The Landscape Contractor magazine MAY.22 DIGITAL EDITION

Hursthouse Sweeps the Majors

ILCA Spring Events

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April 2022

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project FOCUS: Pro Tips on Permitting Pro Tips for Permitting

Make your building permit process flow

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Spring Events — Putting the Illinois Back in ILCA ILCA ventures southwest for contractor event

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Young Professionals Hold Spring Event

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Women’s Networking Group Holds Spring Event

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ILCA Foremanship Training 28 Excellence in Landscape Judges Award

EN ESPAÑOL

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¿Por qué necesita un permiso?

Make your building permit process flow

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AAS Shows Off Color in Annuals and Perennials Colorful plants for pollinators

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New Members 52 A bounty of new members Member Profile 54 Power Planter, Inc.

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Inspiration Alley 61 It’s all in your head Hidden Landscape Gems Sanger House Gardens Hidden Landscape Gems

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On the cover... Hursthouse, Inc. received the 2022 Judges’ Award for Residential Maintenance with this project titled Nurturing a Poem.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message Classified Ads Advertisers Index

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee Debbie Bartsch Rick Reuland AAS Power Paver Nina Koziol

1, 8-9, 30-39 16-18 20-29 44-51 54 61

Calendar 4 5 7 56 61

Heather Prince

SAVE THE DATES JUNE June 16, 2022 Design Tour

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The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication.

Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. WWW.ilca.net

AUGUST August 4, 2022 Fire & Ice The New COMBINED Summer Field Day + Summer Snow Day! Cantigny Park

Volume 63, Number 4. The Landscape Contractor (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632 PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products

ILCA Staff

Magazine Staff

Executive Director Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@ilca.net

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Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

Debbie Rauen Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com

Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net Office Manager Alycia Nagy anagy@ilca.net Membership & Marketing Manager Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net

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2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150

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Shade TreeS • OrnamenTalS • evergreenS • ShrubS Ryan Doty sales@dotynurseries.com

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From Where I Stand —

Legend has it that Archimedes, the Greek mathema-

tician, uttered the phrase, “Eureka, I have found it” as he hopped out of a bathtub. Archimedes is most famous for explaining density and displacement by use of a bathtub filled with water.

The details of the anecdote are sketchy. Some versions have Archimedes putting his foot into a bathtub, another a crown made of gold, while others have him jumping out of a bathtub completely naked. Believe what you will.

The term “Eureka” is still used to this day when provided proof of a discovery. Beyond a mere word, it is actually a cry of joy because it reinforces a long held belief that just needed to be discovered. The exclamation lets everyone around you aware of the moment your light was turned on in the darkness.

On March 1st, ILCA held our inaugural Spring Training for Landscape Professionals at Stoneleaf Nursery in Eureka, IL. Just where is Eureka, Illinois? It is about halfway between Peoria and Bloomington. Where are Peoria and Bloomington? Good grief, you need to get out of Chicagoland every now and then!

Spring Training was an event almost four years in the making. Long before Covid was a glimmer in some pangolin’s eye, the ILCA and our sister association the Illinois Green Industry Association (IGIA) set out to co-produce an event outside of our typical market of the Chicago suburbs. We envisioned the event as a 1-day, technical skills boot camp that would be organized by our Technical Skills Committee and a cross-section of IGIA volunteers. We would take the “greatest hits” from the already popular Field Staff Skills Training program we do in March, and bring them down to a new geographic area.

As we perused the potential host cities, we realized quickly that Illinois is a large state. Those from the Chicagoland-area normally conclude that most of the cities south of I-80 are within a stone’s throw from one another. I mean, how far can it be to drive from Rock Island to Quincy to Peoria to Springfield to Champaign (7.5-hours to be exact)? In reality, these population pockets are stretched out across half the state with hundreds of small towns nestled in between.

First, we needed to pin down a location. There are about 5,000 landscape businesses in Illinois and about half are outside of Chicagoland. Our greatest fear would be putting this event in the wrong location, seeing attendance suffer, and have both organizations shrug their shoulders and say, “See, told you they wouldn’t come.” In our research, we kept coming back to Peoria.

Peoria had the most landscape companies within a one hour drive than any other city we examined.

For those who haven’t been to P-Town in a while, it is the largest city on the Illinois River, home to about 113,000 people.

The city was once the worldwide headquarters of Caterpillar. In 2017, CAT relocated its headquarters to Deerfield and took some of the largest incomes with it. Peoria is doing what many industrial towns are trying to do: diversify and survive.

As with most small towns, Peoria is a fighter. The nation’s landscape is littered with industrial towns whose primary reason-

for-being picked up and left for another city, state, or country.

This has ripped cultural and political lines across the entire country. It has deepened the alienation many in small towns feel for their urban population centers. Recent elections have shown deep divides between urban and rural America. If election rhetoric is to be believed, we are living in two different worlds.

The ILCA and IGIA as organizations, at times, have resembled this divide. We have a crossover in almost 50% of our membership.

Growers, garden centers, and contractors call both organizations home. Yet, due to our geography we seemed divided. There were urban and rural mindsets, perceptions, and misperceptions.

Although we shared similar missions to elevate landscape professionals across the state and the love of our industry, we focused on our differences for far too long.

Then we picked up the phone and started talking.

My counterpart at IGIA is Kellie Schmidt. I have met a lot of people in the green industry, but few work harder than Kellie. Soon after meeting, we decided to bury any history and ill-will our organizations had in the past. We would treat each other as colleagues first and foremost. If one of us needed advice, information on legislation, help with a program challenge, or information on a member, we never hesitated to contact each other.

Kellie and I decided, after three years of postponements, that our downstate Spring Training event was ready. As we scoured the Peoria-area for windowless hotel conference rooms, Kellie remembered Stoneleaf Nursery that sat smack dab between Peoria and Bloomington. Owned by the Cottrell family, they hosted an annual customer event around the same timeframe. Kellie was confident we could convince them to host. The owner, John, started as a landscape contractor and he fully understood the headaches and isolation that come with the job. He was fully on board for a training event. We had our site.

Before the pandemic, working together meant clunky conference calls and two hour drives to do site visits and hold meetings.

The ability to meet virtually meant IGIA, ILCA, and Stoneleaf could meet face to face for months leading up to the program.

After just a few calls, everyone felt like a team even though some of us had never met in person before. The more we talked and planned, the more excited we got.

One of the exciting elements of event planning is how every conversation leads to another conversation. We feel like detectives trying to track down the five or six central challenges of the market, what the questions are, and, more importantly who has the answers. Kellie was convinced we had a chance to expand the event further by developing an Owners Track to coincide with the technical training. Our event’s focus just doubled in size.

As the event began to crystallize, we’d soon learn the answer to our biggest question — ­ did anyone in this market actually want to attend? ILCA and IGIA like to tell ourselves that we don’t have 5,000 members because companies are simply unaware of us. We know that is not true. Some companies are just fiercely indepen-

A Eureka Moment

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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From Where I Stand —

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dent. They adopt the mindset, that they’ve made it this far without belonging to their trade association, why start now? We were lobbing a program deep into the heart of that market.

Within just a few days of launching the program, the registrations began pouring in. It wasn’t just one or two people at a time, companies were sending 7 or 9 or 12 employees. The owner wasn’t demanding they attend and report back, her or she was attending too.

Within a few weeks, we blew past 100 registrants, then 200, then 300. We were all stunned at the response. Sponsors lined up too.

Finally, we ran out of room and had to start a wait list.

The night before the event, the two organizations had dinner together at a wonderful Peoria restaurant called Thyme. It was a cross-section of staff, leadership, and volunteers. The restaurant couldn’t have been a better metaphor for Peoria and our event. It was in a reclaimed warehouse space. It had a beer and whisky list that ranged from Pabst Blue Ribbon to local brews to handcrafted IPAs. The menu had country cooking dishes that had been totally reimagined. The restaurant made sure every guest felt comfortable regardless of their palette or background. Our event the next morning would attempt to do the same. Reclaim a greenhouse, pack it with people, provide the best program possible regardless of company size or location, and just leave everyone satisfied.

The morning of the event, the sun rose and cast a golden hue over the cornfields. Within an hour, 300 landscape professionals crowded into the greenhouse and it crackled with energy. The Cottrell family were perfect hosts. Their hardworking team could compete with any trained hotel or convention center.

It had been a long time since these competitors and colleagues were able to talk and network. They talked to suppliers and they talked to each other. That stereotype of being “fiercely independent” faded with each passing hour. At lunch, a local smokehouse provided the brisket and we made sure no one left hungry.

As the day wound down, I ducked into the Owner’s Panel. This was owners of central Illinois landscape companies and some of the challenges they are dealing with as they prepare for another season.

Guess what? Their challenges were the exact same challenges of owners in Naperville or Hinsdale or the north shore. They are dealing with a labor shortage, inflation, surging fuel costs, supply line disruptions, governmental regulations, and employee retention. No matter what Illinois town an owner calls home, he or she is dealing with the same stuff, different day. This further demonstrates the responsibility ILCA and IGIA have to lean into the “Illinois” parts of our names and provide further value and support to statewide businesses.

As I made my two hour drive home that day, I realized Illinois is a big state. With that said, that’s no longer an excuse. Technology has blasted through communication barriers. Our relationship with IGIA has never been stronger. There are supplier partners who are willing to host, support, and sponsor. Finally, there is a massive audience of landscape professionals who want our help. We are out of excuses. It is time for ILCA to shrink this large state. It was a long road to Eureka, but we made it there. And in Eureka, we may have found it.

Sincerely,

Scott Grams Executive Director March 20, 2022

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

President’s Message — A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending my first Past Presidents dinner, as I normally have been unable to attend due to our annual family vacation to Florida. Adding to this, the 2021 iteration was cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, but after a two-year hiatus, much like iLandscape, the dinner was back in the schedule. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of knowledge, professionalism, passion, and perspective that comes out of this group of individuals. ILCA has been fortunate to have so many industry leaders volunteer their time to not only lead their own organizations, but lead the association on behalf of the membership at large. As we moved beyond dinner, an open discussion was opened and I was put into the hot seat, ready to field any questions. I have to say – quite a bit more intense than I anticipated, but these were well-thought and directed questions that I was happy to respond to. Of the entire discussion, there was one exchange that sticks out. I had mentioned that “you don’t come into this industry for the money,” to which Scott Byron responded in disagreement, not because it is necessarily false, but that it speaks to a greater issue of our entire industry. As I digested what he was saying, I reframed my response.

As we all know, landscaping is a legitimate trade that supports thousands of workers and has a significant contribution to the state economy.

Unfortunately, landscaping has always been the red-headed stepchild Scott McAdam Jr. of the trade world. While other trades such as plumbing, electrical, and painting enjoy the luxury of profitable billable rates and expectation of payment when the job is complete, as landscapers, we get beat down on price and clients think they are entitled to payment terms. Why should we be viewed as a trade that the client can decide our rates, when to pay us, and hold the keys to our success? If I gained any perspective from my exchange with Scott, it’s that we need to change the narrative of our industry so that our industry careers can be more lucrative, and we are viewed to be on par with every other trade. There is a great living to be had working in this industry, but the perception of our trade needs to change. We need to not only be valued by our clients, but we also need to value ourselves and understand that we shouldn’t settle just because the customer says so. In my mind, the customer is not king; our employees and our companies are king and we need to do everything possible to provide for our own success.

The landscape season has arrived. Be proud of your company, be proud of your trade, and most of all, value what you do.

President

Scott McAdam, Jr. McAdam Landscaping, Inc. (708) 771-2299 Scottjr@mcadamlandscape.com

Vice-President

Jeff Kramer Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 293-5444 jwkramer@kramertree.com

Secretary-Treasurer

Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-8160 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Immediate Past President Donna Vignocchi Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com

Directors

Eric Adams Russo Power Equipment (847) 233-7811 eadams@russopower.com Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Sincerely, Scott McAdam Jr.

Kim Hartmann Hartmann Consulting 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net Jennifer Fick Wilson Nurseries and Landscape Supply (847) 683-3700 jennf@wilsonnurseries.com Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net Kevin Manning K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

www.ilca.net

Hace unas semanas, tuve el placer de asistir a mi primera cena de expresidentes, a las cuales normalmente no me era posible asistir debido a nuestras vacaciones familiares anuales en la Florida.

