Pro Grow News Summer.22 Digital Edition

pro grow news Summer 2022

www.mnla.com

Down to Earth Preview Creating a Sustainable Bird-Friendly Garden Underused Woody Plants

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pro grow news Summer 2022

contents Features 10

Down to Earth 2022 Preview

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Underused Woody Plants

28

Creating a Sustainable Bird-friendly Garden

32

Why Did They Quit?

34

HRI Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Departments 6 President’s Message 8 Frequently Asked Questions for Pesticide Applicator 21 Down to Earth Registration 38 Safety Sense 40

Business Minute

46

Plant for Success

Cover photo by Tony Waseman.

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pro grow news Summer 2022

committees

board PRESIDENT Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Designs, Inc. Tel: (617) 244-7269

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE Deborah Trickett, MCH — Board Liaison The Captured Gardens (781) 329-9698

VICE PRESIDENT Kerry Preston, MCH Wisteria & Rose, Inc. (617) 522-3843

FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM)

SECRETARY/TREASURER David Vetelino, MCH Vetelino Lanscape Inc. Tel: (781) 826-0004 PAST PRESIDENT Peter Mezitt, MCH Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414

Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc. Tel: (413) 536-7555 Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair Strictly Pruning Tel: (508) 429-7189 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 845-2143

Deborah Trickett, MCH The Captured Garden Steve Charette Farm Family Insurance Family Justin Mortensen Farm Credit East

Corinne Jean, MCH — Chair Wisteria & Rose (617) 522-3843 Advisor: Jack Elicone, MCH

John R. Elicone Consulting PRODUCTS COMMITTEE Peter Mezitt, MCH — ­­ Chair Weston Nurseries, Inc. Tel: (508) 435-3414 PUBLICATIONS: Editor in Chief: Rena Sumner Advisors: Ron Kujawski, Rick Reuland, Trevor Smith, Beverly Sturtevant

HISTORY COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH)

Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair Elysian Garden Designs Tel: (508) 695-9630 Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S. Tel: (508) 994-9208

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rena M. Sumner Tel: (413) 369-4731

Patrick Parent Mahoney’s Garden Centers David Anderson Mayer Tree Service

pro grow news Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org

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ProGrowNews is published quarterly by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA), P.O. Box 387, Conway, MA 01341, tel. (413) 369-4731.

Articles do not necessarily reflect the view or position of MNLA. Editorial coverage or permission to advertise does not constitute endorsement of the company covered or of an advertiser’s products or services, nor does ProGrowNews make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of the advertiser’s offer. (c) 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in print or electronically without the express written permission of the MNLA.

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President’s Message

Spring Is a Time to Get Involved

By Chris O’Brien, MCH

T

he green industry got off to a strong start this spring.

The weather generally cooperated, customers were ready to spend, and landscape materials were available for the most part. That initial surge is mostly over at this point. Time to take a deep breath and assess where we stand as an industry, as standalone businesses, and as individual professionals — and to celebrate success stories with colleagues!

MNLA has you covered with the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show to be held at Weston Nurseries, Inc. on Thursday, July 14, 2022, in Hopkinton. Following the high standards set by the MNLA education committee and the MCH board, we present the largest and best event of the summer.

Our Summer Conference and Trade Show is back live after a three-year hiatus! We will be face-to-face for education,

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demonstrations, MCH certifications, tours, networking, and making new connections. Exhibitors and meeting sponsors will present products and services to stimulate new ideas. To get the competitive juices going, the traditional Plant ID Challenge will be joined by a new Container Garden Competition open to all who want to pit their skills against the best of the best.

Food trucks will provide a variety of lunch choices. Following the interactive education, exhibits, and tours, an After Party on the premises will feature live music, food and drink, and awards and recognitions through the rest of the afternoon. Admission is included with the conference registration.

The day’s events are about restoring the personal connections that have been missing or decreased over the last two years.

The Down to Earth Summer Conference and Trade Show is an opportunity to help rebuild those connections while doing something quite enjoyable and interesting. You need to be there!

To register or get more information, go to www.mnla.com.

Hope to see you at the summer conference!

Chris O’Brien, MCH Howard Garden Designs MNLA President

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2022 Annual Summer Conference & Trade Show Where green industry professionals meet!

Thursday, July 14, 2022 Weston Nurseries, Inc.

14 Pearl Lane, South Hadley, MA 01075 Phone: (413) 548-8000 Fax: (413) 549-4000 Email: info@newp.com Web: www.newp.com

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40 Frankland Road Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Join us for MNLA’s inaugural

Battle of the Container Garden D www.mnla.com pro|grow|news This competition is made possible by the generosity of our sponsor

Let the challenge & judging begin!

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40 Frankland Road, Hopkinton 3 River Street, Middleborough 160 Pine Hill Road, Chelmsford 1099 Main Street, Hingham commsales@westonnurseries.com westonwholesale.com Summer|2022

(508) 293-8028 (508) 946-1505 (978) 349-0055 (781) 749-3773

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Certification and Licensing of Pesticide Applicators Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources - JOHN LEBEAUX Commissioner

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS When does Direct Supervision apply?

Direct Supervision applies when someone with a Commercial Applicators License (Core License) applies a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). The individual with a Core License must be working under the Direct Supervision of someone with a Commercial Certification license.

How do I know if Direct Supervision is applicable to me?

The first thing you should do is review the pesticides that you use and determine which products are a RUP. If you are using RUPs, then you should review your staff’s licensing to determine if anyone using the RUP’s has a Core License. If someone does, then you need to follow the Direct Supervision regulations.

If someone with a Commercial Certification is making a RUP application does Direct Supervision apply?

No. Direct Supervision only required when someone with a Core License applies an RUP.

What is the Product Application Guidance Sheet (PAG)?

The PAG is a document that outlines the standard operating procedure that the company/Commercial Certification holder has developed for the use of a specific RUP.

Does PAG need to be developed for all pesticides that are being used?

No. A PAG is only required for RUP applications made under Direct Supervision.

Is Direct Supervision required for the use of liquid termiticides by a Core License holder?

Yes. Applications of liquid subsurface termiticides require a Commercial Certification or someone working under the Direct Supervision of an individual with a Commercial Certification and therefore Direct Supervision is required.

What do I do if the individual with a Commercial Certification providing supervision calls in sick or goes on vacation?

You will need to assign a back-up Supervisor or ensure that RUPs are not applied that day. If you are assigning a back-up Supervisor, then this should be identified in the PAG and during the PAG review.

Does the Vehicle Inventory Log need to be kept for all pesticides?

