. Also in the mix is Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, who is running unopposed for a second term this year; Whaley seems to garner a lot support from Ohio Democratic Party leadership. onla.org

The final candidate in the Democratic primary for Ohio Governor is former Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman). Schiavoni presides over a dramatically diminished Senate Democratic Caucus and hails from a corner of Ohio that typically supports Democratic candidates. However, Schiavoni has shown an ability to garner support and popularity in the Mahoning Valley, which flipped heavily for Trump in 2016 (Obama handily carried this region in 2008 and 2012).

There still is an opportunity for Richard Cordray to enter the race. Should Trump fire him or Congressional Republicans dismantle the CFPB, Cordray might get a boost among Democratic voters who generally support CFPB. Fearing this, at least one anti-CFPB organization has already started running ads against Cordray. Absent Cordray, it’s a wide open race at this point.

Candidates have until February 2018 to file paperwork to run, meaning there is a chance that some candidates could enter or leave the race. Republicans are arguably victims of their own success and must now decide between four high-profile candidates. It seems like President Trump and his allies will attempt to influence the race in an effort to install a friendlier Governor in Ohio. Democrats hope to take advantage of Trump’s increasing unpopularity and potential GOP infighting, but each candidate will face a challenge in consolidating support and galvanizing voter awareness and energy. Ohio is a key swing state and who resides in the Governor’s residence will be an important factor in the 2020 Presidential election. Both parties have a vested interest in the Ohio Governor’s race.

The Ohio Revised Code The Ohio Revised Code (ORC) is the law of Ohio (also referred to as the statute). Changes made to the ORC must be introduced in bill form in either the House or the Senate. Once introduced, the bill must go through the committee process in both chambers. Sometimes we are playing "offense" (where the bill is our idea) as was the case with legislation a few years ago that gave ODA the exclusive authority to regulate invasive plant species.

Sometimes, we are playing "defense" (where someone else introduces a bill that we don't like) as has been the case off and on over the last 10 or so years we have weighed in on bills like the home improvement contractor bill. During the House and Senate committee process, the ONLA board and legislative committee needs YOU to weigh-in with letters, phone calls, even testimony in committee.

We work hard to monitor all bills that are introduced and, under direction from the ONLA Board, we work hard to influence legislation in ways that help and not hurt the industry. In sum, we call changes to the ORC “enabling legislation”, meaning the ORC changes enable state agencies to promulgate rules.

BACK TO THE BASICS: ORC AND OAC Sometimes there is value in returning to our roots to make sure we refamiliarize ourselves with the "basics". The dog days of summer are the perfect time to get a doggone good reminder of how the laws are made in Ohio!

The Ohio Administrative Code Once an agency is enabled or empowered via statutory changes to the ORC, agencies can add some meat to the statutory bones by creating and passing rules that add specificity to the law. Restated, the ORC gives rulemaking authority to the agencies. The rulemaking authority itself is governed by Chapter 119 of the ORC. This chapter was passed to ensure that the public has an opportunity for input in the rule making process. In addition to the 119 hearing process, as soon as Governor Kasich was elected, under the leadership of Lt. Gov., Mary Taylor, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill that added an extra "smell test" to the rulemaking process: the Common Sense Initiative (CSI). Under the CSI, the statutorily created the Small Business Advisory Council that reviews all

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES

Mike DeWine

Ohio Attorney General, US Senate, Lieutenant Governor

Connie Pillich

State Representative, Candidate for State Treasurer (2014)

Jon Husted

Ohio Secretary of State, Speaker of Ohio House, Ohio Senate

Joe Schiavoni

Former Ohio Senate Minority Leader

Jim Renacci

US House of Representatives, Mayor of Wadsworth

Betty Sutton

US House of Representatives, State Representative

Mary Taylor

Lieutenant Governor, Auditor of State, State Representative

Nan Whaley

Mayor of Dayton, Dayton City Commission

onla.org

September/October 2017

7

changes to administrative rules. The Council is comprised of appointees from the Gov's office, the House, and the Senate, and is largely made up of small business owners who want to make sure that agencies are not overstepping their boundaries. Now, thanks to Lt. Gov. Taylor and others, agency rules first go through the CSI process, then the Chapter 119 hearing process which concludes with an approval by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).

A Recent Example: Ohio Invasive Plant rules As an example of how this works, we stated earlier that ONLA worked with Senator Manning on an ORC change which gave statutory authority to the ODA to govern invasive plant species. Recently, ODA has been promulgating rules for invasive plant species. ONLA leadership has been weighing in on the CSI process for these rules. We have submitted comments and have been relatively pleased with the response we have gotten from ODA and CSI. One thing we wanted to ensure is that we have a chance to have input on any future plants being considered for the invasive plant list. In sum, there are at least four times during which we will be able to influence the process of

adding plants to the list: 1) Adding plants to the list will start with the invasive plant advisory council created in the rule. We have a seat on this council.

2) The addition of any new plants as recommended by the council would still have to go through the CSI and JCARR processes. CSI requires the ODA to do stakeholder outreach before filing, so, we can weigh in at this juncture as well.

3) Once filed with CSI, we have the ability to provide comments (evidenced by what we did last month).

4) After CSI gives the thumbs up, we have the ability to provide comments during the JCARR process which includes both a public comment period, a public hearing, and a final JCARR hearing.

In closing, the ONLA has worked with the ODA and CSI to make sure that the invasive plant statute and rules cannot "go rogue". Having said that, in the future, we will be better served by comments from you! Want more information?

Call me at: 614-224-3855! B Belinda Jones can be contacted at bjones@capitol-consulting.net

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September 25, 2017 5:30–7:30 pm • 238 Highgate Ave., Worthington, OH 43085 Visit with friends, meet colleagues from across the state, and learn more about the legislation that is affecting Ohio’s green industry. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served. $69 per person, or $99 per couple RSVP by September 20, 2017. Visit www.onla.org or call 614.899.1195

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Business Buzz

By Marty Grunder

The other day, I came across a short interview in The New York Times with John Zimmer, the president of Lyft, the ride-hailing service and Uber competitor. In five years’ time, Zimmer has grown his company from 30 people to some 1,700 today, and the interviewer wanted to know how he scaled himself as a leader.

“The most important thing I’ve found is to know your weaknesses and hire people better than you,” he said. “That takes a certain amount of confidence.”

