The Landscape Contractor magazine DEC.23 DIGITAL EDITION

You say you want a revolution, well...

The Landscape Sleeps Tonight

JAN 31 - FEB 2, 2024

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December 2023

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

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FOCUS: The ZEE Revolution The ZEE Revolution is Upon Us 10

And it sounds like high efficiency and no emissions Party On 20 The ILCA Annual party was a runaway hit

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Winterscaping 101 30 A tribute to the quiet season

EN ESPAÑOL

Contenedores de piedra simulada añaden esa 36 apariencia de época

Impact Conference Brings the Enthusiasm New speakers brought fresh thought

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ILCA Welcomes Members from IGIA 49 Member Profile 56 Gambro Landscapes LLC Inspiration Alley 61 Read it and reap Before You Go Warm your winter with ‘Flame’ Willow

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On the cover... Photo courtesy of Hursthouse, Inc

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

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

ILCA Awards Committee Hursthouse, Inc. Scott Shigley Rick Reuland

DECEMBER 4 5 7 58 61

1, 8-9, 1 30-35 18-19, 20-25 26-28, 49-53

Nina Koziol 50-52, 61 Chicago Botanic Garden 52-54 Gambro Landscapes 56-57 Mark Dwyer 62

Herbicide & Weed Identification Workshop December 13, 2023 Midwest Golf House Lemont,IL

JANUARY InVigorateU January 16-17, 2024 DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington, IL

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 Volume 64, Number 12. 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

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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

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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From Where I Stand —

ew phrases make your stomach drop like, “Tonight’s homework is...” It is right up there with, “This jury finds you...”

There was nothing worse than almost escaping class only to have the teacher grab you by the collar with a homework assignment. That meant a night with books scattered across the kitchen table and a plate of hour-old dinner cooling beside you.

If you have/had high school kids of your own, homework completes a full cycle in your lifetime. When we are young, homework sucks.

When we have young kids, it becomes our job to teach them that homework does not suck. We are fooled into thinking this and professing that message because the homework assigned to young children is easy. “Complete the sequence: A-BC-D-_” or “If Johnny has six slices of pizza, and Janey wants two slices…” Kids look up at us with their confused eyes and we grab a crayon and walk them through the answers.

This leaves us with a sense of smug satisfaction. What would these little knot heads do without our mastery of fractions, state capitols, and primary colors? We are heroes, nay, superheroes! We talk them through the importance of those eight minutes of homework before they run off to watch the Disney Channel. By the time they hit middle school, there is a little more Googling involved, but we never have to stray too far from our comfort zones.

Then, high school rolls around. My daughter is a freshman in high school this year. Her very first week, she was nose deep in a math assignment. I could tell the answers were not coming easy. I moseyed on over, rested my hand on her shoulder, she looked up at me with those confused eyes. I said, “Let me help ya there, Little Lady.” I kicked out the chair, cracked my calculatin’ knuckles, and sat down.

She presented me a problem that looked like this: Find the remainder (without division) when x22 +7x - 11 is divisible by 3x - 2.

I stared at the page for a few minutes. I pulled out my phone wondering how to Google 3x-2. I squinted. I wrinkled my forehead. My daughter then saw my confused eyes. She patted me on the hand and said, “I’ll wait for Mom to get home. Run along and watch your football.”

So, homework sucks again. The only silver lining is that I get more excited for her homework grades to come back than she does. If I helped her, I ask, “What did WE get on that?” If the grade is poor, I say, “YOU’LL just need to try harder next time,” as I mosey back to the couch to watch the 4th quarter of the game.

I recently attended the 5th Landscapes Below Ground conference at The Morton Arboretum presented in partnership with the International Society of Arboriculture. ILCA sponsored this event dedicated to tree science and urban forestry. The Conference gathers some of the brightest research scientists in urban forestry from around the world.