No. It is only required for RUPs and if the individual driving the vehicle has a Core License.

Can the Vehicle Inventory Log be kept electronically?

Yes. It can be kept in a manner that the company sees fit as long as it contains the required information.

What does the Department mean by description of site treated?

The Department would like the applicator to be as specific as possible when describing the area that was treated. For example: • Wall void behind sink • Whole exterior foundation • Burrow hole next to foundation • Spot treated for weeds on left side of yard

How do I identify the possibility of an RUP use on a work order/invoice?

The company should use a method that indicates that an RUP may be used on that job. This could be done in several ways such as but not limited to: • Language on work order/invoice pointing out RUP may be used • If RUP is listed on work/order, making it a bold or different color • Coding the RUP’’s

Where can I find the Direct Supervision requirements?

You can find the requirements at: 333 CMR 10: Certification and licensing of pesticide applicators | Mass.gov

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MNLA Summer Conference

Down to Earth is Back for 2022

By Meta Levin

T

he Down to Earth Summer Conference and Trade Show is back, in person, and ready to roll. The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association’s (MNLA) annual event will lift off July 14th at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton with educational offerings, vendors displaying new wares, food and drink, and the new Battle of the Container Garden Designers.

“Everyone is marking their calendars,” says Deborah Trickett, MNLA Education Committee Chair and owner of The Captured Garden. “It’s going to be a wonderful day.”

Down to Earth “goes way back,” says MNLA President Chris O’Brien, Treasurer and Vice President of Howard Garden Designs, Inc. Like most events, however, it took a pandemic-inspired

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hiatus the last two years. O’Brien notes that MNLA members look forward to it each year for the chance it affords for networking and education. “A lot of information trading goes on, and many members bring their entire crews,” he says.

Scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an after-party that will run until 6 p.m., the annual summer conference will be full of opportunities to network, learn, and just be together. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m.

The new Battle of the Container Garden Designers is open to professionals and amateurs alike — a perfect way to draw in colleagues and introduce them to MNLA. The vendors lean heavily toward plants and plant material. “The folks who will be attending are mostly landscape, nursery, and greenhouse professionals.” says Rena Sumner, MNLA Executive Director.

Be Ready to Learn

“We will have robust educational offerings,” says Trickett, who is known for her presentations about container gardens. Two MCH (Massachusetts Certified Horticulturalist) credits and up to three pesticide credits will be available from a total of twelve presentations.

“MNLA tries to go the extra mile to educate its members on the latest trends,” says Trevor Smith, Weston’s Design and Education Manager and a popular MNLA speaker. “I really like speaking to this group.” In the past, Trevor has presented programs about storm water management, but this year, he will focus on a topic he finds of current consequence: the effect of climate change on caring for the landscape.

www.mnla.com

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“A lot of information trading goes on, and many members bring their entire crews.”

Smith’s topic, Water-Wise Intelligent Irrigation Practices for Healthy Landscapes, in large part was chosen because of the unusually dry summers. “We have had three or four dry summers in the Northeast,” he says.

“We have to design for and treat landscapes for this changing weather.”

Amanda (Mandy) Bayer is another popular speaker for MNLA education offerings. An Extension Assistant Professor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, she will speak on Plants with a Purpose.

Jennifer Forman, an Environmental Biologist for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, will talk about What’s Bugging You? From Lanternflies to Murder Hornets. She specializes in working on botanical and entomological issues, including insect pests, invasive plants, pollinators, and mosquito control.

Monique Bosch will focus her presentation on Compost and Compost Tea. She has built more than 40 edible school and community gardens and farms throughout the Northeast.

Bosch is a Soil Health Lead for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, teaches classes in growing your own food, runs a worm composting business with her son, and teaches microscopy and soil health to farmers and other organizations.

Be on the Forefront Peter Mezitt, MCH, President of Weston Nurseries and former MNLA President, is excited to show Down to Earth attendees

the facilities, including Weston’s new native plant growing operation and bulk yard composting wholesale yard. “We’ve seen a surge in demand for natives,” says Mezitt.

“We want to be part of supporting the eco system.

That has become a more important factor, and we see it as something that will explode in the next few years.”

Participants will be able to tour the retail operation, the new greenhouse — only three years old — and the perennial nursery operation, which began in 2020, as well as more than four-acres of trees, shrubs, and decorative hardwoods.

“All are walking distance,” says Mezitt.

And if they time their tour correctly, they can end up in the coliseum behind Weston’s Garden Center, just in time for the Down to Earth after-party.

Scheduled to start just as Down to Earth is ending, the after-party will feature a band, beer and other libations, food trucks, and appetizers.

Mezitt describes the coliseum as a lawn area with beautiful landscaping, tables and chairs, and an outdoor kitchen. It is available for parties.

We Didn’t Forget the Fun The Battle of the Container Garden Designers is the newest addition to the Down to Earth Summer Conference.

Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s

“Everyone is marking their calendars.

It’s going to be a wonderful day.”

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MNLA Summer Conference Choice Award, and the top five will get cash prizes: $500 for first place, $300 for 2nd $200 for 3rd, $100 for 4th, $50 for 5th, and $25 for 6host th. Winners will be announced at 3 p.m. Contestants can leave their entries to be displayed July 16–17 at Weston Nurseries.

Pre-registration with a $25 registration fee is due by July 10, 2022. Entries must not exceed 18 inches in diameter and include a geranium. Entrants should provide a list of plants used and deliver the finished entry or complete it on site on July 13. Judging will be blind — the designer and/or company will not be identified until the competition is over.

While voting and learning about new products and trends, attendees no doubt will work up an appetite for lunch. Each will receive a voucher to chow down at the onsite food trucks. They include Boston Coffee Rescue, which will provide coffee, water, and breakfast pastries; The Chubby Chickpea; GottaQ barbecue with an attitude. and Palagi Brothers ice cream and frozen lemonade. There will be something for everyone: vegan, vegetarian, meat lovers, gluten-free, and omnivores.

MNLA is one of four host sponsors of 2022 Down to Earth.

Others include Massachusetts Flower Growers Association, Weston Nurseries, and Weston Wholesale.

Everyone is looking forward to July 14. “None of us operates in a vacuum,” says O’Brien. “This is an opportunity to talk with colleagues, meet suppliers and vendors, and take a step back toward normalization.”

2022 Down to Earth Host

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Underused Woody Plants

Underused Woody Plants

By Heather Prince

A

s we look around and think about how to delight clients and increase plant diversity, there are many spring-blooming woody plants besides traditional favorites. We talked with Scott Beuerlein, Manager of Botanical Garden Outreach at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden for his thoughts.