Now, I am never going to oversee a team as large as Zimmer’s, but as a reformed micro-manager myself, his observation hit close to home. I started my landscaping business some 34 years ago when I was just a teenager who needed to make money for college. I found a used lawn-mower at a garage sale for $25 and got to work, and today my former one-man company employs a team of 60. Since I was 14 years old, I have never not been the boss at work (at home it’s a different story; there I’m lucky if I get a seat on the couch!).

When I was first starting out, and for a long, long time after, I thought the only way to get something done right was to do it myself. I had capable, dedicated people working for me, and yet I’d check and recheck their work and then become frustrated and lose my cool if they didn’t do their jobs the way I would. I would insist on having the final say on every decision, no matter if it was significant or small. I thought I was the only one who could close a sale.

And then somewhere along the way I realized this simply wasn’t sustainable—there was no way I could scale my business if every last aspect of it depended solely on me. More important, I realized this was no way to lead a team and create a workplace people actually wanted to come to every day. You know what you get when you micro-manage your company? You get a team who, no matter how talented, will never reach its potential. You make them afraid to fail in any way and, in turn, afraid to innovate. They learn to keep their opinions to themselves, to fear you, to tell you only 10 The Buckeye

what they think you want to hear. They feel no ownership in their work—how could they—and no pride.

So, slowly but surely, I started to loosen the reins. I hired a VP steeped in finance whose fiscal cautiousness counterbalances my more generous penchant for risk. I took several steps back and let the expert landscape designers and crews, whom I’d taken such care in finding, actually do their jobs.

I listened to my office manager, whose organizational skills far surpass mine, and adapted the systems she wanted to put in place. I stopped inserting myself into every hiring decision and listened to my team about who was a better fit. I discovered I wasn’t the only one who could close a sale.

Is my company perfect now? No, not by a long shot—and neither am I. Balls occasionally get dropped, mistakes are made. Someone suggests a new way of doing things, we try it, and we learn the old way was better. Someone else makes a bad hire and we have to let them go.

“There’s a difference between saying you’re empowering someone and really empowering them,” Zimmer says in the interview. “Sometimes you have to just let people grow and make mistakes on their own.”

And if your people are growing, then your company—and, in time, your profits—will, too.

If you want to see how this approach works firsthand at Grunder Landscaping Co., join me in Dayton this fall where I’ll be leading two field trips to our headquarters. You can learn more at https://martygrunder.com. Hope to see you there! B - Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co. marty.grunder@grunderlandscaping.com Hear more from Marty at Midwest Green Industry Experience this January. Check www.mgix18.com in October for a full schedule of speakers. onla.org

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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. Please submit comments, within three weeks of receiving this issue of The Buckeye, to info@onla.org, or call 614.899.1195.

Chavez Construction LLC Suzi Schmegner-Jezek 35500 Aurora Rd Solon, Ohio 44139 Community Green Group Tony Newport 1383 State Route 28 Loveland, Ohio 45140 Corsaro Landscaping and Design Inc Roger Corsaro P.O. Box 24148 Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124 Evans Landscaping Douglas Evans 4229 Rondbottom Rd Cincinnati, OH 45244 Follow the River Designs, LLC Jennifer Ponchak 4330 E Hooppole Ridge Rd McConnelsville, Ohio 43756 Jackson's Nursery, Inc. Carl and Rhonda Jackson 7183 E County Rd 400 N Greensburg, IN 47240 Planted Earth, LLC. Kelly Adleta 801 S. Cooper Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45215

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Member Spotlight An interview with Mark Reiner, Oakland Nursery

Can you provide a bit of history on Oakland Nursery?

Oakland Nursery was founded in 1940 by my grandfather, Gustav Reiner. He was a German immigrant who came over in the 1930s before WWII. The business was founded primarily as a landscaping operation with the retail garden center coming a few years later. We operated our original large single retail location and landscaping business in Northeast Columbus on Oakland Park Avenue until 1990 when a second location in Delaware, OH opened. A third location in Dublin, OH opened in 2005 and our newest store in New Albany in 2011. Out of our main location, we also operate a full service residential and commercial landscape division as well as irrigation and streetscapes/interiorscapes divisions.

Our sister company, Acorn Farms, was founded by my father Paul in 1976 and currently operates approximately 1,000 acres of field, container, perennial, and annual production. Acorn Farms operates a large re-wholesale yard north of Columbus in addition to shipping truckloads of nursery stock from Iowa to Maine. Between Acorn and Oakland, we employed approximately 450 part time/fulltime/seasonal people at peak season in 2017.

What do you do at Oakland?

My current role at Oakland is Vice President. With respect to day to day operations, I am primarily involved with the retail side of the business. I handle the majority of the central buying of woody plant material for the four locations as well as Christmas trees/greenery and fall décor items. I’m also heavily involved in our marketing efforts and HR plans with respect to health insurance and employee benefits.

Our newest location in New Albany was kind of my baby so I spend a great deal of time there in the middle of the spring. However, as anyone in this business understands, especially during the middle of season, it is all hands on deck. I might be unloading trucks, running a register, or watering in the garden center. It is a family business, so you do what you have to do to make things run as smoothly as possible. onla.org

Tell us about how you got involved in this industry and what drew you to it, other than already being a part of the family.

Growing up, I worked in the garden center on Oakland Park so I spent a good deal of my childhood around the business.

However, I was never really sure that it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I got a Finance degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 2002 and went to work on Wall Street as a trader for seven years. That was an amazing time in my life. I worked hard, played harder, lived in an amazing city during my 20s, and really got to learn a lot about myself and what I found to be important. I met my wife Ashley in college, but we didn’t date until four years later and ended up living together in Manhattan for two years. We were close to getting married and wanted to have kids, and that career, pace, and location wasn’t conducive those plans. I wanted to work in an environment and industry that made a difference in people’s lives, and it helped that I had a successful family business to steer me in the right direction.

What do you like best about working in this industry? What do you like the least?

My favorite thing about this industry is the challenge and excitement that comes with the start of each new season, especially the spring. It can become taxing and exhausting by the middle of June, but I really enjoy the feeling and buzz in the garden center when things are humming. It might go back to my trading background, but I feel like I work well in a chaotic environment when there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. Along those same lines, my least favorite part of the business is the 7 day/ 80 hour weeks that it takes to make those seasons successful. I have young children, so the work/home balance in April through June is really difficult and it takes a lot of understanding from a lot of people.

September/October 2017

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What are you looking forward to the most at Midwest Green Industry Experience 2018?