Encima de esto, se canceló la iteración de 2021 debido a las restricciones de la pandemia, pero después de un intervalo de dos años, de forma similar a iLandscape, la cena estaba de nuevo en el calendario. Nunca deja de asombrarme la cantidad de conocimientos, profesionalismo, pasión y perspectiva que surge de este grupo de personas. ILCA ha tenido la fortuna de que tantos líderes de la industria ofrezcan su tiempo voluntariamente no solo para liderar sus propias organizaciones, sino también, liderar la asociación en nombre de toda la membresía. Después de comer, se inició una discusión abierta y fui puesto en la silla caliente, listo para fildear todas las preguntas. Debo decir – un poco más intensas de lo que había anticipado, pero todas fueron preguntas directas y razonables que contesté con agrado. De toda la discusión, un intercambio destaca. Yo había dicho que “no se viene a esta industria por el dinero”, a lo cual Scott Byron respondió en desacuerdo, no porque mi afirmación sea necesariamente falsa, sino porque hace referencia a un problema grande en toda nuestra industria. A medida que digería lo que él decía, reformulé mi respuesta.

Como todos sabemos, el paisajismo es un negocio legítimo que apoya a miles de trabajadores y hace un aporte significativo a la economía estatal. Lamentablemente, el paisajismo siempre ha sido el hijastro pelirrojo del mundo del comercio. Si bien otros negocios como la plomería, la electricidad y la pintura disfrutan del lujo de tener tarifas facturables rentables y expectativas de pago cuando se completa el trabajo, como paisajistas, tenemos que rebajar los precios y los clientes piensan que tienen derecho a términos de pago. ¿Por qué tenemos que ser vistos como un negocio en el cual los clientes pueden decidir nuestras tarifas, cuándo pagarnos y conservar las llaves de nuestro éxito? Si obtuve alguna perspectiva de mi intercambio con Scott, es que debemos cambiar la narrativa de nuestra industria, para que las carreras en nuestra industria puedan ser más lucrativas y se nos vea a la par con todos los demás negocios. Se puede disfrutar de una vida fructífera trabajando en nuestra industria, pero la percepción de nuestro negocio debe cambiar. No solo necesitamos que nuestros clientes nos valores, sino también debemos valorarnos nosotros mismos y comprender que no debemos llegar a un acuerdo solo porque el cliente lo dice. En mi mente, el cliente no es rey; nuestros empleados y nuestras compañías son reyes y tenemos que hacer todo lo que sea posible para promover nuestro propio éxito.

Ha llegado la temporada de paisajismo. Enorgullézcase de su compañía, enorgullézcase de su negocio y, sobre todo, valore lo que hace.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Chalet • Wilmette Winnetka Maintenance

After a completely new

landscape wascompleted for this Winnetka residence a customized landscape management plan was put into action. The landscape consists of large planting beds filled with colorful perennials, roses, and grasses. Annual flower bed and container plantings are changed seasonally to provide continuous color and interest. Weekly visits by an experienced management crew ensure the lasting beauty of the landscape and careful attention is paid to bed

edging, weeding, and trimming. The bluestone patios are swept clean each week and pressure washed annually. The organic turf care program keeps the lawn healthy throughout the year.

Slow release organic fertilizers and leaf compost are applied to the planting beds annually. Holiday décor is designed and installed for the front yard each fall and winter. Careful attention to detail paired with sustainable care practices ensure the client’s property will be beautiful for the life of the landscape.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

9

Pro Tips for Permitting —

by Meta Levin

Successful permitting boils down to three things: relationships, honesty and doing the right thing. That was Jon Hirsch and Moira Dillon’s message to those who attended their iLandscape 2022 presentation, “Everything You Should Know to Make Your Building Permit Process Flow.”

Both Hirsch, president of Krügel Cobbles in Lake Bluff, and Moira Dillon, designer for the company, have a long history with the permitting process. “This is a big issue with ILCA members,” says Hirsch.

“If you get a reputation of doing the right thing, you will get the benefit of the doubt if something goes wrong,” Hirsch says. That reputation begins with forging relationships with the right people in the building and zoning departments of the municipalities in which you work. “Get to know them and let them get to know you.”

Why do you need a permit?

Getting a permit for most construction work is the law. “If you get caught doing the work without one, it can be expensive,” says Hirsch. In the worst case, municipal officials can make you tear out the work you’ve already completed.

It can be a time-consuming process to get a permit, which leads some clients pressuring contractors to skip it. “Tell them it’s a necessity,” Hirsch says. “It’s a must have, not a nice to have.” In the long run, it will save everyone a lot of heartache.

If you think that you can go ahead without one, know that building inspectors drive around looking for signs that work is underway, then check if the permit has been issued. One inspector told Dillon that when he saw the Krügel Cobbles trucks, he didn’t worry about the permitting, because they had a reputation of doing things right. Not so for some other contractors.

During the permitting process there are fees for review, inspection and for each subcontractor. They far exceed the $150 flat fee that Krügel Cobbles charges.

“The rest of the fees charged by the municipality are 10

included in the last invoice when we close the job,” says Dillon, who stresses that Krügel Cobbles itemizes the amounts and includes payment confirmations. “We only take care of any required bond that will be reimbursed once the job is finished without any damage. This usually is when the right-of-way is involved.”

Other costs connected with the permitting process are rolled into the overhead. Dillon usually warns clients that the job may require a new plat of survey, as well as other related fees. “It is important to tell the client that we don’t know what it is going to cost,” she says. “A new plat and drainage and grading plans are an extra expenditure.”

Dillon ticked off several advantages to following the permitting process in detail: • Avoid potential lawsuits •

Avoid unpleasant surprises

•

Comply with code standards

•

Minimize environmental impact

•

Keep a record (what was done)

•

Protect your client relationship

There are advantages both for the contractor and the client. For instance, any modification done with an approved permit will be covered by home insurance if anything happens in the future, says Dillon.

It also means that the municipality has a record of when and what types of work was done. Hirsch notes that he has had new home buyers contact him about work done years before they bought their homes. “They had been connected to us by the municipalities that had our permit presentation on file,” he says. “This connected us to a new client who had bought a house where we had worked before. They were (continued on page 12)

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Pro Tips for Permitting — (continued from page 10) able to know exactly what material was used to be able to expand the existing patio to adapt to their new needs.” And Krügel Cobbles got a new customer.

Once a permit is approved, contractors receive stamped plans and a permit placard. The placard contains the permit number, which the inspector will need each time he or she visits the job site.

Just getting the permit means that you will acquaint yourself with local requirements. Although there are some requirements that are the same from municipality to municipality, each is “a world of its own,” with varying local requirements. You can check these by phone (remember, you’ve established a relationship with people in the building department), in person or on the municipality’s website. Some, Dillon cautions, have better websites than others. “Try to find someone in each municipality, who can help you and who you can contact if you have a problem,” she says.

Step by Step

“Most important, know your limits,” says Hirsch. “Understand the process and the steps involved.”

The process of submitting a permit

request takes the longest. To do it, you must consider a laundry list of issues, including: zoning, preservation (is it a historic preservation district, environmental or some other sensitive area?), engineering, forestry, architecture, rights of way and other concerns (i.e., plumbing, electricity, gas, irrigation).

Dillon suggests providing more hard copies than you think you will need of each component. “Take three to five hard copies, when maybe you think you need two or three,” she says.

Since COVID 19, when just about everyone who could began working from home, the time necessary to get feedback from the municipal building departments began to take longer. “After two or three weeks I start pushing,” says Dillon.

The actual submission can be in person or via web portals, some of which were hastily established early in pandemic days and only now are becoming more user friendly. “There were many changes during 2020,” says Dillon.

These included online submission, new portals, bins outside municipalities into which to drop plans, electronic payment and remote inspections via Zoom.

Often the scramble to accommodate COVID 19 protocols and do business

while everyone was working from home resulted in miscommunication, “as it was difficult to contact the reviewers.”

In the case of the new online portals, Dillon found that they did save time. If changes were required, it saved her the necessity of driving back and forth to the municipality in question. Hirsch and Dillon expect the online portals to stay, even as the pandemic ebbs. It saves time.

It also saves the building departments time and allows for more inspectors in the field.

Then there was the issue of inspections and reviews. Dillon believes she was lucky, since the company’s project managers had become adept at taking detailed photographs of each step to “illustrate what was built and have a photo record of what we did. It saved a lot of aggravation,” she says.

That photo record came in handy when building inspectors did not arrive for scheduled inspections. Because there were detailed, step-by-step pictures, they were able to continue work. Most of the time the inspectors accepted the photographs, but there were still instances when Krügel Cobbles workers had to pull up a paver to prove to an inspector that the work was done up to code. (continued on page 14)

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Pro Tips for Permitting — (continued from page 12)

How to Get it Right

First and foremost, Dillon says you must have a complete and accurate presentation. That includes a completed permit application from the municipality. Don’t assume one is the same as others. They aren’t. Make sure it has the requisite signatures – from the company, the homeowner and whoever else is essential.

Occasionally permit application forms are sent to the homeowners. Let them know that you will handle it.

Provide a plat survey. Most homeowners have one. It’s usually with the documents from the sale of the house, says Hirsch. It may, however, be out of date, not reflecting changes that have been made in the interim. In that case, a new one may be necessary – an added cost to the homeowner.

Some municipalities require an existing topography plan. For that, you need a civil engineer involved, which, says

Dillon, means another $1500 or more.

Other municipalities require that certain size and types of projects be tied into the sewer system, which can cost the homeowner upwards of $10,000 for a patio that is 300 square feet and costs less than $10,000. This needs to be indicated on

the plans as submitted.

When the scale of the job is more, a proposed drainage and grading plan is necessary, especially when there is significant soil movement. “You have to be careful with grading,” says Dillon. She cautions to remember that

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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whenever earth is moved, it may affect neighboring properties.

Make sure that you provide the proposed design layout with the dimensions clearly indicated, as well as the impervious paver calculations. “Plans need to be labeled and show dimensions of improvements and distances to lot lines or setbacks,” says Dillon. “Show trees and fencing, if necessary.” Show photographs of the existing conditions and draw the proposed layout over the existing plat. “Reviewers randomly have the opportunity of getting to the job site and this will be key for understanding your proposed design,” Dillon says. Make it clear.

In some cases, details must be customized, but in others general details that are used frequently can be adapted to each presentation, i.e., stoop sections, seat walls, slab steps, fireplaces and firepit sections and foundations.

Because flooding and other water issues have become more and more of

an issue in the last several years, it is often necessary to provide an impervious calculation – the percentage of the lot surface affected. If semi-permeable areas are proposed, Dillon notes that “you might get a 20 percent or even more tolerance.”

The C-Value depends on the permeability or the areas to consider. Low infiltration equals high runoff, which equals a higher C-Value in flash flooding areas. Some municipalities consider even areas covered by permeable tiles as covered by impermeable ones, says Dillon.

If the project involves working the right of way, those plans must be approved by the public works departments in most municipalities.

Homeowners must sign liability waivers. Contractors must be bonded when working in the right-of-way and all contractors must provide proof of insurance and certification.

Include the letter of intent with the

cost of construction. “Even if the contract and written proposals are included in the permits, it is often the description in the plans that are used by municipalities to understand the extent of the proposed design,” she says.

Ensure that all contractors are registered and that any subcontractors provide letters of intent.

Call for inspections before, during and after construction is complete.

Then close out the permit when everything is complete. Closing out the permit is crucial. If not done, it could affect getting a permit for any future work to be done at the house, even putting on a new roof, says Dillon.

Results

“At the end of the day, there can be real consequences (for not following the permitting process correctly),” says Hirsch.

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

15

Spring Events 2022 —

Putting the Illinois back in ILCA

ILCA, IGIA, and Stoneleaf Nursery Partner on Wildly Successfu

by Scott Grams

The ILCA held

its first co-located educational event in a decade with the Illinois Green Industry Association on March 1, 2022. The event was held at Stoneleaf Nursery in Eureka, IL and welcomed over 300 attendees. This blew past even the most optimistic expectations for the inaugural program.

“Spring Training was an event three years in the making.