“People are always worried about whether a plant will live or die, so they’re afraid to try new things,” says Beuerlein.

“Once you realize that a plant dying is not the worst thing in the world, it’s an opportunity. You end up learning something and seeing different things and enjoying new experiences. As we try to educate clients and broaden our plant knowledge, trying new plant ideas is worthwhile” he explains. “It’s fun to try things you don’t know to see if they survive, or thrive, and if you’ll even like them. I’ve bought a lot of plants because I’d never heard of them before. Some of those turned out to be really amazing plants, and some died or were hideous.”

Beuerlein says he thinks you get a cooler garden out of it in the end and a more diverse one. “I used to experiment with about 10% of the plants in client’s gardens, telling them I don’t know how well these plants will do, but I want to try them.

That little bit of risk expanded my palette and made the garden more exciting for them — gave them a story. Of course, I’d make it right if my experiment failed.”

By bringing a diverse plant palette to the table, you not only create beautiful, interesting garden spaces, but also bring a new level of diversity to the community. “A diversity of gardeners adds to a diversity of the whole landscape or community or ecosystem,” explains Beuerlein. “Letting me be my crazy plant self means I’ve added maybe 1,000 plants to the local ecosystem. My neighbor who’s growing other plants contributes a whole bunch more, and the person down the street with a completely different garden adds more, too. Then there’s somebody with a vegetable patch or someone with a cutting garden. It all adds up plus, as we navigate our changing world, people are going to have to be more flexible as climate change dictates that things that used to work no longer do. We must figure out what’s going to do well now.”

Favorite Shrubs and Small Trees

Let’s explore some of Beuerlein’s favorite shrubs and small trees for spring color and fragrance that will also extend bloom season in our landscapes. They are all available, but some may be a bit harder to find than others. A few will need a protected spot as they are hardy to Zone 6.

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Cercis chinensis ‘Don Egolf’ Don Egolf Chinese Redbud Zone: 6 to 9 Size: 10 to 12 feet high and wide Habit: Strongly vase-shaped Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained Flowers: Larger rose-purple flowers than the native bloom in April and smother the stems in blossoms.

Foliage: Glossy heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall.

Notes: This variety of compact Chinese redbud from the U.S. National Arboretum has a strong vertical vase shape, making it easy to tuck into a landscape. “It’s a bonus that it’s sterile so you don’t get countless fruits,” reported Beuerlein. “It blooms insanely, and the pollinators absolutely love it. It shoots up a lot of stems, and you will need to prune it for it to really look its best.” www.mnla.com

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Corylopsis spicata Spike Winter Hazel

Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 4 to 8 feet high and wide Habit: Informal dense, spreading multi-stemmed shrub Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Tolerates average soils, but prefers organic, free-draining acidic ones Flowers: Showy fragrant lemon-yellow racemes in drooping clusters bloom in March to April.

Foliage: Oval leaves emerge bronze-purple and mature to an attractive blue-green for the season before turning yellow in the fall.

Notes: This unusual shrub is a delightful surprise in early spring for its pretty and fragrant flowers. “I just love the spring flowers. Blooms along with Forsythia, but much more refined and not so ‘in your face!’” says Beuerlein. “I’ve got a couple I’ve just jammed in places and let be. They’re doing fine.”

Plant spike winter hazel with early spring bulbs like crocus and snowdrops for a charming vignette.

Cornus mas Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Zone: 4 to 8 Size: 15 to 25 feet high and wide Habit: Rounded Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained Flowers: Small clusters of tiny bright-yellow flowers bloom in March or April.

Fruit: Bright-red fleshy fruits appear by summer and are tartly edible.

Bark: Smooth grey becomes attractively flaky with age.

Foliage: Bright-green leaves turn purplish-red in the fall.

Notes: Cornelian cherry dogwood is one of the first woody plants to bloom in spring with fine clouds of yellow flowers welcomed by early pollinators. It is slow growing and easily sculpted. “They grow almost formally, so for the folks who like round balls, it can be a good choice,” Beuerlein points out. “These small trees make wonderful accents, an interesting specimen in a planting bed, or an attractive small copse.”

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Underused Woody Plants Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’

Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 3 to 6 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide Habit: Upright multi-stemmed shrub Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained, prefers rich acidic soils Flowers: Small white fragrant powderpuff flowers in April Bark: Smooth grey bark Foliage: Medium-sized blue-green ruffled leaves become orange, red, and yellow with notes of burgundy in the fall.

Notes: Although treasured for its fall color, fothergilla also has pretty spring flowers with a honey-like fragrance that bees seek out. Mt. Airy is likely a cross between F. gardenii and F. major and was discovered

by Michael Dirr at Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati. “With terrific fall color and early spring fragrance, it’s really a nice plant,” observes Beuerlein. “I’m partial to it because it was found in Cincinnati. It does very well for us.”

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Halesia diptera Magniflora Group Silverbell

Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 15 to 20 feet high and wide Habit: Loose rounded multi-stemmed tree Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained but happiest in rich, slightly acidic soils Flowers: Showy clusters of white bell-like flowers bloom from April to May. Bark: Medium-brown bark exfoliates in thin scales.

Foliage: Med-green leaves turn yellow in fall.

Notes: Silverbells are vastly underused small ornamental trees native to the south, but hardy up to Zone 5. “The Magniflora group seems to be much more vigorous and easier to grow than the other halesias,” reports Beuerlein. “It has larger flowers and is very floriferous.

It’s pretty amazing. I’ve never seen it have a bad year. It grows a little squirrely, so prune it if you want a controlled form.

Just a knockout when it’s in bloom.” Try using silverbell as an accent tree where its graceful flowers may be enjoyed.

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Underused Woody Plants Lindera angustifolia Oriental Spicebush

Zone: 6 to 8 Size: 8 to 10 feet high and wide Habit: Loosely pyramidal Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained and happiest in a sandy soil Flowers: Small clusters of yellow flowers early in March to April Foliage: Lanceolate glossy green leaves with silvery undersides turn shades of yellow to russet-red in fall and persist until spring.

Notes: Oriental spicebush is a cousin of our native spicebush (Lindera benzoin). For northern sites, plant it on a sunny south wall or in a protected spot. “I am fond of the native. It is a host plant for spicebush swallowtail,” says Beuerlein. “However, the Asian species like L. angustifolia are great for screening because they retain their leaves through winter. They get large enough to even hide your neighbor’s boat! Graceful form and unusually interesting fall color.”

Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus ‘Juliet’ Juliet Bush Cherry

Zone: 2 to 7 Size: 5 to 8 feet high and wide Habit: Upright to rounded Sun: Full sun Soil: Average to moist well-drained Flowers: Covered in white flowers in April.

Foliage: Mid-green simple leaves may have shades of orange to apricot in the fall.

Notes: Bush cherries are tough and lovely plants for fruit and flowers. Developed to be hardy into Canada, Juliet is one selection that is readily available. “Any of them are cool, and I don’t know why people don’t think to use them,” notes Beuerlein. “They fit easily into a small home garden, and you get tasty cherries too.”

Spiraea x cinerea ‘Grefsheim’

Grefsheim Spirea

Zone: 4 to 7 Size: 4 to 5 feet high and wide Habit: Rounded to arching Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to well-drained Flowers: Tiny clustered white flowers cover the shrubs in May about two weeks before Spiraea x vanhouttei.

Foliage: Small blue-green leaves may turn bronze in the fall.

Notes: A more compact spirea than Vanhoutte, but with similar flower power in the spring. “It’s really amazing in bloom,” says Beuerlein. “It’s a wall of white. We use it successfully in some truly dire sites and it always performs well.” Try this smaller spirea as a low hedge or dotted in the perennial border for a fine textured structure shrub.

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Styrax obassia Fragrant Snowbell

Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 15 to 25 feet high and wide Habit: Upright rounded to pyramidal Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Moist well-drained acidic soils Flowers: Long pendulous racemes of bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers with showy yellow stamens bloom May to June.

Foliage: Bright-green medium-sized simple leaves Notes: An unusual specimen small tree that features a stunning floral display in spring. “Just chains and chains of beautiful flowers with gold calyxes,” enthuses Beuerlein. “On the right day in the right light, it’s really something special. Plant it in a warm spot since it’s a little less hardy and use a fertilizer labeled for holly or rhododendron to keep it happy.” Try underplanting with May-blooming perennials for a showstopping display.

Viburnum x juddii

Judd Viburnum

Zone: 4 to 8 Size: 6 to 8 feet high and wide Habit: Upright to rounded Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained Flowers: Large clusters of deeply fragrant white flowers from attractive pink buds bloom in April.

Foliage: Deep-green sandpapery leaves turn burgundy in fall.

Notes: Fragrant viburnums in flower will stop you in your tracks. “They aren’t used as often as they could be,” notes Beuerlein. “They’re easy to grow. I like them all, but I think the fragrance on Juddii is the best. I have one in the backyard, and for that one or two weeks it blooms in spring, the yard smells like candy.” The thick sandy foliage is resistant to viburnum leaf beetle. Judd viburnums are slow to medium growers.

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GREEN INDUSTRY PROTECTION BUSINESS INSURANCE FOR WHAT YOU GROW American National offers a 5% discount on business owners insurance to MNLA members who are Massachusetts Certified Horticulturists (MCH Designees).

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2022 Annual Summer Conference & Trade Show Where green industry professionals meet!

Thursday, July 14, 2022 Weston Nurseries, Inc. 40 Frankland Road Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Join us for MNLA’s inaugural

Battle of the Container Garden Designers!

This competition is made possible by the generosity of our sponsor Bloomin’ Easy.

Let the challenge & judging begin!

When

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Where At the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show hosted by Weston Nurseries, Inc., 40 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, Massachusetts People’s Choice Award 1st prize 2nd prize 3rd prize

$500 $300 $200

4th prize $100 5th prize $50 6th prize $25

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT Visit mnla.com/dte22battle to register online.

Payments can be made online or by check mailed on or before the deadline date.

Payment by credit card: register online.

Payment by check: Make payable to MNLA and mail to MNLA, PO Box 387, Conway MA 01341.

Name Company (if applicable) Street Address City/State/Zip Phone/Fax

Email

™

RULES & REGULATIONS 1. Preregistration: Required on or before July 10, 2022. $25.00 per container entry (includes a ticket to the Down to Earth AFTER PARTY at 3:00 pm, July 14, 2022).

Multiple entries per individual are welcome.

2. Qualifications: This competition is open to ALL who want the chance to be crowned “MNLA’s Container Garden Designer of the Year.” Green industry professionals as well as home gardening enthusiasts are encouraged to bring their best to the competition.

3. Due date: The completed display must be delivered

or finished on-site, July 13, 2022, between 12:00–6:00pm.

4. The completed work must: A. Be set up within the provided area (see registration for your number) B. Not exceed the container size of 18” diameter C. Include geranium—the star of American container gardens.

D. A list of plants used in the display must be provided.

5. Judging: This is a “blind” judging. Reference to the designer and/or company will not be made until AFTER the judging is complete. Judging will close at 2:00pm.

6. Photography: By entering the competition, entrants give full permission for all photography by MNLA and its agents to be used in newsletters, social media, web, display, promotional and educational purposes.

7. Winners will be announced at 3:00 pm at the Down to Earth AFTER PARTY. FREE to pre-registered container garden contestants and paid attendees of the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show.

8. The decision of the judges is final.

Visit mnla.com/dte22battle for more information and to register online.

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Sustainable Gardens

Creating Sustainable Bird-Friendly Gardens for Your Clients

By Nina A. Koziol

T

hey’re here. Millions of them.

Songbirds, warblers, orioles, wrens, robins — you name it. They’re in parks, golf courses, ponds, lakes, and streams; in prairies and woodlands; and in residential landscapes. Some are just passing through on their way north. Some will stick around. All are hungry.

Your crew members hear them in the early morning when they’re heading to a job site. That’s because the males start singing their heads off at dawn to attract a mate (other birds, not the crew members).

We bet it’s the rare client (if any) who calls you and says, “Hey, I’d like a bird-friendly landscape.”

Your clients may have heard the doom-and-gloom drumbeat over the plight of bees and native insects, but few are likely to ask how they can help stem the downward trend on their own property. As landscape contractors, why not do it for them even if all they want is a nice place to hang out and entertain? We are the green industry, after all.

What to Plant

“I select the appropriate plants as they fit into my designs, and I definitely lean toward more natural plantings,” says Bruce Davey, a certified arborist and horticulturist designer. When choosing plants, Davey considers what they offer besides multi-season interest or color, texture, or hardiness. And he leans toward natives, noting that the flowers, leaves, seeds, fruits, nutlets, berries, and insects attracted to those plants are important food for birds. Insects are especially important for nesting species in the spring and early summer. That’s when birds are on the hunt

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for caterpillars, moths, and beetles to feed their young.