My favorite part about MGIX is the feeling in the hall that another year is around the corner and everyone is getting together with a sense of optimism for the upcoming year.

Oakland always sends dozens of employees to ONLA's annual conference We obviously find continuing education very important.

Whether it is MGIX, Cultivate and other conferences, or sending employees to shows, garden center tours, or diagnostic walkabouts, we encourage our staff to get out and get involved. These opportunities allow your staff to meet new people, share, and collaborate with their peers, and bring things back that will most likely benefit the business in the long term. Our industry, like most, is constantly evolving and continuing education is the most effective way of keeping ahead of the curve in all areas.

What is it like working for a family business?

I don’t think the challenges facing family businesses are that unique or anything that already hasn’t been covered, but a successful family business that spans multiple generations is obviously very rare. It takes a group of people that are all willing to drop their egos and differences and buy in completely to the business. All parties involved must be willing to sacrifice equally and work as hard as needed to make sure the business is prospering. DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

And lastly, for fun, what is something that might be surprising for our readers to know about you?

I have four children. Ella, 7, Maggie, 6, and two-year-old twin boys Benjamin and Lucas. They are a handful but so much fun! B Mark Reiner can be contacted at mreiner@oaklandnursery.com

Do you have news to share?

ONLA member companies are encouraged to submit industry-related news and upcoming events.

Submissions may appear in the News section of ONLA's website, in the Calendar of Events, and may be included in additional print or digital communications. Published at ONLA's discretion.

Press releases and event information can be emailed to alana@onla.org

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14 The Buckeye

onla.org

Employee Safety

Back Injury Prevention By: Gary Hanson, American Safety & Health

Each year, thousands of employees suffer a serious back injury on the job. It is estimated that one of four individuals will suffer a serious back injury during their lifetime. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation spends up to 40% of their annual budget on back injuries.

Back injuries can completely alter an individual’s life style.

Physicians want to avoid surgery if possible, so in most cases they will prescribe conservative medical care first. This consists of pain medication, muscle relaxants, mild exercise, physical therapy, and a lot of rest. Physicians hope that the back can heal to a degree that their patient can return to a more normal lifestyle.

Unfortunately, in many cases, surgery intervention is eventually required. This is a very delicate operation. In fact, sometimes the surgery can result in the condition becoming worse.

ner when they worked on the floor or on the crew. This unsafe practice becomes automatic. Employees do it without thinking about the long-term damage to their discs that this may be causing.

Therefore, back injury prevention needs to be a key employee safety training topic. All new employees need to be trained in the following: • • • • • •

How the back works Steps in proper lifting and lowering objects Why you should not bend over at the waist to lift objects How to make sure leg muscles do all the work when lifting How to keep objects close to the body to reduce pressure on the back The importance of maintaining good muscle tone and posture The importance of doing mild stretching exercises each day Avoiding the curse of the “pot belly” The need to think through the lifting process in advance The need to get help if an object is awkward or too heavy to lift alone

Most people have never been taught how the back works or the steps necessary to avoid a serious back injury. We automatically assume that everyone should know this. The fact is, it is more natural and easier to simply bend over at the waist to pick something up, than it is to kneel down and use your legs. When I visit new clients, I always like to conduct a walk through to familiarize myself with their facility and see what, if any, safety issues may exist. Inevitably, I will see an employee lifting incorrectly. I like to see if the company representative accompanying me sees what I see before I point it out. All too often they do not.

•

Correcting lifting practices is not something many managers or supervisors have put on their top priority list. Incorrect lifting is routine, repetitive, and has always been done.

In fact, most of the supervisors have also lifted in this man-

If you have any safety related questions or need help with your safety program, please e-mail me at ashmci@aol.com or call my cell phone at 330.495.3437.

onla.org

• • •

In addition, regular retraining classes should be conducted so employees are constantly aware of the need to protect their back from unnecessary injury. We only have one back and it needs to last a lifetime.

September/October 2017

15

TIPS FOR A WINNING ENTRY

45TH ANNUAL LANDSCAPE AWARDS

CALL FOR ENTRIES The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association hosts the annual Landscape Awards program to reward skilled landscape professionals who have executed outstanding workmanship. The program encourages landscape architects, contractors, and designers to continue their efforts to raise the industry’s image through consistent use of quality materials.

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL INSTALLATIONS

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE

Category 1: Residential Installation Under $15,000

Category 6: Residential Landscape Management

Category 2: Residential Installation $15,001 to $50,000

Category 7: Commercial Landscape Management

Category 3: Residential Installation $50,001 & Over

Category 8: Seasonal, Container, or Perennial Gardens

Category 4: Commercial Installation Under $75,000

Category 9: Student Project

Category 5: Commercial Installation Over $75,000

Category 10: Theme Gardens or Retail Displays

HOW TO ENTER Download an Entry Form or Apply Online at: www.onla.org/landscapeawards Entry Fee: $75 per entry (non-members, $150.00).

DEADLINE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017.

onla.org

July/August 2017

16

TO ENTER Online Entry Form: www.onla.org/landscapeawards Email: Send completed application and photos to info@onla.org Mail: Complete this form and send a flash drive of photos to ONLA, 72 Dorchester Sq., Westerville, OH 43081 Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2017.

Use a separate entry form for each entry. This form must be completely filled out and accompanied by a written description of all photos for the submitted project to be judged.

Contact Name:___________________________________________________________________________ Company Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________City:_________________State:_____ Zip:_________ Phone: (

) _____________________ Email: _____________________________________________

Category Number:_________ Category Name:_________________________________________________ Project Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Landscape Architect Firm (if different from entrant): _____________________________________________ Total Amount for Contracted Work: $___________________

Year of Installation: _________________

The entrant assumes the responsibility for copyrights, photographic fees and client permission for further use of images by ONLA for public relations purposes. ONLA is not responsible for the pictures selected or any edited copy used from the press package sent to media. Entries become the property of ONLA and may be used for publication or for any other purpose the association deems appropriate. I verify that all information contained on this entry form is accurate. I further verify that no alterations of any kind have been made to the images I’ve submitted for this entry.