ILCA and IGIA agreed to conduct a joint training event back in 2019 with a plan to roll it out in 2020,” said Scott Grams, Executive Director of the ILCA. “When the pandemic hit, we had to mothball the planning for a combined program and focus on other efforts. Finally, we settled on spring of 2022 and were prepared to move forward under any circumstances. I am blown away at how successful this partnership was and the desire statewide landscape professionals had for this first year program.”

Both organizations selected the Peoria-area as it had the most ILCA and IGIA members and statewide contractors within an hour’s drive. Kellie Schmidt, Executive Director of the IGIA was familiar with Stoneleaf Nurseries annual kick-off program and felt co-locating with that successful program would be wise.

Once the ILCA, IGIA, and Stoneleaf sat down to plan, the event took on a life of its own. No one could have expected the size and support of the local market.

Father John and son Sam Cotrell as well as their personal and professional families were gracious hosts. They not only provided the facility, catering, and marketing assistance, but they also served as speakers and moderators. Stoneleaf employees provided onsite assistance from setting up tables and chairs to coffee service to serving delicious brisket from a local smokehouse.

Attendees came from towns all across central, southern, and western Illinois. The furthest distance traveled clocked in at three hours. Two educational theaters were set up in the immaculate greenhouse and shop.

The program was divided into a Technical track and an Owners and Msanagers track. Members of the ILCA Technical Skills Committee were paired with IGIA members to jointly handle the program development and instruction. This partnership made sure content included local flavor and plant palettes. (continued on page 18)

16 16

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

ul Statewide Event

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17 17

Spring Events 2022 — (continued from page 16)

Spring Training was sponsored by: •

Blunier Implement

What to Expect with Green Goods in 2022

•

Hoerr Nursery

Managing Plant Warranty Issues

•

Landscape Business Owner Panel

•

Don’t Be that Guy: A Refresher on Etiquette & Customer Service

•

The training sessions were just part of the day. Sponsors were provided tables and demonstration spaces to show off products and equipment. Each vendor also supplied raffle prizes that were given out to attendees at the middle and end of the program. These ranged from hand pruners to apparel to equipment to large gift baskets to bratwursts!

•

Sessions included: •

Math Rules & Plan Reading

•

•

Woody Plant Identification

•

Tree & Shrub Planting & Pruning Tips

•

Job Site Efficiency

•

• • • • • •

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• • • •

Fosters, Inc.

Illinois Central College Peoria Brick Company Power Planter, Inc.

SiteOne Landscape Supply

Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc. Techniseal

Trinity Stone

Vermeer Midwest Weber MT

The Toro Company DBA Unique Lighting Foster Brothers Wood Products, Inc.

This wildly successful program bodes well for future partnerships between the ILCA and IGIA. The mission of both organizations is to improve the knowledge and professional practices of members across the state. It felt great to break out of the Chicagoland area and find an audience as hungry for training as they were for the brisket.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

Spring Events 2022 —

Young Professionals Group Launches Spring in a Fun, Meaningful Way

by Nina Koziol

More than 75 people took part in this

year’s Young Professionals Event at Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville, and by all appearances it was a roaring success. “I just love to be around people who are going to shape the future of the industry,” said Jillyan MacMorris, chief improvement officer at Night Light, Inc., in Lombard. “It’s a really different vibe than other ILCA events, where it’s an older crowd, in different roles, thinking differently.”

Despite the forecast of yet another snow event for that day, “We had a really good turnout,” said Marissa Stubler, ILCA’s membership and marketing manager.

The program kicked off with a presentation by staff from Chalet in Wilmette. Lawson Thalmann, technology manager, is a 4th generation employee at the family business, where he helps implement technology to improve efficiency. He and four other staff took attendees through the various aspects of technology development focusing on landscape, retail, plant production and property management. Lawson launched Chalet’s eCommerce business in 2017, and sales have tripled each year. He’s now focusing on new software for Chalet’s landscape division.

“That’s what gets me up in the morning,” Lawson said. “I like to think about the future.” This was his first time attending a Young Professionals event. “I wanted to see if there were kindred spirits.” His presentation focused on how data can transform the landscape industry.

After the presentations, attendees huddled for roundtable discussions that examined issues like communicating with management, sharing ideas and career development. Elaina Blankenship of Plandscape, Inc., in Elburn, has been in the green industry for three years and led one group discussion, which included career goals and how to effectively communicate ideas up the ladder. “We have a lot of freedom at our company,” she said. “Our owner’s view is go big or go home.”

recruitment website Indeed showed that 46 percent of job seekers who considered a job said they ultimately chose not to apply because they didn’t feel it would be a good cultural fit. Business culture refers to the company’s policies, procedures, ethics, values, employee behaviors and attitudes, goals and code of conduct. It makes up the company’s “personality” and defines the work environment. For example, whether the company is professional, casual or fast-paced.

Other elements include management style, expectations, company goals, local and national government policies, benefits and perks, opportunities to advance, the way employees feel about the work they do, and the company’s disciplinary action methods. According to the Indeed survey, 72 percent of job seekers say it’s extremely or very important to see details about company culture in job descriptions.

“Culture is the heart of everything,” said Samantha Harris of Night Light, Inc. “If it’s not good, good people leave.”

Benjamin Di Salvo, a recent graduate of Colorado State University, had left his municipal job and was looking for other opportunities. “We had a younger group of staff with good ideas, but it wasn’t always easy to get the ideas heard.”

That comment was a recurring theme in the discussions.

A Different Vibe

Maritza Gil, store manager for Russo, in Hainesville, said, “A lot of our team members have been there for 20-plus years. The past two to three years we’ve worked on software so there’s less paper—we need to keep up with the times. We have to find better ways to do things so we’re not doing double work.”

This was MacMorris’s second Young Pros event.

“This event is a different lens on the industry. Some of the big challenges [for young employees] are feeling underestimated or underutilized. They are big dreamers and have smart ideas and want to influence the culture at their companies, but it’s hard to have a conversation when the owners have always done things a certain way. There’s Culture Clash vs. Collaboration a lot of physical paper being passed around—we lag a bit “Just having someone value your idea is important,” in our industry. It’s mind-blowing how manual some of the said Ashley Marrin of Bret-Mar Landscape in Homer processes are, but I feel like everything is changing.”

Glen. Her parents started the company and she and her Gannon Siran is an associate designer for Greenwise brother work closely with them. “My mom is very accepting of ideas Organic Lawn Care. He has an Associates degree in Landscape and she likes to collaborate. My dad likes to see the numbers so I Contracting and Management with a focus on design. “You need present my ideas and suggestions with finances in mind. You have to to develop a rapport and set up your ideas. It’s about building figure out people’s personalities and how they view the business.” your reputation—having the data to support your ideas and preAnd that goes back to company culture. A survey by the The Landscape Contractor 20 April 2022

s

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Spring Events 2022 — paring yourself in a professional way as well as finding the right time to present them,” he said. “Sometimes the culture is not the right place or is not open to growth. You might have to leave to create a better place for yourself.” He also stressed practicing patience. “Just working your hardest and showing who you are, with a good work effort—it may take a season to see [the company’s] way of doing things.”

There was plenty of discussion about owners retiring or older staff not willing to adapt to technological changes. “If you’re fine with the status quo, change is difficult,” Harris said. “People who don’t want to change will tap out—retire.”

Don’t Call them Millennials, Please

“Millennials are long gone,” Blankenship said. “I’m generation Z. You have a whole other generation, but people are still adjusting to [to the term] Millennials.” Some attendees noted that their co-workers have children who are older than them.

For the record, “Millennials” refers to individuals born between the 1980s and early 2000s. That’s a 20-year span— basically a whole generation. Millenials follow Generation X (people born between the mid-1960s and 1980) and who are largely the children of baby boomers.

Generation Z is the group of people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Someone born in 1998 (24 years old) is a Gen Z member and that’s light-years away from a “Millennial” coworker who was born in 1984. Gen Z grew up with a smart phone in one hand and a tablet in the other.

Career Builder: Volunteer!

Several attendees currently serve on ILCA’s Young Professionals Committee or other committees. “Coming out of school and getting involved with the industry gave me more confidence,” Marrin said. “I liked the structure of the roundtables,” Marrin said. “Otherwise you gravitate to people you know.”

Suggestions for future events include visiting a nursery or a public garden.

Allison Westbrook joined the Young Professionals Committee last year. An account manager for Midwest Groundcovers, she said, “A coworker, Nikki, encouraged me to join. I get to mentor sales team members who are in their 20’s and now I feel (at age 33) that I’m one of the older ones.” The Young Professionals event is geared to green industry staff who are age 35 and younger, but that may change in the future with the age bumped to 40. Genevieve Rodriguez of Fiore Nursery and Landscape Supply serves on the Young Professionals committee. ‘I really enjoy getting to know other young people in the industry.”

When the roundtables wrapped up, attendees had two hours of networking, open bar and a pizza buffet. And, that’s when they had a chance to mingle a bit more and discuss nonwork things, as in play. While Thalmann is passionate about using technology to improve business and day-to-day life, he seeks to balance work with a connection to nature and wellbeing for himself and others. Experienced in meditation, he leads meditation sessions for customers and staff as part of Chalet’s Learning Center. For this cohort of green industry pros, it’s work hard, play hard.

22 The Landscape Contractor April 2022

Matthew Dingeldein & Company

Spring Events 2022 —

Kicking off spring with the feeling of h accompanies it

By Nina Koziol

Call it cabin fever,

or a strong desire to meet face-to-face again with friends and peers. There were many reasons 110 women and a few men attended the late-winter Women’s Networking Group (WNG) event at Chandler’s Chophouse in Schaumburg. They came to catch up, renew relationships, network and to hear landscape pro Stephanie Leveling of the St. Louis-based Integra Group who discussed the importance of mentoring. She shared examples of how mentors helped her over three decades working in the landscape industry.

“I have a feeling that many of the women here today think they may need a mentor,” said Brenda Ward, a member of the WNG committee. “I feel like we also have to step up and be a mentor.” The event introduced ILCA’s new mentoring program, developed by a WNG subcommittee. There are two applications on ILCA’s website—one for mentors and one for mentees. A few days after the event, ILCA received 14 applications and more are expected.

This was Mia Olson’s first WNG event. “I’m just starting my journey,” she said. “I retired from teaching after 30 years and worked for College of DuPage for 10 years and now I’m back as a student. I’ve always liked working outdoors and I like getting dirty. I like to plan and I’m a natural teacher.” Olson graduates next year and attended the event to network.

Aleksandra Bednarz is a recent grad of College of DuPage. “I had some history with floral design but I was going for medical courses. I took horticulture, science, and plants and changed course from there. I’m an artist and I’d like to be a designer but I’m open about opportunities. I like working outside in a garden — I love it.”

24

Bednarz is part of the generation that will help shape the landscape industry in years to come. “We believe the people in this room can grow the landscape industry,” Ward said. “We’re going to track our mentorship program successes.”

The Shape of Things to Come

“This is the first time we’ve had four generations working at the same time,” Leveling said. “We’re dealing with different upbringings and expectations. By 2025, 75 percent of the workforce will be Millennials.” Citing survey data, Leveling pointed out that 59 percent of Millennials say the opportunity to learn and grow is extremely important and 87 percent said professional development and career growth opportunities are very important.

Forget about how Amazon or Google does it for their employees. “It’s not ping pong tables—that’s insulting to them,” Leveling said. “And, annual reviews are dumb. They prefer real-time feedback and one-third want collaborative work spaces.” When she attended Illinois State University’s horticulture program, she was one of a half-dozen female students. “The statistics for horticulture programs have changed and now we have many women in the green industry who can be role models to younger staff.”

New Hires=New Approach

There are simple ways owners and human resource managers can get new hires off to a good start. “Onboarding activities—having a buddy system—is important. A buddy system really works.” Matching a seasoned associate with a junior one eliminates the “baptism by fire” experience that is a turn-off for

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

hope that new employees and is not efficient or helpful for the company.

Finding a good match to the mentee’s communication style and personality takes some thought. A mentor should be willing to share their knowledge with an aspiring colleague. Strong communication skills are a plus as is a positive attitude about the company and the work. The main role of a mentor is to listen and help shape the mentee’s goals. A mentor should be open and easy to talk with and be able to broaden the mentee’s vision while expanding the possibilities offered by the industry. Mentoring allows for transfer of knowledge and skills. Both the mentor and the mentee give and grow in the process.