Birds, Bees, and More

According to Doug Tallamy, author of The Nature of Oaks, the caterpillars of more than 900 species of moths and butterflies use oak leaves for food, and there’s no other genus that comes close. And while the thought of insects munching on their trees might turn off homeowners, the leaf damage typically goes unnoticed.

Editor’s note: Massachusetts is home to about 1,753 species of moths and butterflies reports Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA).

As the seasons change, so do food sources. “American Linden provides seeds, while oaks have acorns and insects,” Davey said.

“Hackberry fruit can persist through winter, and American hornbeam has nutlets.” He’s used common winterberry, which offers fruits from fall into winter, as well as spicebush, fragrant sumac, lead plant, coralberry, hop hornbeam, and American hazelnut. “Buttonbush has nutlets, common witch hazel has seeds, and smooth and staghorn sumac have fruits,” he points out.

For Jane Grillo, Customer Service Rep at Midwest Ground Covers, if you choose carefully, you can include plants in your projects that not only look great but also add diversity to the landscape and benefit wildlife throughout the year, starting in spring during the great bird migration. “I like Virginia bluebells and lilacs because they offer an early source of nectar. And people don’t always think of them for pollinators.”

Grillo says it’s not only native plants that serve bees, but www.mnla.com

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Sustainable Gardens

also non-native plants and cultivars. “Geranium ‘Rozanne’ has a long bloom time and is a great nectar source. I have had bumble bees on it in October!” When it comes to perennials, some of her top picks are rudbeckia, liatris, sneeze weed (Helenium autumnale), and asters for their long, late-season bloom. “Goldenrods are a top nectar source, and there are many varieties in a range of sizes and soil preferences,” she says. Check out the Chicago Botanic Garden’s evaluation of goldenrods at www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/goldenrod.

to the soil. “Leaving the previous year’s plant material like stems, twigs, vines, leaves, bark, and seed fluff — like that of milkweed, anemone, thistle — provides nesting material.”

Besides oaks, some of Sandoval’s favorites woodies include Cornus alternifolia, smooth serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), Lindera benzoin, and the native elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). “Given the right spot, elderberry can look gorgeous in a garden,” she notes.

Habitat Helper

There are many native perennials to choose from, but Sandoval says her list supports a large number of caterpillars and other insects as well as seeds, nectar, or berries for birds. “When planted together, similar to a prairie or woodland habitat, they can also create shelter and nesting sites,” she notes. “I see many birds hunkering down in my prairie garden and eating seeds during the winter.”

Landscape Designer Denise Sandoval of Good-Natured Landscapes fills a real niche market. Unlike many homeowners who prefer a weed-free, deep-green turf, and the neat-andtidy-everything-pruned landscape, her clients are a special breed that want to attract wildlife. For one client who travels south in winter to bird watch, Sandoval is designing a bird habitat around the home using all natives. “Most native plants attract birds because of the insects, seeds, or berries they offer. Some provide shelter from predators and nesting sites whether they are planted as individual plants, in thickets, or part of a habitat garden. Native oaks are an example of a keystone species that provide for so much wildlife in the way of caterpillars, acorns, and shelter,” she adds.

But it’s not just about choosing the right plants. “There are other habitat and ecosystem components to consider like not using pesticides and providing water, especially during drought and in the winter. There’s also the removal of invasive plants that aren’t nutritional like bayberry, buckthorn, Japanese honeysuckles, and ornamental pear,” Sandoval explains.

Her clients also don’t mind if things are not totally tidy. “My designs incorporate dead wood, snags, and brush piles, all of which provide habitat for over-wintering bees and mourning cloak butterflies, for starters.” She encourages clients to leave fallen leaves on the ground where the decaying carpet of foliage creates a habitat for insects and adds organic matter

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Food for Flocks

• Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Rudbeckia spp.

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Penstemon digitalis and P. hirsutus • Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) • Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) • Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) • Common blue violet (Viola sororia) • American sedges (Carex spp.)

• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Dive into bird identification with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at www.cornell.edu/home.

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Retention & Renewal

Why Did They Quit?

By Dave Anderson

T

hat hopeless feeling when a key member of your team tells you they have decided to leave; the helpless feeling of being blindsided. A million things race through your mind — mostly why? We have all unfortunately had this experience. As an arborist, I am often called out to meet with people who tell me their tree just died suddenly, when we know that most of the time it’s been dying for a while.

The same is true when someone just decides to leave.

Something you were unaware of has been going on that led to this decision. People leave organizations all the time especially in today’s economy when employers have more jobs than they can possibly fill.

The worker is in a very powerful position, and businesses are so desperate to hire people, they are doing all sorts of crazy things. We can’t save them all, but you should develop a plan to abate this issue.

Developing a plan means a written outline with dates and tangible action items. Every company is different, so you need a strategy you can commit to.

Start simple, build momentum. and make it your own. We often get excited with grand plans and don’t follow through, so it should start with the basics. It does not get simpler than engaging your people. Speak with them often, formally and informally, as a group and individually. Let them know how important they are. Show them how important they are with good pay, gifts, and opportunities for growth.

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Ask them what they would do if they were you. How would you solve this problem? Do you have any suggestions to make us better? Be sure to frame the question so they know you may not implement their ideas, but you value their opinion. People want the opportunity to contribute.

They want to be in the loop. The people who do the work often have great ideas because they are closer to the task.

More important, it challenges them to think differently while recognizing it’s not easy to be the boss. In most cases, this will make people less likely to place blame but look for solutions instead.

Make them feel safe so they can tell you what they need so they can be happy. It won’t be easy because people are really afraid to speak openly to their boss, but you need to be open to their feedback. It’s not always realistic, but at least having the conversation makes them feel heard and more comfortable, and it gives you information and options to develop a plan specific for them. Too often as the boss, we focus on what we want or on what’s wrong with our people. Today’s employee will be a little more needy than past generations. That is not bad, it’s just different.

We need to adjust our management style not only for them, but also for the business. As we struggle with this, we often wonder whether we are settling or weak or perhaps we are adjusting to the times. Unfortunately, there is overwhelming evidence the problem is the latter. This does not mean we don’t demand excellence or hold them accountable. It just means we need

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to deepen our connection in order to give that feedback.

In a time when all businesses are so desperate for help, we need to treat our people like gold. Keep communication lines open by having a formal annual review, but it’s even more important to check in from time to time. Create ways to put this in your calendar. It can be as simple as a thoughtful text, a copy of an article you know they would like, a gift certificate, or some Gatorade on a hot day. Have a realistic plan you can commit to. If it’s not your strength or you don’t have time, delegate to someone who has the time and — more important — the skill set. The effort needs to be truthful or it won’t work.