Signature: ___________________________________________

Number of Entries:­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____ x $75.00 (ONLA Members)

CHECKLIST

Number of Entries:_____ x $150.00 (Non-Members)

• • • • •

Number of Student Entries: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____ x FREE Total Enclosed: $_____________

Completed entry form Entry fee 8–20 high resolution photos in JPEG format No company names or logos appear in photos Written project description (use suggested template)

Check Enclosed. (Check #____________) ___ VISA

___ MasterCard

Card Number:_____________________________________ Exp. Date:________ 3-Digit Code:________ Signature:_______________________________________

DEADLINE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 QUESTIONS? Email info@onla.org or call 614.899.1195

2018 Preview

MUST HAVE

Jim Chatfield Ohio State University Extension

ANNUALS

Every year, a slew of new products come into the annual bedding plant market for consideration in adding to production and retail programs. It is a good thing that our industry is so robust that we are constantly pushing forward in product development and introduction, but it can be overwhelming when trying to decipher what is the most important. In my travels this year to the California Spring trials, Eurotrials in Germany and Holland, and numerous university trials, I have made a short list of must-have items for the coming 2018 season.

-Bart Hayes, Michell's, ONLA Green Industry Grower Committee Chair

Cuphea Fairy Dust Pink

20  The Buckeye

onla.org

We can’t talk about new and exciting without talking about Proven Winners. There are several new colors and improvements coming out this year, but the standout new introductions would be Thumbergia A-Peel™ series, Hypoestes Hippo™ series, and Fairy Dust™ Cuphea. Thunbergia Lemon A-Peel™, Orange A-Peel™, and Tangerine Slice A-Peel™ are the three colors this year and look to make a premium annual climbing vine for retail possible. Hyposetes Hippo™ (photo, page 20) comes in two colors, red and pink, and is a more vigorous, consumer friendly version of a garden classic. Cuphea Fairy Dust Pink is a new concept in the Cuphea genus. Hundreds of tiny pink flowers cover this heat and drought tolerant performer and is ideal for mixed containers.

Tangerine Slice A-Peel™

The Novelty Petunia market has continued to expand rapidly, but the recent issues with the USDA recall of genetically modified petunias has impacted the availability of some of the best and most unique flower colors and forms. The Crazytunias from Westflowers™ lost a few, but are replacing them with some great selections like ‘Crazytunia French Kiss’. There is also a move to novelty flowered Calibrachoa from breeders like Westflower™. The Candy Shop series offer a wide range of star-like patterns and the Chameleon series offers a range of flower with three or more colors in a tie-dyed pattern.

One trend that has been happening for the past few seasons is the advent of the “larger than life” plant introductions. These next must-haves are the biggest and the best for 2018.

A new plant series that is out in limited numbers this year and then in a big way for 2019 is the best item I saw in this year’s trials: the new Dibs Begonia series. It is a true Rex Begonia series, but they get very large, very quickly, allowing for easy production for the growers, and a tough, resilient plant for the shadiest parts of the garden. There are seven color patterns to choose from and they are certainly going to make a big statement in larger containers.

Crazytunia French Kiss

Begonia Big Deluxxe™

Speaking of begonias, the trend toward bigger has been happening with the common fibrous begonia. No longer relegated to the shady corners of the garden, new hybrid series like Big™, Whopper™, and Megawatt™ build on the success of earlier generations to give a product that can throw tons of color in sun or

onla.org

September/October 2017

21

Chamelion Sunshine Berry

LeBella 'Maggiore'

22  The Buckeye

onla.org

shade on a nice, big plant. I like them for 6” pots and bigger or in a 6 pack for landscape professionals.

Our last big garden plant is one that started big, was bred smaller, but is now back to being big: we are talking about Dahlias. Dinner plate dahlias are a knockout show, but almost too big for the home gardener. They were bred for a smaller, well behaved plant for small pots and containers.

Breeding has pushed them back up in size, but left some of the good manners of their smaller kin. The ‘XXL™’ series from Dummen Orange and ‘Maggiore™’ series from

Beekenkamp are both bringing back the big flower power of Dahlias to the garden, but with a much more freely flowering habit. There is even the ‘Painter™’ Dahlia series from Keintzler that offers streaked and bicolor flowers for a bit of novelty to your big flowers.

All of these plants should be readily available so be sure to put a few up front to highlight the best and brightest we have for 2018. B - Bart Hayes can be contacted at bhayes@michells.com

XXL Durrango onla.org

September/October 2017

23

Retail Roundtable

By Ron Wilson, Natorp's Nursery Outlet

Hey Kids! Do you know what time it is? That’s right, time for another round of "Let’s Ask the Retailers"! You know the rules; we ask the questions and our retailing aficionados provide their thought provoking, brain stimulating answers, sure to be changing your retail ways.

Aficionados, are you ready? Then grab your buzzers and let’s play! Here are your questions… good luck!

Q.

Entertaining your customers (and employees): 1.) Do you play music in the background at your garden center? If so, what type of music to you play, and why? What system works best for you, and who controls the volume and selections? 2.) Do you have any visual screens playing, and if so, for what? If not, why not? 3.) What else do you do to help entertain your customers while they shop? 4.) Do you have a rule or standard procedure for employees concerning acknowledging customers as they shop?”

Tim Clark, H.J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses “Yes, we play music over the loudspeakers. It is piped

24 The Buckeye

in through Muzak. We used to just have a stereo but we switched over about 10 years ago. We chose Muzak based on what we learned from garden center tours across the country. We only play instrumental music and the station is chosen by one of the owners. It is changed to match the seasons. We do not currently have visual screens playing although it is something I would like to see at some point.

My concern is that our entire store is a greenhouse, and electronics and greenhouses don’t always mix. Not to mention the amount of light that may render the screen hard to see. Nonetheless, it’s something I would like to explore. We don’t necessarily do anything else to entertain customers unless you count bringing one of the many dogs that are here on property out for a walk and letting them interact.

We definitely have a rule and standard for acknowledging customers. We are trained to greet a customer within 10 seconds of entering the store and any time they enter into a new department."

Andy Bartram, Oakland Nursery, New Albany “We have an overhead radio system both indoors and outside our main building. The music helps to break up the silence out in the yard and helps customers relax and enjoy their shopping experience. We mostly play classic rock or oldies as it is easily accepted across generations. We do also have a jazz Sunday to break things up a little. Management makes all decisions. We do not have any visual screens onla.org

playing. It is mostly a spacing issue here at our nursery, and we really don’t want to give up retail space. I also haven’t really found any content that has blown me away or that I couldn’t do without in the store. I’m open to the idea, but I’d want something worth the space. Surprisingly, our three cats are our number one non-plant attraction. It’s amazing how many kids and even adults come up to me and ask if I know where the cats are. Customers will spend what seems like hours walking around shopping and searching for our three little buddies. I’d say they are a hit! Here at the nursery, we divide our employees to care for specific sections and plant types. As they are caring for their area they can greet customers as they come into their section and are readily available to answer questions on those specific plants.