Mentees, on the other hand, are up-and-coming staff who are looking for guidance in career advancement. (Let’s face it—no one ever expects to be in the same position for their entire career.) “It’s not necessarily a great thing to have your supervisor as your mentor,” Leveling cautioned. “You want [the match up] to be an organic experience. Mentors should be committed to morals and ethics that are in line with the company’s culture.”

Stephanie Leveling

Company Culture

Leveling shared her experiences as a young green industry professional.

“Balancing work, home and motherhood—initially it was hard and I’d just stay at (continued on page 26)

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

25

Spring Events 2022 — (continued from page 25) work late.” But that’s not what Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z employees desire. They want a work-life balance. “I feel like the needs of Millennials, women and moms will be more prominent,” said Ania Rossi, of Aniascape in Bolingbrook.

“There’s a collective group that are looking for more progressive companies that recognize these issues. Sometimes, you realize that it might not be the place that meets your values or needs.”

One attendee noted that the pandemic made many people reexamine their current job with the realization that there are more jobs available now—and perhaps one with an organization that better meets their needs. “It’s about flexibility and owners have to recognize this,” Leveling said. “It used to be a bad thing when someone’s resume showed them moving a lot from job to job, but don’t be afraid—there are a lot of opportunities in the green industry.” That’s not a bad thing for employers. If an employee is not happy or it’s just not a good fit, it’s time for them to move on.

New Mentorship Program

“A year ago, a Women’s Networking Group subcommittee created a mentorship program,” said Nicole Nault, Resale Operations Manager for Fox River Decorative Stone in Elgin.

Along with Brenda Word, Carrie Hancock and Noel Street, the committee began with a big picture. “Ten years from now, what do we want to see,” Ward asked. “We believe the people in this room can grow the landscape industry and we’re going to track the successes of the mentorship program.”

Mentors and mentees can apply on the ILCA’s website to join the 18-week mentorship program. “Our main goal is to focus on competencies that the mentee wants to strengthen,” Street said. The program will accept up to 25 mentors and mentees this spring and a second round of applications will be offered in October. “If you’re not matched in this first pairing, you can reapply later.” Participants should have a strong desire to develop and grow their careers or to guide the growth of others.

And, the mentorship program is free. “We hope to grow the program over the years,” Hancock said. “It requires a fivehour commitment each month.” With the realization that spring into summer is incredibly busy for the industry, Hancock said, “Sometimes it has to be a call or a virtual meeting.”

WNG continues to host “coffee talks” with up to 20 people at each one. “They’re small gatherings where you can share topics,” said Kristina Jauch, inside sales at Gasaway Company in Romeoville. “It’s like speed-dating with coffee,” she joked.

Make a date to participate now. Visit www.ilca.net/wngcoffee-talks to see what is offered and to sign up.

Discover more…

The mission of the ILCA Women’s Networking Group is to promote camaraderie, and to share industry experiences and leadership skills with ILCA members, while enhancing our professional image. If you would like to be a mentor or a mentee, visit https://www.ilca.net/wng-mentorship-program/ 26

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Spring Events 2022 —

ILCA Hosts Foremanship Seminar — Mastering Foremanship The two-day event

was held February 24 and 25, 2022. The Thursday class was conducted in Spanish. The Friday class was given in English. The class was once again taught by long-time ILCA member, Professor Armando A. Actis.

Production and maintenance landscape foremen have unique needs as they have to wear two hats: a worker and a leader.

Foremen have to walk the fine line in working side by side with the employee and having to direct, motivate and critique at the same time. Managing former peers and friends can be especially difficult, dealing with problems and obstacles can take skills that only can be developed by stepping out of the work environment for a few days, learning best practices, applying it in a learning environment through role play, and then going back and applying it on the job.

In this dynamic seminar, participants learned how to more effectively handle tight deadlines, tight margins and increase customer satisfaction. Also, participants were energized when they saw the class was prepared and designed specifically to meet their unique needs and not just another cookie cutter seminar.

Key components of the program included— Landscape Foremen Learn: • The central role of the “worker-leader” • How to properly supervise friends, peers, and former equals • How to effectively communicate with your boss and superiors • To generate 100 percent accountability from your team • How to motivate and delegate at the same time • To require accountability for all work (both bad or good) • How to implement and follow daily & weekly work schedules • How your team can produce quality work that stays within the budget and is completed on time • The effectiveness of the work team • How to deal with challenges and personal problems that occur outside the workplace that impact productivity • To manage problem behavior • How to produce client focused work using a moral compass • To understand that mannerisms and values are as • important as technical abilities

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Professor Armando A. Actis

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

29 29

Focus — Excellence in Landscape Awards

2022 Excellence in Landscape Another Hat Trick for Hursthou

by Heather Prince

In 2018 the Hursthouse team was still enjoying the

afterglow from their first Triple Crown winning project, when they were called to conquer a unique challenge. The homeowner wished to tie a piece of vacant property, across a private drive into the rest of a suburban estate in a quiet historic section of Wheaton. After batting around a bunch of ideas, the team settled on responding to the formal architecture of the home and created an elegant folly garden that not only mirrored the brick masonry of the house but incorporated key structural elements as well.

First lines of the story

The homeowners loved the folly garden, and a long-lasting relationship was born. “This is on a private dead-end road right next to Chicago Golf in Wheaton, one of the oldest golf courses in the nation,” commented Bob Hursthouse, president of Hursthouse Landscape Architects. “The neighbor built a big new house, so this chunk of land started to feel like it belonged to them. Our client called us to ask what in the world can we do with this?”

Now as you stand on the front terrace, a sophisticated wrought iron gate hung from brick columns lit by custom-made lanterns draws your eye down

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

Awards Bring ouse

the lush lawn. Step through the gate and you are drawn to an enclosed patio space with a beautiful armillary sphere in the center. Relax on an elegant bench or peek through the circular portal on the rear garden wall. This destination garden space is anchored on each side by an allée of American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) set in formal beds of evergreen groundcover. Along the back of the garden wall, a copse of white-blooming redbuds lights up the space in the spring.

Sheared low boxwood hedges hug the brick elements, reflecting the formal hedges of the main house. The layers of green feature different textures, allowing light to play upon the leaves while setting a tone of serenity. Until autumn, when the hornbeams turn flame orange and pull rich color into the scene.

“We wanted to tie the folly garden back to the architecture of the home and create some identity across the road,” remembered Josh Griffin, senior designer. “We made it a destination space you’d stroll out to, using a series of columns and gates as wayfinding across the private drive. The clients fell so in love with what we had done out there, we started working our way towards the house.” A circular window on (continued on page 32) The Landscape Contractor 31 April 2022

Focus — Excellence in Landscape Awards (continued from page 31) the garage inspired the repeated element. “You have a little moon gate out in the folly garden and the circle in the benches. We brought in the armillary and the wall plaques from a dealer in the U.K.,” observed Griffin.

The formal symmetrical home is set on a little less than an acre and a half and anchored by 100-year-old catalpas and a stately mature sugar maple. The homeowners are active members and volunteers at The Morton Arboretum.

They treasure rare and specimen trees as well as perennials for bees and butterflies. “The clients are very proper,” commented Hursthouse. “If you’re served a cup of coffee, it’s in bone china. She’s an old soul and he’s a

32

CPA. Nicest people in the world. Their taste is impeccably tailored, elegant, and very traditional. So, we play to those aesthetics in everything we do on site.

It’s very tight, very crisp, never a hair out of place.”

Editing, refining, and pulling it all together

The clients’ firmly established aesthetics allow the team at Hursthouse to work within a defined palette of plants.

The front elevation features symmetry and strict lines in response to the home’s architecture. In the backyard, a lush perennial border releases the tension of the clean lines, provides layers of color

and texture, and buzzes with pollinators.

When Hursthouse took on the rest of the site after installation of the folly garden, they made several changes to open sight lines, establish rhythm and structure, and address grade changes.

“When we started on the property there were curvilinear walks of faded pavers that were super casual and nothing special,” commented Hursthouse.

“We didn’t change the size of the porch, but it felt small because the paving was so pitched. When you walked out the (continued on page 34)

33

Focus — Excellence in Landscape Awards (continued from page 32) front door, you hit an ornamental tree that spoiled the view. The backyard was also very curvilinear with pieces of outcropping that felt like they had fallen out of the sky for no apparent reason. The fireplace belched smoke out the front because the flue wasn’t tall enough. They had a water garden that didn’t hold water.”

The Hursthouse team imposed formal organization with trimmed boxwood hedges, bluestone walkways, subtle layers of green groundcovers, and small seating areas. They kept to a strict hardscape palette. “Everything vertical was Chicago common brick or dry stacked limestone walls,” reported Hursthouse. “Everything horizontal is bluestone – all the way down to the coping on the fountain, the mantel on the fireplace, and the hearth on the fireplace.”

Aesthetic challenges were not the only difficulties to negotiate. The property has a significant amount of grade change from north to south and water moves from the neighbors across the back lawn, especially in storms. “For a big open space, there was a significant amount of grade change across this property,” remembered Griffin. “Trying to create something mirrored and symmetrical on a cross pitch was a definite challenge to do and still let water flow across the property. We had to avoid creating swampy areas. We did

34

a lot of work with the grade on this property. Even the boxwood hedges are curved. You have to thoughtfully keep the boxwood height consistent because you can’t snap a straight string line. You’re dropping two and a half feet from the gates to the drive.”

But can you keep it nice?

To keep the estate looking its best, Hursthouse has a detailed maintenance program, starting with an extensive dormant pruning in the late winter. “All of our plants are layered and balanced to effect, both ornamental trees and the shrubs,” said William Chorvat, maintenance branch manager.

“We spent a total of three years correcting some of the Judd viburnums. There were mostly sheared into round balls. We do an extensive seasonal pinching program which takes out the apical dominance of the plants and makes them thicken up. The Judd viburnums are probably pinched a dozen times during the season so they’re not outgrowing the space. And then during the winter we thin them out again and then we pinch them and that’s the rotation that we have on almost all the plants in that front area.” This allows the viburnums to become pieces of living sculpture that are in scale with the home. It also softens their architecture in response to the trimmed hedges. “We maintain them so they look like sculp-

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

tures,” reported Chorvat. “When the uplighting goes through on the bottom, you can see the unique branching structure on each plant. We really look at each plant individually and maintain it based on what its needs are within its respective space.”

Establishing Rhythm and Release

Within the boundaries of the trimmed hedges and the overhead canopies of the mature trees, the team at Hursthouse has incorporated layers of texture while being mindful to the challenges of monocultures. Although the homeowner adores boxwood, there are two trimmed hedges of Deutzia ‘Yuki Snowflake’ on the front and rear elevation.

“We wanted plants that rhyme with boxwood without being identical copies,” commented Griffin. “The guys do such a good job of pruning, it doesn’t read differently.” It also blooms white. “Her guiding rule is everything on the front plane of the house looking forward can only bloom white.

The entire front property is a white garden.” From the Judd viburnums flanking the front door within the deutzia hedges to white-blooming fringetrees that anchor the corners, all the plants feature white flowers. The grove of white-flowering redbuds that enclose the folly garden rear wall lead the eye

from the house in spring. Plantings of Annabelle hydrangeas spill gently around the seating area outside the front bay window. Even the large black iron urns are filled with seasonal white flowers until replaced with holiday greens. “There’s a grove of white Zumi crabs across the front drive,” reported Griffin. “The neighbor let us plant them when they reworked the line of their drive. The bloom and the fragrance are very nice.”

In the rear garden, however, the restraint of the white palette is relaxed and waves of color fill beds and borders. Here a long, wide mixed shrub and perennial border anchors the back property line, held in by a row of Hick’s yews. “We are very much trying to bring a Gertrude Jekyll vibe to the garden back there,” observed Griffin. The homeowner already had an extensive perennials collection when Hursthouse started. “It’s kind of her collector’s garden so we did a lot of reworking and transplanting what she had, incorporated new, and reorganized by creating some massing while still having some beautiful chaos in the background,” said Griffin. “It’s not too organized, but it’s also not one of each thing. She has her favorite Midnight Marvel hibiscus, for example.”