Make the time to strengthen your relationships with your people. Be sincerely interested in them and what they want. As Stephen Covey says, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

This allows for open communication that leads to happier and more productive employees.

We all get busy running the business, but without key people, there is no business.

Instead of why they quit, know why they stay.

David M. Anderson has over 30 years of experience in horticulture, client service, and public relations. He works for Mayer Tree Service. David is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist, Certified Landscape Professional, and a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional. He was the chairman of the Massachusetts Certified Arborist Board for three years, and is currently a board member of the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association.

David has authored several articles for trade publications and frequently gives presentations to garden clubs, trade organizations, and students on a variety of topics. In the last several years, he has become more involved in and passionate about employee engagement.

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60 Years of Support: The Horticultural Research Institute Continues to Grow the Industry

By Sally Benson Think back, if you will, to 1962: • John Glenn became the first human to orbit the Earth.

•

President John F. Kennedy was dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

•

Rachel Carson published her landmark book, Silent Spring.

A

nd in September 1962, a small group of forwardthinking nursery professionals established the Horticultural Research Institute to provide funds that would support industry-driven, targeted research. Starting from a combined donation of $1,300 in the early 1960s to having supported a total of $9.5 million in research grants and scholarships by its 60th year, HRI continues to grow — and to grow the industry.

“It’s remarkable to imagine that 60 years ago, HRI was merely an idea. Today, that idea has grown into an incredible organization singularly focused on the research needs of the green industry,” says Alan Jones, current President of the Horticultural Research Institute and President of Manor View Farms in Monkton, Maryland. “Sixty years later, on the shoulders of those who started the work, HRI is a strong, thriving organization with hundreds of volunteers, thousands of donors, and millions of dollars invested in research.”

Historical Perspective

The roots of the organization actually go back to the early 1950s, when the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) Board of Directors proposed a program to solicit financial contributions to support industry research. That early attempt laid the foundation, but it wasn’t until a few years later that the AAN Board formally established HRI as an organization separate from, but related to, AAN. Beginning in those early days in the 1960s, through AAN’s change to the American Nursery and Landscape Association

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and then AmericanHort, the Horticultural Research Institute has been committed to prioritizing and funding research that addresses specific problems and challenges identified by industry professionals.

Where do those funds come from? The money is contributed by industry stakeholders — growers, landscapers, garden center retailers, and other green industry professionals — through endowments they’ve established with HRI. “This is a grassroots organization,” explains Harvey Cotten, HRI’s Ad-Hoc Development Committee Chair. “All the money has come from industry; it has been individuals or companies that have seen the wisdom in trying to solve our own problems.”

All funds are invested, and so the money continues to accrue interest over the years, and the fund draws dividends, which then can be used to fund further research. “I’ve often said that you’re not giving to HRI. This is not a charitable contribution in the sense that we make a contribution to our church or even to feed the homeless,” Cotten adds. “This is actually an investment that is going to pay you back in dividends, i.e., problem solving, so that it isn’t just a gift. And this research is what will make one profitable in one’s own business.”

Dale Deppe, President of Spring Meadow Nursery and a member of HRI’s Investment Committee, puts it this way: “HRI does things we can’t do for ourselves. You’re better together than you are as an individual nursery or greenhouse person, because you can’t do the research; you can’t fund it at the level that HRI does.”

It’s an investment in finding research solutions to your specific challenge. But it’s also an investment in the future of the industry.

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FOUR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS Looking ahead, HRI has identified four Strategic Focus Areas that will serve as a guide for further prioritizing funding of research programs. To consider and identify the broad spectrum of interests within the greater green industry, HRI convened a large panel of stakeholders, each representing a unique business and industry segment.

“We came together with 50 different stakeholders representing the whole industry and every segment of it to talk about what we see going into the future: What are the research priorities we need to look at? How would we prioritize the type of research projects we want to address? That’s where the four areas of strategic focus came about,” says Cotten.

ed research will help answer these questions and find innovative, useful, applicable solutions.

Gathering Consumer Insights The third area is Gathering Consumer Insights. Growers excel at propagating, hybridizing, and, well, growing plants.

Landscape professionals are expert at designing and installing built environments that showcase those plants. And garden center retailers are generally that all-important point of contact between the buyer and the producer.

Cotten says of the stakeholders’ considerations: “Gathering

Quantifying Plant Benefits The first area is Quantifying Plant Benefits. The ultimate target is the consumer — those who purchase plants and plant-related services — and the aim is help them to fully understand and appreciate the value of plants. But in order to do that, Cotten explains, “We need to get our people, whether that’s the greenhouse side, the landscape side, or the retail side, the ammunition they need to show the benefits of plants as more than just being something pretty, whether that’s ecosystem services, pollinator appeal, pollution, erosion, all of these things — including climate change.”

Research that highlights the quantitative value of plants — what, specifically, do plants do for me? what do plants do for the environment? — will provide green industry professionals information that will help sell those plants and help grow and sustain the industry.

Creating Innovative Solutions The second area is Creating Innovative Solutions. A prime example of a continuing challenge for all segments of the industry is labor. “When we looked at Creating Innovative Solutions, labor continues to be our biggest problem,” Cotten says. “So instead of just saying “fix labor,” how do we instead determine which innovative solutions will reduce the need for additional labor?”

Is mechanization the answer? Are efficiency studies called for? Funding the most appropriate targeted, specific, dedicat-

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Consumer Insights truly was looking at the buying public and how we market of our plants, which we had never done.” Listening to the end user, assessing the home gardener’s wants and needs, working with professional customers and clients to determine what they’re looking for — all this is necessary to provide the best, most valuable, most saleable goods and services.

Producing Practical and Actionable Solutions.

The final focus area identified by HRI’s panel of industry professionals is Producing Practical and Actionable Solutions. Ideally, it’s the goal of all research funded by HRI grants. Research for the sake of research is laudable, admirable, and necessary. But what professionals in the green industry need from HRI-funded research — the research into which they’ve invested their dollars — is information and strategies they can put to use to solve the problems they’ve identified.

“Producing Practical and Actionable Solutions,” Cotten explains, “is that easily defined category into which very specific challenges fall.” It’s where producers get the answers for their unique problems: There’s crape myrtle bark scale; how do we solve it?” Cotton says. “Or there’s spotted lantern fly coming up, or boxwood tree moth. We wanted to have an area of focus

that those types of problems would fit very nicely into.”