This way, customers are constantly being engaged as they move around the nursery. The main entrance is also near our checkout, so when we are slower our cashiers engage each customer before they even make it into the nursery and direct them to the appropriate section of the property.

It takes a little more work to train more people on where things are located, but it is well worth the investment."

Noelle Clark Akin, Petitti Garden Centers “We have Sirius XM & Sonos radio in most of our garden centers. They have been instructed by Angelo & AJ to play “The Blend”, “The Bridge”, “Love” channels, and of course Holiday favorites come November! The store manager cononla.org

trols volume and keeps an eye on the channel. Videos—this is a revolving door. So many different screens and tablets have been used for various purposes. Mostly, these screens would be part of the display for a particular item such as Ecloth or Yankee Flipper. We also used interactive problem solver digital stations from Bonide and Scotts, but these either got hacked or stopped working. Customer Service digital screens with marketing, ads, education and social media clips are on the to-do list. To entertain, we incorporate personal creativity into merchandising and displays (e.g. dept. managers’ worn out boots planted with succulents). Once summer rolls around and we can condense and open up the sales floor, we try to set up vignettes or gardens focusing on a theme with signage and garden guides. For acknowledging customers, this is the G.A.R.D.E.N. procedure that we follow: G=Greet (keep it simple) A=Approach (only those that ask for assistance) R=Research (ask open ended questions about interests) D=Direct to solutions E=Explore any issues N=Now say “Thank you” and invite them back.”

Jodi Dawson, Oakland Nursery, Columbus “Ok, let’s talk music and visual. I would die if we didn’t have music playing at Oakland Nurseries! It helps the attitude of employees and customers. Each day is a different genre.

Sirius XM is the provider of our music choices. Only management has the capability to change the stations. We do not have digital screens playing because retail space is very September/October 2017

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26 The Buckeye

limited. We have decided to put product rather than visual screens in its place. Oakland Nursery is very entertaining in other ways. We have a playground for the children (adults too, if that is your thing). Our waterfall is very famous among families. That spot can put you in a different world—just standing there relaxes your mind. Fish food is available to feed the koi that live in the water feature.

They are super aggressive when it comes to food and very entertaining to watch, and, every now and then, one will jump above the water just to show off. If customers need any more entertainment, all they need to do is talk to an employee! Oakland Nursery does have a standard procedure for customer acknowledgment. As soon as the customer walks into the store they are greeted with a “Hello”.

Many shoppers are quite surprised with it, but it always makes them smile. That is how it should be. The customer chose to shop at your store. They should feel welcomed the minute that they walk through the door. It also opens the potential for questions and answers. Oakland is a place to browse and explore. We give our patrons the freedom to roam but we’re there with helpful information if needed.”

Jeremy Newell, White Oak Gardens “At White Oak, we use Pandora as our background music. The speaker system can only be heard in the checkout/ store area, offices, and immediately outside our nursery doors. We had a new retail greenhouse built recently and the speaker system has not yet been reinstalled. Music choices are typically 70s pop/rock, 80s pop/rock, contemporary soft rock, and holiday music during Christmas season. Volume and selection are typically chosen by 2–3 people who are close enough to the speakers to hear it all day. Digital screens—this one made me laugh. White Oak Gardens had a flat screen television mounted on the wall behind checkouts for a few years. It had a rotation of images that showcased services, sales, etc. In the last year, we had two televisions stolen from break-ins. The screen has not been replaced although the break-in entry point has been secured. We don’t really have any other entertainment during shopping. During fall and Christmas we might have things like toy trains running, straw bale maze, etc. During the rest of the year it is pretty much just verbal engagement.”

Darleen Cooper, Sharon Nursery “We have a new sound system, Cinema Sounds, which was installed in the front of our retail shopping area. The sound quality is great (Bose speakers) and the speakers are sleek and mostly concealed. Music selection is through Sirius onla.org

XM. Anyone who knows where the box is can control the station but usually the same two or three people make the selections. Classic rock is pretty popular and frequently on, although bluegrass was chosen yesterday and today we’re going classical. I’d say mood has a lot to do with the selection. The volume has not been changed since the installation and can be pretty loud near the speakers but otherwise is ear friendly. (Not how we like to listen, huh, Ron?) I’m sure plenty of people will disagree, but as a music lover, I give a lot of points (and money) to retail places that are sensitive to music lovers. Mood can be very influenced by music and a good mood can make people spend more readily. We do not have digital screens. I think there is probably a place for it, and a selection of visual input that would be consumer friendly. On rarer and rarer occasions, we entertain our customers with hot dogs in the summer, a fire pit in the winter during cut tree sales, and once every ten years an after-hours event. This is a bit of a hot spot for me as I think customers appreciate and enjoy extracurricular events. When it’s done right it has a benefit for everyone. Consistency and planning are huge and if you don’t do either your event will be a dud. Trust me on this one. We don’t, but should, have a procedure in place for acknowledging customers. I think we all need to be reminded from time to time just how important contact and engagement are in brick and mortar selling spaces. Many people are intimidated by asking questions about subjects they’re not knowledgeable on. Every customer who comes in is owed a smile, a greeting, and an offer to be helped.

No exceptions, ever. That said, we all have some work to do, no?"

Ron Wilson, Natorp’s Nursery Outlet “As I was putting this article together, I noticed that the ink in my ghost writer pen was starting to run out; can’t believe it has lasted all these years! But, it’s a sure sign that it’s time to hand this off to a fresh, new, exciting host for a fresh, new, and exciting series of “Let’s Ask the Retailers!”

Over the years there have been many retailing aficionados contributing to this article. To all of them I send a very special thank you. And, for those who were threatened with having their family members kidnapped if they did not respond to our questions…just kidding. It’s been real.

Hey Retailers, Can we talk" - Ron Wilson, Personal Yardboy, ONLA Retail Committee Ghost Writer in the Sky no mas B

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September/October 2017

27

Playing with Fire

By Bobbie Schwartz, Bobbie's Green Thumb

Why does fire always attract people? Initially, because fire was light, I think it was a way to ward off fears of monsters (imagined) and wild animals in the night, as well as a source of heat to ward off the cold.

We have other ways to fulfill these needs now, but we are still attracted to fire. It’s one of the four elements, joining water, earth, and air, that were the basis of philosophy, science, and medicine for two thousand years. Sitting around a campfire or a fire pit provides a sense of companionship.