Another priority for the rear gardens is feeding wildlife. “She tries to get as many pollinator and butterfly plants in the (continued on page 37)

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Focus — Excellence in Landscape Awards

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

(continued from page 35) cottage garden as she can,” reported Chorvat. “The annuals we plant for seasonal color in the black urns as well as the one we’ll pop in between the perennials; all have to attract butterflies or bees.” A custom-built half-moon white arbor gate with a custom lantern anchors the garden and opens to a historic sidewalk. The Prairie Path now marks the old rail line that used to come out from Chicago and drop guests at the Chicago Golf Club. The back property line sits along the old sidewalk that led to the old train station. The homeowners love to use it as a destination as they stroll the rambunctious perennial beds. “That back border is the fun strolling whimsey garden,” commented Griffin. “It’s the release for everything else being buttoned up.”

Attention to detail is found in the smallest elements and binds the site together. All of the lanterns, sconces, and candleholders are from Bevolo in New Orleans and custom made to match.

Originally, it was a mix of lighting styles, but as the Hursthouse team developed each section of the site, the homeowners fell in love with their choices.

“We had everything powder coated the same to match the lanterns on the gates because every black on that property has to be the same sheen and tone of black,” commented Griffin. “From the urns to the benches to the wall lanterns, we’ve had to disassemble it all and powder coat it. Even the mailbox. I love that degree of detail. It makes me so happy.”

The team at Hursthouse has created a seamless experience that the homeowners adore. “The client obviously loves

their home,” said Hursthouse. “They love to be outside, they love the garden, and they work from home quite a bit, especially with Covid. They pop out for lunch on the patio or take a glass of wine for a stroll to the folly garden across the road. It’s been fun as we’ve done this project in stages; across the road first, the front second, the back third, the back property line fourth, so it’s developed over time. It’s fun to watch the client get more and more excited about the space as it better aligns with their inner aesthetic. Walk out the front door and its balanced, its symmetrical, it feels proper and ordered. Walk to the big maple and turn left and down all the way out to the garden across the road. It’s a real nice iteration of the space. Every time I stop and see the client they tell me, ‘Just look at this! Just look at this space!’ It’s super gratifying.”

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Focus — Excellence in Landscape Awards

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Todo lo que debe saber para que fluya su proceso de obtención de permiso de construcción Por Meta Levin

Un proceso de obtención de permiso exitoso se reduce a

tres cosas: relaciones, honestidad y hacer lo correcto. Ese fue el mensaje de Jon Hirsch y Moira Dillon a quienes asistieron a su presentación en iLandscape 2022, “Todo lo que debe saber para que fluya su proceso de obtención de permiso de construcción.”

Tanto Hirsch, presidente de Krügel Cobbles en Lake Bluff, como Moira Dillon, diseñadora de la compañía, tienen un amplio historial en procesos de obtención de permisos de construcción. “Esto es un asunto importante para los miembros de ILCA”, asegura Hirsch.

“Si usted adquiere la reputación de ser una persona que hace lo correcto, tendrá el beneficio de la duda si algo sale mal”, comenta Hirsch. La reputación comienza forjando relaciones con la gente adecuada en los departamentos de construcción y zonificación de las municipalidades donde trabaja. “Conózcalos y dese a conocer”.

¿Por qué necesita un permiso?

Obtener un permiso para la mayoría de los trabajos de construcción es exigido por la ley. “Si está realizando un trabajo sin el permiso correspondiente, puede resultarle muy caro”, advierte Hirsch. En el peor de 40

los casos, los funcionarios municipales pueden obligarle a destruir el trabajo que ha completado.

Obtener un permiso puede ser un proceso muy prolongado, por lo que algunos clientes presionan a los contratistas para que no lo hagan. “Dígales que es necesario”, recomienda Hirsch. “Es algo obligatorio, no algo que es bueno tener”. A la larga, ahorra a todos los involucrados muchos dolores de cabeza.

Si piensa que puede proseguir sin uno, sepa que inspectores de obras recorren las calles buscando letreros que indiquen que se está realizando un trabajo, luego verifican si se ha emitido el permiso. Un inspector dijo a Dillon que cuando vio los camiones de Krügel Cobbles, no se preocupó por los permisos porque ellos tienen la reputación de hacer las cosas correctamente. Esto no ocurre con otros contratistas.

Durante el proceso de obtención de permisos hay cargos por revisión, inspección y para cada subcontratista. Estos cargos sobrepasan con mucho la tarifa fija de $150 que Krügel Cobbles cobra.

“El resto de los cargos cobrados por la municipalidad se incluyen en la última factura cuando cerramos el trabajo”, dice Dillon, quien enfatiza que Krügel Cobbles pormenoriza los montos e incluye The Landscape Contractor April 2022

confirmaciones de pagos. “Solo nos encargamos de cualquier fianza exigida que se reembolsa cuando se concluye el trabajo sin ningún daño. Esto usualmente ocurre cuando hay servidumbre de paso”.

Otros costos relacionados con el proceso de obtención de permisos se transfieren a los gastos generales. Dillon usualmente advierte a los clientes que el trabajo podría requerir de un nuevo plano de agrimensura, así como otros cargos conexos. “Es importante decir al cliente que no sabemos cuánto costará”, aconseja. “Un nuevo plano catastral y planos de drenaje y nivelación son gastos adicionales”.

Dillon marcó algunas ventajas de seguir el proceso de obtención de permisos detalladamente: • Evita posibles demandas judiciales •

Evita sorpresas desagradables

•

Cumple con las normas del código

•

Minimiza el impacto ambiental

•

Mantiene un registro (de lo que se ha hecho)

•

Protege la relación con el cliente

Hay ventajas tanto para el contratista como para el cliente. Por ejemplo, cualquier

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modificación hecha con un permiso aprobado estará cubierta por el seguro de casa si algo ocurriese en el futuro, explica Dillon.

También significa que la municipalidad tiene un registro de la fecha y el tipo de trabajo que se realizó. Hirsch comenta que nuevos compradores de casa lo han contactado sobre trabajos realizados años antes de que compraran sus respectivas casas. “Se han mantenido conectados con nosotros a través de las municipalidades que tienen nuestras presentaciones de permisos archivadas”, dice. “Esto nos ha conectado con un nuevo cliente que ha comprado una casa en la que realizamos un trabajo anteriormente. Pudieron saber con exactitud qué material se utilizó para poder ampliar el actual patio según sus nuevas necesidades”.

Y Krügel Cobbles obtuvo un nuevo cliente.

Una vez que se aprueba un permiso, los contratistas reciben planos sellados y un cartel de permiso. El cartel contiene el número del permiso, que el inspector necesitará cada vez que visite el sitio de trabajo.

Solo obtener el permiso significa que se familiarizará con los requisitos locales.

Aunque hay algunos requisitos que son iguales de una municipalidad a otra, cada una es “un mundo propio” con requisitos locales que varían. Puede verificar esto por

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teléfono (recuerde, ya ha establecido una relación con personas en el departamento de construcción), en persona o en el sitio web de la municipalidad. Algunas, advierte Dillon, tienen mejores sitios web que otras. “Trate de encontrar a alguien en cada municipalidad que pueda ayudarle y a quien pueda contactar si tuviese algún problema”, recomienda.

Paso por paso

“Lo más importante es conocer sus límites”, afirma Hirsch. “Comprender el proceso y los pasos involucrados”.

El proceso de presentar una solicitud de permiso es lo más prolongado. Para hacerlo, debe considerar una lista de temas, que incluya: zonificación, conservación (¿se trata de un distrito de conservación histórica, ambiental u otra área sensible?), ingeniería, silvicultura, arquitectura, servidumbres de paso y otros factores de cautela (por ej., plomería, electricidad, gas, irrigación).

Dillon sugiere proporcionar más copias impresas de las que piense que necesitará The Landscape Contractor April 2022

para cada componente. “Tome de tres a cinco copias impresas, cuando tal vez piense que solo necesitará dos o tres”, recomienda.

Desde el COVID 19, cuando casi todo el mundo que podía trabajar desde casa lo hacía, comenzó a prolongarse el tiempo necesario para obtener información y comentarios de los departamentos de construcción municipales.

“Después de dos o tres semanas, comencé a empujar”, afirma Dillon.

La entrega puede ser en persona o a través de portales web, algunos de los cuales se establecieron precipitadamente en los días de la pandemia y solo hasta ahora se están volviendo más fáciles de usar. “Hubo muchos cambios durante 2020”, informa Dillon. Estos incluyen entregas en línea, nuevos portales, recipientes fuera de las municipalidades para depositar planos, pagos electrónicos e inspecciones remotas a través de Zoom. Con frecuencia, la carrera por adaptar protocolos de COVID 19 y realizar operaciones mientras la mayoría de las personas trabajaba desde su casa, produjo fallas en la comunicación, 41

“debido a que resultaba difícil contactar a los revisores”.

En el caso de los nuevos portales en línea, Dillon descubrió que realmente ahorraban tiempo. Si necesitaba hacer cambios, le ahorraban la necesidad de conducir su auto para dirigirse a la municipalidad correspondiente y regresar a casa. Hirsch y Dillon esperan que los portales en línea permanezcan, incluso a medida que la pandemia ceda. Ahorran tiempo. También ahorran tiempo a los departamentos de construcción y permiten la presencia de más inspectores en el campo.

Luego estaba el asunto de las inspecciones y las revisiones. Dillon considera que tuvo suerte, debido a que los gerentes de proyectos de la compañía se volvieron adeptos a tomar fotografías detalladas de cada paso para “ilustrar lo que se construía y tener registros fotográficos de lo que hicimos. Eso evitó muchas irritaciones”, dice.

Ese registro fotográfico resultó de gran utilidad cuando los inspectores de construcción no llegaban a las inspecciones programadas. Debido a la existencia de fotografías detalladas, paso por paso, les fue posible continuar trabajando. La mayor parte de las veces, los inspectores aceptaron las fotografías, pero hubo casos en que los trabajadores de Krügel Cobbles tuvieron que levantar un adoquín para demostrar al inspector que el trabajo se realizó de acuerdo con el código.

Cómo hacerlo correctamente

Dillon afirma que, en primer lugar, usted debe tener una presentación completa y precisa. Eso incluye una solicitud de permiso llena de la municipalidad. No suponga que todas son iguales. No lo son. Asegúrese de que tenga las firmas requeridas – de la compañía, del dueño de casa y de cualquier otra persona que sea esencial.

Ocasionalmente se envía un formulario de solicitud de permiso al dueño de casa.

Dígales que usted se encargará de llenarlo.

Proporcione un plano de agrimensura.

La mayoría de los dueños de casa tienen uno. Usualmente está con los documentos de la compraventa de la casa, asegura Hirsch. No obstante, podría estar 42

desactualizado y no reflejar cambios que se hayan hecho en el ínterin. En tal caso, podría ser necesario uno nuevo – a un costo adicional para el dueño de casa.

Algunas municipalidades exigen un plano topográfico existente. Para eso, usted necesitará la participación de un ingeniero civil, lo cual, según Dillon, significa otros $1500 o más. Otras municipalidades exigen que ciertos tamaños y tipos de proyectos estén conectados al sistema de alcantarillado, lo que puede costar al dueño de casa más de $10,000 para un patio de 300 pies cuadrados y cuesta menos de $10,000. Esto se debe indicar en los planes presentados.

Cuando la escala del trabajo es mayor, se necesita proponer un plan de drenaje y nivelación, especialmente cuando hay movimiento de suelo significativo. “Hay que tener cuidado con la nivelación” afirma Dillon. Advierte recordar que siempre que se mueve tierra, esto podría afectar las propiedades circundantes.

Asegúrese de proporcionar el patrón de diseño propuesto indicando claramente las dimensiones, así como los cálculos de los adoquines impermeables. “Los planos deben etiquetarse y mostrar las dimensiones de las mejoras y las distancias a las líneas del lote o distancias mínimas de separación frontal”, dijo Dillon. “Mostrar árboles y cercas, si fuera necesario”. Mostrar fotografías de las condiciones existentes y dibujar la distribución propuesta sobre el trazado existentes. “Los revisores tienen aleatoriamente la oportunidad de llegar al sitio de trabajo y esto será clave para comprender su diseño propuesto”, informa Dillon. Hágalo claro.