As the country appears to be emerging from the restrictive grip of a global pandemic, studies have determined that lockdowns, career changes, working at home, and other factors have contributed to extraordinary growth in the number of new gardeners: 16 to 18 million are estimated to have entered the market. Reaching out to them, educating them, maintaining them as good customers, producing the highest quality and most desired plants — it’s all quite a challenge. But HRI has already provided funding support for research that will lead them, and the industry, into the future.

About HRI: The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), the research affiliate of AmericanHort, has provided over $9.5 million in funds since 1962 to research projects covering a broad range of production, environmental, and business issues important to the green industry. Over $20 million is committed to the endowment by individuals, corporations, and associations. For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, scholarships, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or contact Jennifer Gray at 614-884-1155.

Article provided by the Horticultural Research Institute.

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Safety Culture

Creating A Strong Return to Work Program H aving a strong return to work program at your company is always a good idea, but with workers’ comp costs predicted to rise in the near future, this practice is even more pertinent.

A return to work program allows an injured worker to remain at work in a temporary or light-duty capacity while recovering from their injury. Modified duty programs help to reduce the direct costs of a claim, which may have a positive impact down the road.

While every landscape or lawn care company will train their employees to avoid injuries, accidents will inevitably happen from time to time. An effective return to work program helps round out your safety program so you know how to respond after an injury occurs.

“It’s important that it’s established and thought out before the injury occurs because trying to create a modified duty program or figure out what to do with an injured employee at the time of injury would be pretty hectic, chaotic, and difficult,” says Drew Garcia, Vice President of Rancho Mesa Insurance Services.

A return to work program helps shift the injured employee’s focus from pain to recovery. They also get boosted self-esteem by still being able to do meaningful work and get compensated for it, thus improving their mental health as well as their physical conditioning.

“Studies have shown that the longer somebody is out of work, the less likely they are to ever come back to work at all,” says Margaret Hartmann, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies. “Permanent disability claims are often litigated and more costly, so it is important for employers to get injured workers back into the workplace and on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.”

Not only does having a return to work program help employees recover faster, which can reduce medical costs, but an early return to work also lowers the duration of temporary disability payments.

“It is also less disruptive for an employer to bring an experienced employee back to a modified position than trying to find a replacement hire to cover all their job duties, especially given

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the current labor shortage,” Hartmann says.

Garcia adds that underwriters will also note your company’s minimal lost-time claims if you have an effective return to work program, which could help them become more aggressive when analyzing your risk profile.

Keys to Success

If you currently don’t have a return to work program, Steve Hamilton, Loss Control Supervisor for Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, says you should first put things in writing. He suggests starting with formal job descriptions. List what your employees do, how long they do it, and all of the physical limitations for each job description.

“As you’re writing a return-to-work job description, be sure it’s not the same as the job description you use for hiring,” Hamilton says. “This is a job description for a completely different reason. These detail the physical limitations of each job title or task. Job descriptions with physical limitations help to clarify what employees are currently doing for possible comparison to their capabilities after an injury.”

Once job descriptions are formally developed, Hamilton suggests providing the job descriptions to your workers’ comp clinic before an injury occurs. This allows the treating physician an opportunity to determine whether physical restrictions from an injury match current job duties during treatment. If they don’t, the employer can identify a modified duty position accordingly.

“Another thing I think is important is that you come up with a written job description for a possible modified duty position. This one’s a little tough because every situation is different,” Hamilton says.

“Start with a generic position and build on it as needed. For example, start with a modified job description for someone who can’t lift more than 10 pounds or for someone who can’t stand for more than 20 minutes.”

While there are templates online, be sure to modify these to your specific company. Hamilton says you can also reach out to your insurance company for help.

When it comes to creating modified duty tasks, be mindful www.mnla.com

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that every situation is different and even two back injuries with the same restrictions may need a completely different approach based on the employee’s normal job.

“Treat everybody as an individual,” Hamilton says. “Try to find something that’s effective for each individual.”

He says it’s also important to put someone in charge of the return to work program. It is important for one person to monitor the progress of workers on modified duty and to evaluate current restrictions. This person should interact with the injured workers as appropriate to ensure they are following their restrictions. The person in charge is probably someone in Human Resources due to privacy issues involved. Choose the person carefully.

If you already have a return to work program, Hamilton suggests communicating this to your employees from the start during orientation. This lets them know you are going to do everything you can to get them healthy and back to work in an impactful way. An injured employee

could serve as an assistant safety manager or mentor new crew members on how to do certain tasks.

“Positions that are perceived as punitive or a punishment are not effective,” Hamilton says. “Employers should consider this when crafting modified duty job descriptions.”

Hamilton says choosing tasks that are not impactful or meaningful from a business perspective will make employees unhappy, so try to craft effective positions that are specific to the employee.

He says it’s also important to remember that the modified duty is not permanent, so set specific limitations and adjust the position every 30, 60, or 90 days as the employee improves.

While some employers may think that bringing back an injured worker will result in them getting hurt further, Hamilton says the opposite is the case if you bring someone in on modified duty and you can monitor them.

The key is making sure the employee is sticking to their light-duty tasks.

Foremen should be informed about the employee’s restrictions.

“A lot of landscape companies have working foremen, so they’re not always watching Bob who is injured, but it’s important for them to understand they have a role to play in this program,” Hamilton says. “It might be an educational thing.

Teach your foremen, your superintendents, your account managers that they have a role in this return to work program too.”

“I think spending time developing this program in advance of an injury occurring is the key,” Garcia says.

Focus on the basics: Develop written job descriptions, provide these to your clinic before an injury occurs, communicate the elements of the plan to your staff, and anticipate the next step should an injury occur.

“Having an effective return to work program requires some planning and communication, but the end result will be improved morale, a stronger relationship with employees, and potentially lower claim costs,” Garcia says.

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Business Minute

Communication Habits of the Emotionally Intelligent Leader

By Liz Uram

We’ve all seen it. The leader who receives bad

news in a meeting and slams their fist on the table with a loud outburst of disgust. Or the leader who becomes overcome by their emotions and breaks down in tears. From one emotional extreme to the other, neither of these leaders instills confidence or trust in their team. Working for an emotionally unstable boss results in a group think culture or an eggshell culture.

A Group Think culture is formed when the group realizes that the only acceptable response to the boss’s latest and greatest idea is agreement. Have you ever sat in a meeting where the whole group just did the ‘smile and nod’? If so, you have experienced group think. Leaders who are prone to impulsive outbursts when they feel like they are being questioned create a culture where people are afraid to do anything but go along.