It warms us when we are cold. It gives us a sense of security because wild animals are afraid of fire. We are fascinated by the ever-changing appearance and colors of fire as well as the sound of crackling logs and popping embers.

Until coal, gas, and electricity entered our lives, we cooked over fire out of necessity. Now we cook over or with fire for fun. Who doesn’t love to make s’mores and hold marshmallows over the fire until they are charred to perfection? Who doesn’t ooh and aah at a restaurant when a flaming dessert is cooked tableside?

If you or your client have decided to build a fire pit to add to the landscape, be sure to check the local ordinances. Many municipalities have regulations on how and when you can burn. In addition, setbacks established by the municipality will govern where you can place your fire pit.

28 The Buckeye

How often do you think you will use it? The answer to this question may depend, in part, on how conveniently it is placed. Many people have patios quite close to the house on which a portable fire pit is placed. Is that a comfortable choice, knowing that a stray ember could set the house on fire? Playing with fire always has an element of risk.

Many landscapes have constructed fire pits that are farther from the house and the journey from house to fire pit usually entails a short walk through interesting plantings.

The range of fire pit choices is quite wide, as is the cost.

Simple, portable, copper pits range in price from $200 to $400. In-ground fire pits are another option. Their cost will vary depending on the design, the size, the location, and the fuel source. Will it be wood burning or gas? Will a gas line need to be installed?

In-ground fire pits should be lined with stone or concrete pavers. The top edge can be covered with a wide range of materials. On a garden tour in San Francisco, I admired a fire pit dug into the ground in a small, gravel patio sited away from the house. The top of the pit was covered with beautiful, blue and green glazed tiles. The chairs around it were painted blue to match the tiles. Cushioned chairs had blue pillows.

onla.org

If the fire pit is sited in the lawn, stone could be placed on top as the cap. The stone should be at the same level as the lawn or slightly lower for ease of mowing.

The most expensive option is an above ground fire pit.

Most of the ones I’ve seen in my travels are circular and constructed of stone or brick. The designs range: large, arced pieces of sandstone set on huge sandstone blocks that act as tiered seating; medium-sized, rough stone on stone set in a broken glass pattern; or small pieces in alternating layers that create a formal pattern and then capped with bluestone to match the patio floor.

onla.org

Maintenance of a fire pit is crucial for both safety and longevity. Great care should be taken to ensure that the fire is completely out before leaving it for the night. Covering it will prevent other matter from blowing into it and will also keep out rain or snow. Clean it out on a regular basis.

Wild fire is incredibly destructive and costly. Playing with fire can add beauty and companionship to a landscape, but only when the fire is tamed. B - Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb, bobbie@ bgthumb.com. Photos provided by Bobbie Schwartz.

July/August 2017 

29

Savoring the Summer of '17

By Jim Chatfield, OSU Extension

I was going to follow up to my last column with Volume 2 of some China observations from April, but am sidetracked for now. Here are a few pictorial and word updates from the Summer Season of 2017.

1. & 2. Beech Leaf Disease This puzzling problem was noted in northeast Ohio several years ago by John Pogacnik of Lake Metro Parks and only seems to be getting worse.

The unusual banding of the leaves and leaf shriveling is progressing to significant crown thinning. The bad news is that it is now well-established in many areas in northeast Ohio and we still do not know its cause. The good news is that OSU’s Enrico Bonello has secured some funding to study the problem and now has a great graduate student, Carrie Ewing, on the case. Connie Hausman of Cleveland Metro Parks and John Pogacnik are also doing great work mapping out the extent and spread of the problem. Check out the bygl.osu.edu archives for a fuller look at beech diagnostics.

3. Bagworms This pest has reached higher populations northward in Ohio in the last decade as the insect has been overwintering better (global “worming”, so to speak). Bagworms cause considerable damage to younger host plants, especially junipers and arborvitaes, but have a wide host range. Early stages of the “bags” that these caterpillars construct are a little harder to espy; check out this “dunce-cap” stage. I can relate.

4. Calycanthus This shrub (6–10 feet) is becoming more common in landscapes (includ30 The Buckeye

ing in cream and yellow-flowered types) and also has the common names of Carolina allspice, strawberry-bush, sweet bubby (my favorite), and sweet Betsy. Calycanthus florida is native as far north as Pennsylvania, though it is often thought of more as a plant of the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states.

The large flowers of the pictured specimen astride a Wooster, Ohio parking lot suggests that this was not the straight Calycanthus floridus species but a hybrid of C. floridus with C. chinensis. I suspect that this was ‘Hartlage Wine’ or ‘Aphrodite’. Some suggest that ‘Aphrodite’ is fragrant with heady strawberry-like aromas and ‘Hartlage Wine’ is not. This one was not fragrant.

5. & 6. A Macrophyllic Magnolia After a Tree Campus Wooster meeting, a horticulturist for the College of Wooster took me to a secret little road just off the beaten path near the College golf course. There it was—perhaps Magnolia macrophylla var. macrophylla or Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei. Opinions differ on which variety it is, based in part on whether there are rose-purple blotches at the base of some of the petals. Whichever this is, it was a true treasure to see, big leaves and flowers and all.

7. Fern Unfolding What riches await us in our own backyards. Fern fronds unfold; a journey to the center of nature.

8. Crabapple Diagnostics Nearby, in all its splendor this year with all our early rains, was a crabapple with both common crabapple foliar diseases: apple scab and frogeye leaf

spot. Though neither of these fungal diseases is a killer, scab is much more serious relative to leaf discoloration, leaf drop, and ruination of the aesthetics of this popular ornamental tree.

Check out our scab ratings at: http:// agnr.osu.edu/Chatfield 9. Kompact Maple This image, taken at Secrest Arboretum in late July, and with a very tiny Erik Draper for scale, is of a tree that former Secrest curator Kenny Cochran always regretted never made it into the horticultural trade. It is quite fantastic, developing this dense compact form without pruning. I did a Google check and it was also reportedly planted at the Iowa Arboretum in Boone County, Iowa in 1981, “propagated from one found on K Street in Cedar Rapids by Al Ferguson.” Their website also notes that it has the observed tear-drop shape and excellent golden-orange fall color.

10. Katsuratree This Asian tree and its redbud-like leaves (Cercidiphyylum japonicum), is one of my favorites, and this weeping katsuratree is a Secrest survivor of the Wooster Tornado of 2010. It is an inviting archway now, used for wedding pictures and secret hideaways for children.