En algunos casos, los detalles se deben personalizar, pero en otros, detalles generales de uso frecuente, se pueden adaptar a cada presentación, por ej., secciones de escaleras, muros de asiento, escalones de losa, secciones y cimientos de chimeneas y braseros.

Debido a que, en los últimos años, las inundaciones y otros problemas relacionados con el agua se han convertido cada vez más en un problema, con frecuencia es necesario proporcionar un cálculo de impermeabilidad – el porcentaje de la superficie del lote afectado. Si se proponen áreas semi permeables, Dillon indica que “se podría obtener un 20 por ciento o aún más de tolerancia”. El Valor C depende The Landscape Contractor April 2022

de la permeabilidad del área a considerar.

Baja infiltración equivale a altos flujos de escorrentías, lo que a su vez equivale a un mayor Valor C en zonas de inundaciones repentinas. Algunas municipalidades consideran incluso zonas cubiertas de adoquines permeables como cubiertas por impermeables, afirma Dillon.

En la mayoría de las municipalidades, si el proyecto implica trabajar en servidumbres de paso, los planos correspondientes deben ser aprobados por los departamentos de obras públicas. Los dueños de casa deben firmar exoneraciones de responsabilidad. Los contratistas deben rendir una fianza cuando trabajan en servidumbres de paso y todos los contratistas deben proporcionar prueba de seguro y certificación.

Incluya la carta de intención con el costo de construcción. “Aunque se incluyan en el permiso el contrato y las propuestas escritas, con frecuencia las municipalidades utilizan las descripciones en los planos para comprender el alcance del diseño propuesto”, dice.

Asegúrese de que todos los contratistas estén registrados y que cualquiera de los subcontratistas proporcione cartas de intención.

Llame para inspecciones antes, durante y después de completar la construcción.

Luego cierre el permiso cuando todo haya sido completado. Cerrar el permiso es esencial. Si no se hace, puede afectar la obtención de un permiso para cualquier trabajo futuro que se vaya a realizar en la casa, incluso poner un nuevo techo, asegura Dillon.

Resultados

“Al final de la jornada, podría haber consecuencias reales (por no seguir el proceso de obtención de permisos correctamente)”, dice Hirsch.

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Surefire Pollinator Plants

Colorful annuals and perennials from All-America Selections can do double-duty in clients’ gardens

by Nina Koziol

It’s the rare client who asks

for a “pollinator” garden. They might want more butterflies, but few will say bring me more bees. Bees and wasps? Too scary for most people. But many of your clients have probably heard or read about the plight of insects—the great decline in honey bees, native bees and monarch butterflies.

“Our members are definitely saying the interest in pollinator-friendly plants is on the upswing,” says Diane Blazek, executive director of All-America Selections (AAS) and the National Garden Bureau in Downers Grove, Illinois. “Native plants are being requested more often. Questions about how much pollen and nectar are on plants are more common. Our pollinator-focused blogs on both the National Garden Bureau and All-America Selections sites are easily the most popular and get the most shares on social media.”

All-America Selections is an independent non-profit organization that tests new plant varieties. After a full season of anonymous trialing by volunteer horticulture professionals across the country, only the top plant performers receive the AAS Winner award designation for their superior performance.

“Diversity is a key word in all discussions about gardening because you need a wide range of plants for the health of a wide range of pollinators,” Blazek explained. “And, for vegetable gardeners, they need pollinators to make sure their veggies produce. So, there are many reasons to plant for pollinators.”

Because many landscape contractors include bedding plants in their designs, we asked Blazek for recommendations on colorful AAS-winning plants that attract beneficial insects including butterflies. “Part of the reason more of our AAS Winners are pollinator-friendly is because we’ve increased the trials to include more than just ornamentals from seed,” Blazek said. “Now we also trial ornamentals from non-seed propagation methods as well as perennials of all types. They can be seed perennials, non-seed, bare-root, herbaceous or woody.”

The following are All-America Selections winners—annuals and perennials. “Our judges are horticulture experts and evaluate all the entries on garden performance, consumer appeal, number of flowers and many other traits that the breeders claim are unique,” Blazek said.

44

Concert Bell Sunflower (Annual) Multiple clusters of 10 to 12 golden-yellow blooms top sturdy upright stems. Each plant grows to a very uniform height of 5 to 6 feet. Concert Bell was trialed in a year of adverse weather conditions and multiple judges commented on its durability and sturdiness even through strong storms and winds. Full Sun.

Sweet Daisy™ Birdy Leucanthemum (Perennial) This beautiful Shasta daisy has robust, long-lasting blooms.

In the 3-year AAS Trials, it demonstrated excellent cold and heat tolerance and maintained a tidy, sturdy habit. The blossoms provide food for many kinds of pollinators. Full sun.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

Echinacea Sombrero® Baja Burgundy (Perennial) Who doesn’t love a coneflower, especially in sunny gardens where vibrant, deep violet-red blossoms steal the show? After being trialed over three tough winters, the AAS Judges noted this coneflower’s hardiness, sturdy branching, and floriferous blooming habit. Birds and pollinators flock to this deer-resistant beauty making it a dual-purpose plant. Full sun.

Rudbeckia Amarillo Gold (Annual) A beautiful Rudbeckia hirta, Amarillo Gold boasts a compact form and uniform habit perfect for mixed borders, mass planting and containers. The light green center disc surrounded by bold colors makes this a versatile plant for combinations with other annuals. AAS Judges noted how Amarillo Gold was early to flower and lasted throughout the summer providing weeks of stunning color.

Large 4- to 6-inch wide blooms cover compact plants that provide a wow factor throughout the season. Full sun.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

45

Focus — Surefire Pollinator Plants Rudbeckia x American Goldrush (Perennial) Bright golden-yellow flowers with black centers and arched petals make a gorgeous addition to any project. This compact, domed-shaped plant has narrow 2-inch wide hairy foliage bred for its resistance to Septoria leaf spot. This hybrid shows no signs of the fungus even in wet, humid conditions.

Nonstop bloom from July to September, with some color up until frost, this cultivar is shorter in height compared to existing varieties. It’s destined to be the new rudbeckia staple for both residential and commercial landscape projects. Full sun.

Zinnia Holi Scarlet (Annual) This vibrant AAS Winner is named after the Holi Festival of Colors, a Hindu spring holiday. AAS Judges deemed this an “excellent flower” for its bright solid color, and size and quantity of blossoms. Excellent disease resistance was also noted. Holi Scarlet flowers all season long, despite heat, humidity and drought. Uniform and compact mounding plants make a stunning mass planting drawing in people and pollinators. Full sun.

Profusion Zinnia (Annual) A beautiful new addition to the popular Profusion series of zinnias, this gorgeous plant starts out with a bold red center ring surrounded by golden-yellow outer petals. As the season progresses, the aging flowers change into soft, beautiful shades of apricot, salmon, and dusty rose. Full sun.

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Zinnia Queeny Lime Orange (Annual) Sporting large, dahlia-like blooms on sturdy, compact plants, this variety is total eye candy in the garden. As the flowers age, the color changes from dark coral/peach/orange to a light peach with a dark center. Visitors to AAS trial gardens loved the showstopping color and large blooms. This new AAS Winner is also perfect for cut-flower gardens as each uniform plant produces many deeply fluted blooms that last up to three weeks in a vase without floral preservatives. Full sun.

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Celosia Asian Garden (Annual) AAS Judges gave this entry high marks in the greenhouse for good branching, almost bushy growth habit and early-to-bloom flower spikes. In the garden, it continued to bloom on sturdy stems, keeping the bright pink color all summer, holding up even through some of the first fall frosts. Judges also commented on the fact that this celosia was a pollinator-magnet, making it a sure bet for pollinator-friendly gardens. Full sun.

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

or Plants Salvia Summer Jewel(™) (Annual) This is the fourth AAS Winner in the Salvia Summer Jewel™ series and the newest color, Summer Jewel™ Lavender. The dusty lavender-purple color is a delight in beds, borders and containers. It’s a major attractor of pollinators including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The early bloom, compact uniform growth and continuous flowering make this plant a winner. Full sun.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Focus — Surefire Pollinator Plants Dianthus Interspecific Jolt™ Pink (Annual) This dianthus offers large, showy flower heads on strong stems that perform extremely well all summer. It is the most heat-tolerant dianthus on the market, sporting very showy, bright pink fringed flowers. Judges called this entry the “Best of the trials. We wish all dianthus performed this well.” This easyto-grow, trouble-free annual is a winner for projects that need to be neat and tidy throughout the season. Full sun.

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Gaura linderheimeri ‘Sparkle White’ (Annual/Half-hardy Perennial) Sparkle White brings airy elegance to the garden with its mound of narrow, green leaves and arching stems of dainty white flowers tinged pink from late spring through late summer. Use it in a mass planting in sun-drenched landscape beds, in groupings with perennials or mixed borders, or in containers. Clients will appreciate this season-long bloomer, which has excellent heat tolerance and a more uniform flowering habit than other seed-grown gauras. Choose a site with excellent drainage.

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

Mendez Landscaping & Brick Pavers, Inc. Gabriel Mendez 2805 Raycraft Rd. Woodstock, IL 60098 Email: info@mendezlandscaping.net Phone: 815-245-3046 www.mendezlandscaping.net We are a family owned company that specializes in Landscaping, Hardscaping and Tree services that have been serving all of Woodstock and all it’s surrounding areas, since 2006.

Prairie View Landscaping Peter Martin 501 E. Bell St. Bloomington, IL 61701 Email: petermartin@pv-landscaping.com Phone: 309-212-0205 pv-landscaping.com Tezak’s Pro Lawn Care Tony 7 S Margaret Street Joliet, IL 60436 Email: service@tezaksprolawncare.com Phone: 815-483-4473 www.tezaksprolawncare.com Tezak’s Pro Lawn Care provides the Joliet area lawn maintenance and landscape enhancements. Our goal is to provide exceptional and unique landscape services to our customers built on excellent customer service.

The Bravos Landscape Jose Bravo 2621 30th St Zion, IL 60099 Email: joseb@thebravoslandscape.com Phone: 224-260-6034 https://thebravoslandscape.business.site The Bravo’s Landscape Inc. is a full service landscaping company. With nearly 20 years of experience we strive to meet your needs in a professional & helpful manner. Making your dream of a vibrant, living landscape is our passion.

We will work personally with you to come up with a landscape design and plan that will not only enhance your property but make it that much more beautiful, as it should be. Our team will work with you to solve any issues on your property, providing a wide variety

of solutions. We provide everything including basic maintenance services, hardscaping, outdoor lighting, irrigation, commercial landscaping and much more.

Veggie Acres Brian A. Thompson 333 S. Wabash Ave., STE 2700 Chicago, IL 60604 Email: bthompson@veggieacres.com Phone: 815-828-5328 veggieacres.com Vogel Landscaping, Inc. James S Vogel 9524 S 89th Ave Palos Hills, IL 60465 Email: james.s.vogel@gmail.com Phone: 708-514-8941 GOVERNMENT/NON-PROFIT Village of Homer Glen John Robinson 14240 W 151st St Homer Glen, IL 60491 Email: jrobinson@homerglenil.org Phone: 708-301-0632 www.homerglenil.org Village Of Skokie Cathy Stevens 9050 Gross Point Rd. Skokie, IL 60077 Email: cathy.stevens@skokie.org Phone: 847-933-8427 INDIVIDUALS Pathways Landscape Design, LLC Bekki Mihelich 39W169 Red Cloud Ln Elgin, IL 60124 Email: pathwaysldsdesign@gmail.com Phone: 847-489-5315 Pathways Landscape Design, LLC provides residential landscape design services for landscape contractors and homeowners. We develop DynaScape designs and renderings as well as 3D modeling of landscape plans utilizing Uvision software.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE/ DESIGN FIRMS Rooted Outdoor Living LLC Dawn Barr Oswego, IL 60543 Email: info@rootedoutdoorliving.com Phone: 630-881-8013 www.rootedoutdoorliving.com I have been designing and installing in the landscape industry for over 15 years. I started my own landscape design/build firm in order to better serve homeowners one-on-one and facilitate the process from initial meeting to project completion and beyond. I strive to create current, elegant, and sustainable landscapes, and love to encourage people to get outdoors! My service area is the western suburbs of Chicago.