An Eggshell Culture is when everyone is ‘walking on eggshells’ and that is no fun either. This is created when you have a leader who goes from one extreme to the other. You never know what you’re going to get. It all depends on their mood that day. One minute everything is fine. The next minute they are in a rage because traffic was a nightmare and they are running late. They are an emotional hot mess.

You clearly do not want to create either of those cultures, and in almost all cases, they are created unintentionally.

That’s the scary part. The leaders don’t realize the impact they have. They lack emotional intelligence.

Simply put, emotional intelligence is your ability to cope with adversity. When people are doing what you want them to do and your plans are working out the way you hoped, life is easy. But how do you react when people aren’t doing what you want them to do and your plans aren’t unfolding the way you had hoped? That’s the true test.

The good news is that emotional intelligence is a skill that can be developed over time. Just follow these five communication habits of emotionally intelligent leaders:

11.

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Self-awareness. Most leaders are not intentionally creating negative workplace cultures. They just aren’t aware of how their reactions can impact other people and create a sense of uneasiness. The emotionally intelligent leader is not only aware of the impact of their words, they are also aware of what message they are communicating through their facial expressions and body language. They understand that the perceptions others have of them, real or imagined, impact how their message is received. They strive to

develop a heightened level of self-awareness through feedback, self-reflections, and assessments that can help them understand their natural personality style.

22.

Positivity. The emotionally intelligent leader pays close attention to their thoughts and takes swift action to shift to a positive outlook when they catch themselves getting sucked into negativity. You can train yourself to have more positivity simply by paying more attention. What do you think of first thing in the morning? Do you think about your day ahead and say things to yourself like, “This is going to be a hard day”? If so, guess what kind of day you’re going to get?

A hard day. It’s simple — just changing your thought to “today is going to be a great day” can make all the difference.

33.

Mission-minded. The emotionally intelligent leader looks ahead to where they’re going. They know that their reactions can either help them or hurt them as they work to achieve their professional and personal goals. They talk about the mission of the company with their team. They know that having a shared sense of purpose will motivate and energize a team in ways that an angry outburst never can. They share the success stories that show the mission in action and help their team see they “why” behind the “what” in everything they do.

44.

Resilience. Stress and setbacks are a part of life. How you bounce back from a setback sets the tone for the rest of the team. The emotionally intelligent leader is aware of their stressors and their natural reactions.

Do they go into fight mode or flight mode? They take steps to proactively counteract the negative impacts of stress on their life. They understand the serious health effects of long-term stress. One study revealed that 60 percent of all basic health issues are caused by chronic stress. By controlling their own stress levels, they are better able to help their team walk through stressful situations.

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miltoncat.com *Offer valid from May 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 on new small (Compact Track Loaders, Compact Wheel Loaders, Micro/Mini Excavators, Skid Steer Loaders) and compact (Backhoe Loaders, Telehandlers, Small Track Type Tractors, Small Wheel Loaders) Cat machines sold by participating Cat dealers to customers in the USA or Canada. Purchase and delivery must occur during offer period. Offer subject to machine availability and credit approval by Cat Financial. Not all customers will qualify. Length of contract is limited. 0% offers may vary by model and dealer. Payments are based on term length. Payments do not include taxes, freight, set-up, delivery, document fees, inspections, additional options, or attachments. The credit of up to $500 USD can only be applied toward the purchase of a qualifying Cat Customer Value Agreement (CVA) or qualifying Equipment Protection Plan (EPP). Amount of the credit cannot exceed the price of qualifying CVA or EPP. CVA must include 1-year Preventative Maintenance Parts Kit, TA1 annual Inspection, signed CVA contract, and Product Link. Amount of credit towards CVA or EPP is the same for all models. In some areas, EPP might be sold separately from the CVA. Offer may change without prior notice and cannot be combined with any other offers. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Contact your Cat dealer for details.

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55.

Business Minute Conflict management. The emotionally intelligent leader doesn’t accept every invitation to engage in conflict. They understand that conflict is a natural outcome of a group of people working together. Every individual on a team is bringing their own set of beliefs, values, perceptions, and personality to the workplace. These leaders understand that when a particular person seems difficult it’s usually just that they are different.

They can see, and appreciate, the strengths that different personalities and backgrounds contribute to the greater whole.

They accept individual differences rather than insisting that everyone see things their way.

There you have it. Five communication habits that can increase your ability to handle any situation in stride. Not only will you feel better, you will enjoy the results that come from a team of people who respect and trust you as a leader.

Liz Uram is a nationally-recognized speaker, trainer, consultant, and author. She equips leaders with the tools they need to communicate like a boss so they can make a bigger impact, get better results, and motivate others to do their best, and with 20 years of experience, she’s developed systems that work. Uram has written four books packed full of strategies leaders can implement to get real results, real fast. Please visit www.lizuram.com.

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45

My Favorite Plant

Cornus kousa ‘Heart Throb™’ Dogwood

by Jim Matusik

P

eople don’t plant enough dogwoods, but this is one you should try. It not only survives, it thrives. Bract color is pink to deep red, at least as dark as C. florida ‘Cherokee Chief.’ Flowers are larger than the species, around four inches in diameter. Kousa dogwoods flower later than the native Florida dogwood. It starts flowering in June and lasts through July. It’s nice to have a tree that’s flowering when others are not. ‘Heart Throb’ blooms at an early age, generally at three years from graft, and is a heavy bloomer.

In addition to the striking flowers, ‘Heart Throb’ offers so much more interest than the species. There’s something to draw your attention in every season. The fruit is an attractive, edible red drupe similar in appearance to a strawberry.

Leaves are shorter and broader than the species, a glossy green with a touch of red on the tips. It has great fall color, a deep orangered. In winter, you can enjoy the mosaic pattern formed by the tree’s exfoliating bark, which starts occurring at an early age. The tree will form a widely rounded head about 20 to 30 feet at maturity, with an equal spread.

‘Heart Throb’ prefers full sun, but can be grown in partial shade. The tree is resistant to dogwood anthracnose and other diseases. It has few insect pests and can therefore be grown with little chemical dependence. ‘Heart Throb’ is heat and drought tolerant and can be grown with little additional water to retain plant vigor. Cold hardiness is similar to the species.

It can be widely used in the landscape and makes a good companion plant with Japanese maple and dwarf conifers. Use it as a focal point to draw people into the landscape.

|46

Jim Matusik, The Tree Connection Jim Matusik is president of The Tree Connection, a wholesale nursery stock distribution company that works with growers from both coasts.

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