11. Quilts in Wayne County The garden kind. Here is Kim Kellogg who, with his family, keeps growing their Grasshopper Group lanWWdscaping company in Millersburg, Ohio, including this colorful quilt planting outside the Homestead Restaurant in Berlin, Ohio.

The art and science of horticulture. onla.org

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13 12. Persimmon What a fabulous trunk on a persimmon tree right off the main street in Doylestown, Ohio. Enough said.

13. Hickory Tussock Moth Imagine that you are a hungry caterpillar with so many hickories and white oaks at the arboretum and research campus of OSU in Wooster. So many trees, so many leaves, so little time!

She’s working her way in, though.

14. Thrips This picture, taken mid-summer of a hanging basket of mixed flowers all with similar symptoms, is classic Thrips damage. These insects feed on chloroplasts of plants and cause this flecking injury on flowers and leaves. Thrips is a genus of insects, first described by Linnaeus in 1746, and the word is both singular and plural: there is no such thing as a thrip.

Damage here most likely occurred in the greenhouse where the flowers were assembled.

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14 15. Stewartia One final flower image: Stewartia pseudocamellia. There are a number of them now at Secrest Arboretum, thanks to recent plantings by Joe Chochran and Paul Snyder. As you can see, it is one spectacular flower. Stewartias are small multi-stemmed trees with lovely polished multicolored bark.

Protect it and it shall bring glory to your garden.

16. Still Teaching At a recent walkabout at Chadwick Arboretum with the Columbus Landscape Association, there he was, still teaching, the perennial plantsman Dr. Stephen Still.

17. In the Woods In Lake County, checking out beech, Nature and Nurture (look for next summer’s program), nurseryman Tim Brotzman, invasive plant specialist Tom Koritansky, and OSU Lake County Extension Educator Tom DeHaas. A great group.

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18. Final Note This past summer, on July 12, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Henry David Thoreau arrived. So, the final notes are from Thoreau. In wildness is the preservation of the world. “…[every township should have] a park, or rather a primitive forest, of 500 or a thousand acres, where a stick should never be cut for fuel, a common possession forever, for instruction and recreation...”

Nurture and nature, what a combination.

And note our final image, in which Thoreau again proves that he is the master connector of not only our past oft- severed relationship to simplicity and nature, but also the lessons longlived into the future of his Walden words, and, as you can see, the fact that he keeps up with present times. B - Jim Chatfield, chatfield.1@osu.edu

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GET CERTIFIED IN 2017!

Become an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician WHY? • Improve your skills and increase your worth as an employee •

Gain recognition from the public, colleagues and competitors

•

Provide professional development for your employees

2017 TEST DATES September 21, October 19, November 16, 2017, January 15, 16, & 17, 2018 SPECIALIZATIONS: Landscape The public, architects and contractors have come to rely on landscape contractors and installers for dependable landscape construction techniques and horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice and proper installation, the landscape installer must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas including plant identification, plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, use of pesticides, construction techniques, design, sales and more.

Grower The grower is the base of the green industry. In order to have healthy plants to sell, the nursery employee must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including plant identification, development and health; growing and harvesting techniques; plant nutrients; pest and disease elimination; plant maintenance and more.

Garden Center The retail garden center is the information center on which homeowners have come to rely for dependable horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice to customers, garden center employees must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including proper plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, landscape design, proper planting and maintenance of nursery stock and more.

Core Core is important to all aspects of the Green Industry. Plant ID, Professionalism, Safety & First Aid are examples of the Core chapters of which all nursery and landscape professionals should have knowledge.

A program of:

TRAINING MANUAL ORDER FORM NAME: COMPANY: ADDRESS:

CITY:

STATE:

PHONE #:

E-MAIL:

Check enclosed Check #:

Card Number: Exp. Date: Card Holder: Signature:

3-digit:

VISA

MasterCard

ZIP:

MEMBER RATES (Call for non-member pricing) * Landscape + Core ______ x $125.00 = $_______ Garden Center ______ x $75.00 = $_______ Grower ______ x $75.00 = $_______ All Manuals ______ x $250.00 = $_______ Replacement CD Rom ______ x $25.00 = $_______ Total = $_______ * Written Manual and Computer Based Training CD Rom for each

Return to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association • 72 Dorchester Square • Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Ph: 614.899.1195 • 800.825.5062 • F: 614.899.9489

Tough as a Bear KODIAK® Black Diervilla rivularis ‘SMNDRSF’ pp#27,550, cbraf

Tough landscape sites require tough plants that can take poor soils, heat and drought. The Kodiak® series of Diervilla is the solution. Kodiak® Black adds dark maroon-black foliage in spring and fall, while Kodiak® Orange and Kodiak® Red round out your color palette. These long-blooming native shrubs offer yellow flowers that are adored by pollinators and designers alike.

Kodiak® Black diervilla is just one of over 270+ Proven Winners® shrub varieties available from Spring Meadow Nursery. We have 2¼”, 4” and Quick Turn™ liners available now.

100c / 0m / 81y / 66k

Contact Brad Preston

616-223-3376

45c / 15m / 90y / 20

www.springmeadownursery.com 800-633-8859 ext.1106

ONLA_Sept-Oct_Kodiak.indd 1

8/17/17 8:11 AM

ONLA SCHOLARSHIPS Applications are now being accepted for the ONLA 2018 Scholarship Program.

ONLA's Phil Kozel Memorial Scholarship Program provides assistance for college students and high school FFA students pursuing degrees in horticulture and related fields.

Deadline to Apply: October 15, 2017

TO APPLY, VISIT: WWW.ONLA.ORG/SCHOLARSHIPS

34 The Buckeye

onla.org

ONLA MEMBER SERVICE PROVIDERS ONLA members are entitled to the following benefits and services, designed to reduce company expenses while addressing the specific needs of green industry businesses.

ONLA strives to bring the most relevant and useful benefits and services to its members. For more information about ONLA member savings, visit www.onla.org or call 614.899.1195.

IT - Streamliner Solutions Group Streamliner Solutions Group, LLC is proud to offer ONLA members discounts on all of our services. These include VoIP, Backup and Data Recovery, Networking, Web Design and more. We're dedicated to putting you on track for tomorrow.