SUPPLIERS Sod Solutions Elizabeth Broucqsault P.O. Box 460 Mount Pleasant, SC 29465 Email: beth@sodsolutions.com Phone: 843-670-5088 www.sodsolutions.com Sod Solutions has been researching, developing and releasing to the market new turfgrass varieties for almost three decades. Our new professionally focused arm of the company, Sod Solutions Pro takes our industry knowledge and puts it to use, facilitating large-scale turfgrass projects from beginning to end. Our team of turfgrass and technology experts delivers innovative solutions through improved turfgrass brands, farm management software and cutting-edge fertilizer technology.

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New Member Profile Snapshot

Power Planter Inc.

Loda, IL 60948 (630) 240-0643 www.powerplanter.com

by Meta Levin

When Greg Niewold talks

which Niewold was told used to take four days, now takes about four hours.

Last summer Niewold sold a couple of augers to a landscape contractor in Florida, who, like many, was having trouble finding enough labor. Later, the customer reported that he had removed his “help wanted” signs, because his crews were “working three times faster,” says Niewold.

Irrigation contractors are using the augers for digging holes for moisture probes. Others are used for planting, digging post holes and installing fences.

His Australian distributor came to him in a roundabout way. The couple had a photography studio, but, for a background, needed to plant 20,000 bulbs. They bought one auger and it worked so well that they shut down the photography business and became a distributor for Power Planter.

With that experience, Power Planter has become a partner with a bulb company out of Texas, which helps get the products aimed at home gardeners into retail establishments and garden centers.

Niewold’s grandfather was an ILCA member for a long time, but the membership lapsed when Niewold took over.

Last year, he came back, in large part because his outside salespeople pushed him to be a part of iLandscape. “The association provides us with visibility,” he says.

Staffing their iLandscape booth has provided unexpected opportunities. One of those there was the chief welder. When a customer complained about the welds, he found himself talking with the man in charge. It turned what could have been a bad situation into a positive one, he says.

Niewold was an agricultural and industrial arts teacher at Prairie Central High School when the opportunity to buy his grandfather’s company came up. His wife, Lisa, was a fourth-grade teacher. They have four children, ages eleven to two years old. He enjoys athletics and used to play basketball, but now gets most of his pleasure from being a father, husband and working at Power Planter. “I get a ton of enjoyment out of being the boss of the company,” he says.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

about Power Planter Inc., family is his optimum word. His grandfather started it, he owns it, his aunt works in the office, his father and uncle are still around and his employees tell him they feel a part of the family.

When Niewold bought the company from his grandfather in 2015, there were two full time employees – his aunt and one person in the shop. Now there are fifteen full time employees. “My staff loves a challenge and they love working with each other,” says Niewold. “We are sitting down here in the middle of a corn field in central Illinois doing some fun things that nobody knows about or that even exist.”

Power Planter Inc. was founded more than 30 years ago on a farm that has been in Niewold’s family for six generations. His grandfather designed and sold augers, which he manufactured under the name, Hydra Fold Auger Inc. The fully contained eleven foot to sixteen-foot-long tubes were used by farmers to move corn, soybeans, wheat and fertilizer around their fields.

The business expanded when a groundskeeper from the University of Illinois approached him about designing an auger that could be used to plant trees, shrubs and flowers on the campus. He did and the company moved along until 2015 when he sold Power Planter to Greg Niewold, his grandson. “Since then, things have been going gangbusters,” says Niewold. In 2020, Niewold took ownership of Hydra Fold and shut it down in 2021.

Over the years, Power Planter has evolved and now offers a variety of sizes, models and even accessories for both professionals and home gardeners. It has expanded and now sells its products all over the United States, as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Fiji and countries throughout Europe. The products, however, are US made with domestically sourced materials, says Niewold.

“I am fascinated by all the uses,” says Niewold, who points to one of his larger distributors in Sydney, Australia, who sold augers for use to dig termite bate stations. The job, 54

We’re here for you—

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Contact us today! 8920 Howe Rd. | Wonder Lake, IL 60097 | 815.653.9293 | goodmarknurseries.com The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Irrigation Technician

Commercial Landscape Estimator

Garden Center/Nursery Manager

King’s Landscape Design, located in the South Western Suburbs, is looking to hire an experienced Landscape Irrigation Technician.

The ideal candidate would be able to perform the following: - Sprinkler turn-on, and winterizations - Repair irrigation systems (i.e. broken sprinkler heads, leaks, valves, wiring) - Monitor and adjust sprinkler watering -Knowledge of landscape lighting would be a plus!

Minimum qualifications include: • 3 years’ experience • A valid driver’s license & good driving record • Must be seeking long term employment • Must be able to speak English.

Interested parties please contact: Adam King aking@kingslandscaping.com 630-408-4527 www.kingslandscaping.com

Responsibilities: • Reading plans and specifications to determine scope of work • Perform accurate material, equipment and labor take-offs • Solicit sub & supplier pricing and estimate volume of work • Prepare timely estimates and meet bid deadlines • Review contract documents upon award • Communications with clients, project architects, subcontractors, etc.

• Project billing and cost evaluation Qualifications: • Excellent communications, computer and math skills

Qualifications: • 4 years minimum management experience.

• Demonstrated knowledge of retail metrics, consumer, and product trends.

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills to develop strong partnerships with store personnel, vendors, and corporate staff.

• Excellent computer efficiency in Microsoft office, inventory, and POS software • Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently with excellent organizational skills.

Email resume and cover letter to accounting@allied-landscaping.com

PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

Job Requirements: Full time position.

5-7 day week Email resume & cover letter to accounting@ allied-landscaping.com Human Resources Recruiting Specialist This position is responsible for supporting all hiring activities, from advertising open roles to interviewing candidates and closing hires.

The Recruitment Specialist responsibilities include connecting with potential candidates online and offline, screening applications and supporting hiring managers. This position is responsible for hiring qualified people while maintaining a positive candidate experience.

Scan the QR to apply.

Residential Maintenance Account Manager Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Landscape Designer/Project Director Management Associate Call Maria for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers 56

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Come Grow with Us!

Landscape Design Internship Program

Project Manager

Bruss Landscaping, Wheaton, IL is continuing to experience rapid growth and is looking to add to our team as we celebrate our 70th anniversary. If you are looking for a change of scenery, and a competitive income structure, we would love to speak with you.

Participate in hands-on experience with our associates, specifically our Design Team, on the design process at Mariani Landscape. The intern will be mentored by an experienced associate and shadow him/her on a daily basis to learn our processes and procedures.

Scan the QR code to apply.

This associate shall be responsible to ensure appropriate execution of day to day operations on how a project is managed after Client awards a job to Mariani Landscape.

This associate shall have a thorough understanding of scope of work on the project, cost for specified scope of work on the project and schedule timeframes allocated to provide the scope of work on the project. This associate interacts with the design team, construction staff, and administrative support on a regular basis and other departments throughout the company.

Scan the QR code to apply.

Landscape Designer We are looking for a self-motivated and creative individual to fulfill the role of landscape designer and support for two of our existing team members. The proper candidate is someone who works well in a collaborative environment, loves plants and design, but is not looking to be in a direct sales role.

Experience with Dynascape and Uvision is a plus, but we can train if necessary. This Monday-Friday position offers competitive salary, signing bonus, health insurance, 401k and a casual and enjoyable work environment.

Landscape Foremen and Laborers We are looking to add experienced team members to our production team. We have numerous positions and opportunities available for experiences paver installers, masons, and general laborers. We offer VERY competitive wages, 401k, vacations, sign on and seasonal bonuses as well as the opportunity for year round work.

Email ebruss@brusslandscaping.com to apply.

Production Coordinator This associate is responsible for ensuring that Mariani quality standards are being bet and procedures are being followed on each site in a safe and efficient manner by our crews at all times. This associate is also responsible for training the all crews on policy and procedures, as well as supervising the overall activities of the crew associates.

Scan the QR to apply.

Landscape Designer This position collaborates with the Design Directors in preparing quality landscape designs, construction documents, estimates and proposals for presentation to clients. This position interacts with the design and sales staff on a regular basis.

Scan the QR code to apply.

Client Representative Manage the client relationship, from the original sale through continued weekly maintenance, serving as “One Point of Contact” for clients of the Maintenance department. This position is responsible for bringing in new clients and increasing department revenue by servicing the needs and requests of our maintenance clients and providing detailed customer service.

Scan the QR code to apply.

Maintenance Enhancement Designer This position assists Client Representatives in preparing quality enhancement landscape designs, estimates and proposals for presentation to clients. This position interacts with the design and sales staff on a regular basis.

Scan the QR code to apply.

Woody Plant Buyer This associate will coordinate all the details with purchasing woody plant material for the entire company. This associate interacts with the design team, construction staff, and administrative support on a regular basis and other departments throughout the company.

This associate participates in tagging trips throughout the season.

Scan QR code to apply.

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Classified Ads HELP WANTED Purchasing Assistant Provide administrative support for the Purchasing department, including inventory maintenance, inventory reporting, plant labels and tags and special projects as they relate to the purchasing department. This position interacts with a diverse group of important external vendors as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization.

Scan the QR code to apply.

Landscape Architect / Designer Wingren Landscape is family-owned and provides comprehensive residential and commercial landscape services in Chicagoland’s suburbs since 1960. We are an awardwinning Design/Build firm that provides high quality, distinctive landscapes. We are looking to add another talented Landscape Architect to our team. If you are skilled in residential design, are self-motivated, and focused on exceptional customer service and quality, we would like to meet you.

Position Summary: Meet with potential landscape clients, assess and discuss their needs, make suggestions of creative design solutions. Take accurate field measurements, create a design to present to clients.

Complete the sale of the project, and oversee the installation.

Requirements: • A 4-year degree in Landscape Design and/ or Landscape Architecture • A minimum of 3 years professional work experience (preferred, but not required) • Strong plant and construction knowledge • Driver’s license and good driving record • Professional appearance and demeanor • Proficiency in Sketch-up, AutoCAD, U-Vision a plus Ideal candidates will be detail oriented, conscientious, professional, and most importantly, maintain a high level of honesty and integrity. Wingren Landscape, Inc. is a relaxed work environment, although seasonally hectic, with a very competitive salary and benefits package including vehicle, health/dental/vision insurance, 401K, vaca-

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HELP WANTED tion, and paid holidays.

Interested parties, please contact: Jay Zumbahlen (630) 759-8100 JayZ@wingrenlandscape.com Lawn Maintenance Supervisor/Estimator Straightline Landscaping is a full service Lawn Maintenance and Snow Removal Company looking for a year-round Lawn Maintenance Supervisor/Estimator. Seeking a person that is highly motivated, a self-starter, organized, and possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage all to apply!

DUTIES INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: • Generate new sales leads & perform lawn maintenance and snow estimates • Evaluate performance of lawn crews • Schedule and manage multiple lawn maintenance crews/equipment • Conduct walk-throughs with client(s) or Property Manager(s) • Maintain communication with customers • Property Inspections/Quality Control of standards at properties • Manage/Assist in snow plowing and deicing operations with 24/7 availability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in same field • Valid driver’s license & good driving record • Seeking long term employment COMPENSATION • Base Salary plus commissions • Health insurance contribution • Paid Personal Days • Company cell phone Interested parties, please contact: Joe or Brittany (708) 301-8396 office@straightlinelandscaping.net

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

HELP WANTED Landscape Construction Design Sales Account Manager We are looking for a full time Landscape Construction Design Sales Account Manager to manage leads and achieve sales goals. The best part about Seasonal Landscape Solutions is that the leads will be automatically generated to you. No designing needed as we have our own in-house designers and Architects, which allows the Sales Account Manager more time to really focus on closing the sales leads.

Call Lily at 847-651-3827 or email lily@seasonallandscape.com Landscape Construction Estimator The estimator owns the estimating process and is responsible for producing timely and accurate estimates for our construction, hardscape, and snow divisions. The estimator easily connects the dots and facilitates the flow of information between sales and production, bringing clarity and structure in their work.

The estimator owns the estimating system (LMN) and excels in keeping the system organized and up to date. Participating in job costing meetings, the estimator investigates and provides solutions to improve.

Call Lily at 847-651-3827 or email lily@seasonallandscape.com Landscape Designer This position collaborates with the Design Directors in preparing quality landscape designs, construction documents, estimates and proposals for presentation to clients. This position interacts with the design and sales staff on a regular basis.