Alessio Fini from the University of Milan was the first speaker. Alessio, a tall, lean Italian researcher began his talk with, “I developed my hypothesis as I was cycling through the Alps.” With that, the conference was off and running. The audience is divided into two halves — ­ leading academics in the field of arboriculture, and, everyone else. I was in the “everyone else”

group. The conference had presentations on root health, urban site considerations for tree pits, biochar and biosolids, salt remediation, watering, and dozens of other research subjects. It was the first time I have ever been at a landscape industry event where a German audience member translated English questions to a Dutch speaker.

Academics are an overlooked part of the green industry. In reality, these are the ones doing our homework. These are the people who take ideas and concepts so ingrained in daily professional practice and put them to the test. They challenge the status quo and do battle against the most insidious phrase in the landscape industry — because it’s the way we have always done it.

Case in point, the Italian cyclist was bemoaning the fact that his native Italy was experiencing more and more urban sprawl. Professor Fini used to be able to cycle from town-to-town with long, uninterrupted trips through the countryside. Now, the cities and suburbs form a concrete pad that stretches for miles. As a researcher, he was curious what all this pavement was doing to the urban tree canopy. So he raised some research dollars and found out.

In Europe, it is very common to bring concrete almost to the base of the urban tree. Some European cities are now using porous and permeable pavers to surround tree pits. In the US, this is more commonly practiced as our cities are younger and urban tree health is more valued. Fini used research funding to create over a dozen tree pits at his university using four types of material — concrete, porous concrete, permeable pavers, and bare ground for control. He planted two species of trees and then waited…years.

He exhumed the trees, removed the concrete, and began looking at root structures along with all the other data points he had collected throughout the study. What he found surprised him, sure, the porous and permeable pavers got more water to the roots, but that water evaporated more quickly. The concrete (and control) held water longer which allowed for denser, deeper roots to form. The permeable surfaces had thinner, more fibrous roots almost resembling the pathways in a brain stem.

Another con was that permeable pits are often ripped up by the roots where the concrete did not buckle. This is another concern for city planners who want to mitigate tripping hazards in urban spaces not to mention manage replacement costs.

The one benefit was that porous materials created a lower urban heat island effect. So, in essence, Alessio started out to prove concrete tree pits were bad. He did, but only from a heat island standpoint and not due to their negative impact on the roots of urban trees. This study had taken years and none of this bothered him.

The academics in the room shrugged it off as science, and, in science, there are surprises around every turn.

This happened throughout the entire day. Practices being done in landscaping and urban forestry were put up against research and the omnipresent question of — Why are we doing it this way?

The laymen in the room, like me, always have to wait for the “In Conclusion” slide to understand what all of this means. The academics follow along with the tables and graphs filled with formulas and Greek letters. They already know the conclusions before we get to the big reveal.

The Doctors Are In

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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From Where I Stand —

A L L TO G E T H E R B E T T E R W W W. M A R I A N I P L A N T S .COM

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This is how the day flows. Many of the longstanding beliefs on urban tree health were put to the test and few came out unchallenged.

These are principles that make their way into village codes, urban forestry plans, and industry dogma — many of which have gone untested.

I will be the first to admit, I often overlook the purely academic sessions at many of our programs. Every year, The Landscape Contractor magazine, Turf Education Day, Impact, iLandscape, and InVigorateU gather professors and researchers, many times, the session rooms are half-full. Most attendees want to hear from industry contemporaries and not eggheads working in a lab. That is a mistake.

Last winter, I attended a session at InVigorateU on the importance of using lightly colored pots for root health from Jacob Shreckhise, Ph.D, a Research Horticulturist with USDA-ARS. Jacob’s team found that white or light pots almost doubled the root growth versus material grown and shipped in black pots. He said in all his years as a researcher, that he has never seen one single variable contribute more to root health. He inadvertently used white stickers on the black pots to label the species. The roots even grew towards the white stickers!