Lora Gray, lora.gray@ssghris.com

Credit Collection - Cash Flow Management (CFM) CFM’s collection system is geared to your individual operation, serving your specific business needs. With CFM, a trained collection specialist is assigned to bring in your pastdue accounts before they fade away as bad debts. Bill Bosch, bbosch@cfmcollect.com

Online Training - Greenius Greenius is a suite of online training tools for landscape contractors. With over 30 videos for workers, in English and Spanish, and 8 videos for Crew Leaders/Managers, Greenius is for company owners who want to work smarter, not harder. Videos, exams, field checklists and tailgates can be viewed on all devices. Arden Urbano, arden@gogreenius.com

Credit & Debit Card Processing - Merchant Services Merchant Services will provide the ONLA membership with merchant accounts and credit and debit card processing.

Other services include online reporting, check guarantee service and working capitol funding. Scott Norris, scott. norris@merchantsvcs.com Energy Program - Growers Energy Solutions (GES) Manage your energy costs by joining ONLA members as one buying group. GES provides the opportunity to manage your energy needs and save on your natural gas & electric costs.

Our programs can offer pricing to members located in all Ohio gas and electric utilities that allow third party supply.

Joe Perlaky, perlaky@bex.net Fuel/Fleet Program - SuperFleet Save $.05 cents per gallon on all fuel purchases at Speedway, Marathon and Rich Oil locations with no minimum purchase required. This card can be used for shops and services or can be restricted to fuel use only. Also receive discounts on oil changes and car washes. John Kennedy, jmkennedy@ speedway.com Health/Life/Income Insurance - TAH Benefits ONLA partners with various insurance plans to offer a wide variety of benefit options for members including medical, vision, dental, life, and disability. Representatives will help tailor-make a program specifically to fit your needs, including advanced plan designs, management techniques, and improved benefits administration that can result in substantial cost savings and reduction of employee benefits liability exposure. Jay Hazelbaker, onla@tahins.com onla.org

Property/Casualty Insurance - Best Hoovler McTeague Save on your property and casualty insurance with BHM’s group program designed for ONLA members to save at least 15% with the best coverage rates for your liability, fleet and equipment. Marc McTeague, mmcteague@bhmins.com Safety Services - American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc (ASH) fills the growing need for professional safety and health management services for companies of all sizes. ASH has the capabilities to provide Total Safety Management, from working on a single problem area to evaluating, developing and administering an entire comprehensive safety and health problem. Gary Hanson, ashmci@aol.com Soil & Plant Tissue Testing & Consultation - CLC LABS ONLA members receive various laboratory services at a 10% discount off list prices including testing of soil nutrients, soil texture, soilless media nutrients, plant tissue nutrients and irrigation water suitability testing, plus consulting services on all aspects of testing. Chuck Darrah, clclabs@aol.com Workers’ Compensation - CareWorksComp The ONLA Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program has saved its members over $21.4 million in the last 11 years.

Through CareWorksComp, members are offered multiple savings levels, ranging from the BWC maximum to a lesser percentage, for companies with claims. Free, no obligation analysis of potential workers’ comp premium savings.

Cordell Walton, cordell.walton@careworkscomp.com September/October 2017

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UPCOMING EVENTS View www.onla.org for more information. O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.

O Diagnostic Walkabouts These educational walks take place throughout the state. Turn to page 15 for details.

September 7, September 21, 7:30–9:30 am OCNT Exams Exams take place at the ONLA office in Westerville unless otherwise noted. Register at onla.org September 21, October 19, November 16, 2017 January 15, 16, and 17, 2018 at 9am ONLA Golf Outing September 22, Sunbury, OH Landscape Awards Submission Deadline See page 16 for details.

September 22

AG FILM BALERS Remove and bale greenhouse film quickly and easily.

Ask about our 3-point hitch model!

ONLA Committee Meetings Call 614.899.1195 or email info@onla.org for details.

September 26, Columbus, OH Ohio High School Landscape Olympics November 2 & 3, Wooster, OH Midwest Green Industry Experience Visit www.mgix18.com for details January 15, 16, and 17, 2018, Columbus, OH

Restoring the native landscape

BF400 (shown) has auto feed for high tunnel covers.

• Bales are 40” cube, 1,000+ lb.

• Quick tie with 12 ga wire & hydraulic eject.

Kennco Mfg, Inc.

800-645-2591 • Sales@KenncoMfg.com See more at KenncoMfg.com Call our friendly and helpful staff today!

36 The Buckeye

ONLPAC Fall Fundraising Event See page 8 for details September 25, Worthington, OH

ernstseed.com sales@ernstseed.com 800-873-3321

onla.org

OPEN POSITIONS Grounds Technician 1 Westfield Insurance Westfield Center, OH Botanical Gardens Supervisor Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Columbus, OH Container Manager Herman Losely and Son Nursery Perry, Ohio

ADVERTISER INDEX Arborjet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 arborjet.com Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 buckeyeresources.com Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 ernstseed.com

Landscape Design Sales Support Rice's Landsape Redefines Canton, OH

Evergreen Seed Supply.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

HIRING?

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . 11

Post your open positions on onla.org. Listings are posted for 60 days online, and included in The Buckeye, ONLA's email newsletter, and social media posts. ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. $50 ONLA members, $100 non-members

evergreenseedsupply.com

fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 greenvelvet.com Kennco Mfg, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

ITEMS FOR SALE

kenncomfg.com Medina Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 medinasodfarms.com

Peabody Landscape Group Inventory Reduction Auction 5,000 items, including trees, shrubs, perennials, hardgoods and equipment. Open to the public.

September 30 (preview September 29), Columbus, OH

CLASSIFIEDS

Post want ads or items for sale on onla.org. Listings are posted for 60 days online, and included in The Buckeye, ONLA's email newsletter, and social media posts. ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. $50 ONLA members, $100 non-members Ads listed here were current as of press time. For more information, please contact the ONLA office at 614.899.1195 or visit onla.org/careers

Millcreek Gardens LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 millcreekplants.com Premier Plant Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 premierplantsolutions.com Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . 34 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com

Ad Rates & Info Contact Alana Settle alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195

onla.org

September/October 2017 

37

The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081-3350

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1560 COLUMBUS OHIO

Address Service Requested

YOUR MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE JANUARY 15–17, 2018 COLUMBUS, OHIO Start off the new year right.

Get inspired, discover new products, build relationships, and make smart business decisions at ONLA's Midwest Green Industry Experience.

Check out this year’s exhibitors, networking events, and 90+ education sessions at: www.mgix18.com • #mgix18 • 800.825.5062

MGIX

Registration opens Monday, October 2!