Scan the QR code to apply.

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Project Manager Job Description: • Plan, schedule, and implement the tasks of field crews for landscape construction projects from contract to close-out. These activities must result in compliance with contract specifications, budgets, and client expectations. Manage billings to reflect job progress.

• Conduct pre-construction meetings with clients, operations manager, field staff, and subcontractors.

• Effectively communicate progress on landscape projects to clients, company management, sales, and field staff.

Email resume to: info@cardinalstatellc.com GROUNDSKEEPER Harper College is currently seeking applications for the full time Groundskeeper position. Groundskeeper responsibilities include the maintenance, care and modification of campus grounds. Duties include snow removal and first level maintenance on equipment as needed. The successful candidate will respond to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns within or outside normal working hours. You must also be able to work shift work, weekends, overtime, and holidays as well as be available (on call) for snow removal responsibilities.

You must be able to operate motorized landscaping equipment, snow removal equipment, vehicles and associated tools for landscaping and snow removal. Job hours will be Monday through Friday, 7am – 3:30 pm.

Requirements include: · High School Diploma or equivalent required. · At least three years’ experience in grounds, nursery, gardening, or

adopt sustainable landscaping practices and that engage students and others within their communities to increase the number of properties within their communities that do the same.

related work, and have performed maintenance on related equipment appropriate to the needs of the campus

Landscape Construction Project Manager Cardinal State, LLC is a commercial landscape construction firm dedicated to a client-centered approach. Cardinal State, LLC has been serving the landscape construction industry in Illinois and NW Indiana since 2012. We are rapidly growing, and as a result, are looking for the right candidate to join our leadership team as a Project Manager.

HELP WANTED

To learn more about this position and apply, visit us at: http://jobs.harpercollege.edu/cw/en-us/job/49 3993?lApplicationSubSourceID= Harper College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to create an inclusive learning and working environment where individual differences and identities are respected, valued and embraced. We encourage women, people from historically underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

Sustainable Landscaping Specialist The Sustainable Landscaping Specialist is a new position designed to expand the organization’s Lands in Harmony program in Lake County, IL by supporting landscape contractors who seek to increase their sustainable landscaping services.

In collaboration with others, this person develops and tests strategies that empower landscape contractors to offer more sustainable landscaping practices that meet the needs of their company and customers while mitigating the effects of climate change, restoring ecological function to neighborhoods, and promoting ecological connectivity among communities.

·

In collaboration with others, design and initiate a long-term project that engages target audiences in the measurement of a specific ecological feature and landscaping practice.

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Track and analyze program data.

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Manage the contract for landscape and site maintenance at Openlands Lakeshore Preserve.

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Support management of our online Native Tree and Plant Sale.

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Assist with development of promotions, resources, reports, proposals, and impact surveys.

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Complete other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

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Bachelor’s degree in arboriculture, horticulture, landscape design, or related field

·

Three or more years of work experience in the landscape contractor industry

This person works from home, with regular local travel to various outdoor sites in Lake County, IL, and occasional travel to adjacent counties. This is a full-time non-exempt position that reports to the Director of Lake County Programs. This full-time year-round position offers robust benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances, paid time off, holidays, and retirement benefits.

·

Ability to work with the landscaping industry to design services and resources

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An interest in gaining knowledge about this region’s ecological needs, native species, and invasive species, and share it with those who care for the suburban landscape

Essential Functions:

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Strong skills in oral and written communications, with Spanish language a plus

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Ability to occasionally work outdoors in inclement weather

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Ability to work independently and as part of a team

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Punctual, organized, motivated, and diligent

·

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Work with landscape contractors, ecologists, and property owners to develop and test scalable strategies that increase the number of landscape contractors who can sell and provide ecologically beneficial services to their customers.

Work with high school decision makers to develop and test strategies that increase the number of campuses that

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

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Classified Ads ·

Ability to use a company-provided computer

·

A valid driver’s license and regular access to a personal vehicle

Compensation: Salary range is market competitive. Benefits include health, life, and disability coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan, paid holidays and vacation time.

To Apply: This position is open until filled. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter explaining why your skills and experience would complement this position to JobApps@ Openlands.org. Please include “Sustainable Landscaping Specialist” in the subject line.

Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Work Environment: Office is ADA accessible. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employee is regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer. This role requires manual labor- standing, bending, crouching, lifting. Smoke- and drug-free environment.

Openlands is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. Openlands does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other nonmerit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Openlands is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.

work of land and water trails, tree-lined streets, and intimate public gardens within easy reach of every city dweller. It also includes parks and preserves big enough to provide natural habitat and to give visitors a sense of the vast prairies, woodlands, and wetlands that were here before the cities. In sum, Openlands believes that protected open space is critical for the quality of life of our region.

Maintenance Manager, So Suburbs, $70,000/Year Landscape Maintenance Manager This full-time, senior level position handles the day to day operations of the maintenance division. Responsibilities include scheduling, hiring, client retention, estimates, overseeing account managers, maintenance budget, and other duties as assigned.

Experience required is a minimum of 5 years in the green industry in a managerial position. The ideal applicant would have performed some or all of these tasks at another landscape company in a similar role.

The position includes all the usual benefits including heath & dental insurance, company vehicle and profit sharing.

Call (708) 799-6228 or email info@suburbanlandscaping.net with a resume for an interview.

FOR SALE D. Reithel Landscape Nursery & David & Georgia Reithel Residence Hillside Ranch Home w/Walkout Basement, 2 Morton Buildings, Landscape & Nursery Hardscape materials loading & storage yard, Display gardens “on-going” Arboretum, 3/4 Acre Pond & 4 AC, Specimen Rare Tree & Dwarf Conifer growing fields, Owner will aid in transition, Price - $1.5M, Call Amy Izzo, Realtor, 708.359.6510 for info.

About Openlands: Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives. Openlands’ vision for the region is a landscape that includes a vast net-

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The Landscape Contractor April 2022

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES May 2022 issue ads: April 15, 2022 June 2022 issue ads: May 15, 2022 July 2022 issue ads: June15, 2022 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851 x1

Advertisers 1st Choice Equipment ...............................................15 A Block Marketing ................................................23 Arthur Clesen, Inc. ...................................................52 Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................49 Breezy Hill Nursery ................................................51 Cardno .....................................................................46 Clesen Wholsesale ..................................................50

Inspiration Alley Editor’s Note: Over time, we run across a mountain of fun, innovative, and generally creative ideas. They don’t always fit with the magazine content, but we do collect them for some future use. This brings us to Inspiration Alley, a place where we display pure creativity. It’s up to you to judge the merit of each offering. So use it, lose it or be inspired to try something different.

It’s All in Your Mind

By Nina A. Koziol

Do your clients want color? You know the plants, but do you know how colors work together? Here’s a fast lesson that can take your borders and containers from satisfactory to sensational.

Dayton Bag and Burlap .............................................52 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4 Fairview Evergreen Nurseries ..................................52 Goodmark Nurseries ................................................55 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................14 Homer Industries ...................................................19 James Martin Associates .........................................56

Stare at the x in the yellow circle for about 30 seconds. Then look at the x in the white circle.

You should see a pale violet “after” image.

While looking at yellow, your brain also “sees” violet, the complementary color—even though it’s not there.

Sedums top the garden shed of Carol Becker, owner of Sage Advice Landscape Design and Consulting in Park Ridge.

Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel—red and green, orange and blue, yellow and violet. When you pair opposite colors you get an eye-popping combo.

Orange and Blue — Kniphophia (red-hot poker) and Agapanthus.

Joe Cotton Ford .......................................................53 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................43 JKS Ventures ............................................................49 Longshadow Planters ............................................13 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants .........................................................41 McGinty Bros. .......................................................45 Midwest Groundcovers ..........................................11 Midwest Trading .....................................................2 Rocks, Etc................................................................48 Spring Meadow Nursery .........................................27 The Mulch Center ....................................................47 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

Red and Green — This planting on Chicago’s Mag Mile provides a “wow” factor because of the tulip’s green leaves and red flowers.

Xylem ......................................................................48

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Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Sanger House Gardens

by Heather Prince

On a quiet leafy side street in the historic

Brewer’s Hill neighborhood of Milwaukee a beautiful collector’s garden awaits on the grounds of a remarkable property.

The original Italianate-style house was built by Caspar Sanger, a German entrepreneur, in 1872. Sited on two-thirds of an acre of manicured grounds, the house has changed hands, been expanded, and finally is now a bed and breakfast and event space. Restoration began in 1975 and the current owners took the reins in 1985. The gardens have been a labor of love inspired by English and Mediterranean garden styles and are filled with secret walks leading to garden rooms.

Featuring more than 400 varieties of plants, the gardens started as overgrown yards filled with invasive trees. Now, layers of specimen conifers, Japanese maples, Wolf’s Eyes kousa dogwood, and several types of viburnums are filled with waves of spring ephemerals, choice shade perennials, and pieces of architectural sculpture. As the existing trees died out, the owners replaced them with golden locusts (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’) for their charming color and filtered shade.

Conifers are the stars. Groups of dwarf Alberta spruce create focal points and backdrops for the large perennial beds. Globe blue spruce, Aurea Nana arborvitae, mugo pine, hemlock, dwarf Hinoki cypress and more add rich layers of four-season interest and texture amid a supporting cast of hydrangea, daphne, spirea, and euonymus. Specimen favorite woody plants also include Glauca Compacta

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1823 N Palmer St, Milwaukee, WI https://www.sangerhousegardens.com/ Admission: free Hours: daily 8:30 am to 6:00 pm unless reserved for a private event concolor fir, Asplenifolia European beech, Dragon’s-eye pine, Dream Catcher® Kolkwitzia, Red Majestic contorted filbert, fringetree, and Fernspray gold Hinoki cypress. The owners consider themselves to be texture gardeners rather than flower growers and take great care to create waves of layers mixing dainty and coarse.

Winding paths of brick and stone lead you through the various vignettes tucked on this quiet city lot. As houses in the neighborhood came down and streets were renovated, they salvaged many limestone blocks and red brick for hardscape elements. The gravel walks of English garden shows captured their imagination and now you stride with satisfying crunch along crushed stone paths. Local artifacts including a red sandstone lion head urn and carved limestone capitals serve as pieces of garden art or have been repurposed as a fountain.

Birds serenade you and fountains burble. Tropical plants in an eclectic variety of containers offer splashes of vivid color.

Tucked behind a screen of mixed conifers, walk up the front paths or the drive to experience the gardens. The main path will lead you to a round pool edged in brick with a lively fountain bubbling in the center. From here you have several choices of paths to explore.

Take the steps up to the lathe house for a view over the gardens and of the surrounding neighbors. This is a charming example of an eclectic garden space that utilizes specimen conifers to bring intricate textures to life, no matter the season.

The Landscape Contractor April 2022

50 years

of Innovation 1972

FIRST PAVER

UNI-STONE®

Unilock introduces the first paving stone to North America.

1991

FIRST PERMEABLE

UNI ECO-STONE®

“ Innovation is really what makes this company.” ~ Ed Bryant, Unilock Founder

Unilock manufactures the first permeable paver.

1992

FIRST FACEMIX

SERIES™

First to introduce facemix technology to North America.

1993

TUMBLED PAVER BRUSSELS BLOCK®

Unilock starts a new trend with tumbled pavers and walls.

50 years ago, our founder had a dream. When Ed Bryant introduced the UNI-Stone paver to the North American

2004

market, he essentially established the hardscaping

FIRST ULTIMA

First to produce Ultima Concrete technology in North America. ™

industry here. Since then, we have continued to innovate and grow, paving the way forward for others to follow. From permeable to facemix, tumbling, coatings and textures, Unilock has led the pack. And we’re just

2007

FIRST COATING

UMBRIANO®

Unilock introduces EasyClean™ Stain Resistance technology.

2018

PATENTED U-CARA

U-CARA® WALL SYSTEM

Unilock patents the revolutionary U-Cara Multi-Face Wall System.

getting started.

Learn more about our industry-leading product lineup and the personalized support that our Territory Managers have to offer you by connecting with us at 1-800-UNILOCK or UNILOCK.com. We have Boots on the Ground in your area and look forward to meeting you.