This has cradle-to-planting implications as even the lighter pots help plant health at the wholesale nursery, garden center, or landscape holding yard. Further, many black pots cannot be recycled and the lighter alternatives are not more expensive. This could have dramatic impacts on plant warranties and overall health of the landscape. All because some researchers dared to ask, “Why?” The fact is, this research happens all the time. Our online resource library Bloom is full of academic content, perfect for a rainy day. The best part is that academics are amazing at sharing. Most are publically funded so their white papers and research are open source. The Landscapes Below Ground conference puts all the content into a Conference Proceedings book for all attendees. Academic journals such as the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, Journal of Plant Physiology, or Urban Forestry and Urban Greening can be dense. That is why live presentations and books are so important. In academia, there are no trade secrets and a rising tide lifts all boats. iLandscape is just around the corner. We will have sessions with professors and authors who are used to that confused look in our eyes.

The good news is, there are no tests or pop quizzes. As professionals, we overlay their homework on top of our current industry practices.

When they do not match-up, practices need to change or we are simply being resistant to sound science. So, if you see a speaker with a few extra letters after their name, don’t panic. Those Ph.D. doctors are here to help.

Trust me, helping with homework is not easy, especially the homework of the entire landscape industry. We need to support the academics who toil behind the scenes with our time, dollars, and attention. Yes, many feel more comfortable in labs and research plots, but when they come in from the cold we need to listen to what they say, regardless of how many norms they challenge. The faster we change, the more we evolve. Then, we can get back to watching the game while they take their next hypothesis on a bicycle ride through the Italian Alps.

Sincerely,

Scott Grams, Executive Director October 16, 2023

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

President’s Message —

President

Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-2225 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Vice-President

Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Secretary-Treasurer

Kim Hartmann Rosborough Partners 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net

Immediate Past President

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

Directors Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com Ryan Heitman The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com Michael Massat The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com Nikki Melin Midwest Groundcovers (847) 742-1790 nmelin@midwestgroundcovers.com Kevin McGowen Kaknes/SiteOne (630) 416-999 kevin@kaknes.com Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

www.ilca.net

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s the year winds down, it’s a time to reflect on our businesses. There’s the analysis of numbers, company health, staffing, marketing, client satisfaction and overall efficiency. But what about your leadership style and company culture? That deserves thoughtful reflection, too. Brad Smith, a retired CEO of Intuit says his greatest lesson in leadership was, “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness.”

Bill Campell, Intuit Coach and Chairman echoed that idea saying, “Your title makes you a manager, your people will decide if you’re a leader.” Great food for thought.

You may have heard of “servant leadership”—a management philosophy in which leaders display strong listening skills, empathy, self-awareness, and the desire to create a healthy work environment. Servant leadership is putting yourself in a vulnerable position and serving your team with the end result of a better performing company overall. It’s understanding your team’s potential and helping team members find confidence and trust while developing Ashley Marrin their skills.

The first goal for any leader is to get the most out of their team and set them up for success. Consider your body language, which often transmits more than words.

Employees take note of how you react during a crisis and notice your facial expressions during meetings. Self awareness is a valuable tool. Recognizing the right time to provide constructive criticism or feedback, patiently working through problems, and recognizing even small but positive efforts and changes goes a long way to building a healthy, prosperous company and retaining valued staff.

Second goal: don’t micromanage. It’s easy to jump in and take over for an employee struggling with a task that you know all too well. We’ve all done this, but it only leads to more micromanaging. Finally, failure must be okay! We learn our greatest lessons during challenging, difficult and uncomfortable situations. When you have a moment, look up the poem, “Sermons We See” by Edgar A. Guest. Happy Holidays to you, your family and employees!

Sincererly, Ashley Marrin

Cada otoño, ILCA participa en la Conferencia de Liderazgo de los Grandes Lagos. Es organizada por el Consejo de Liderazgo de los Grandes Lagos, del cual ILCA es miembro. Los miembros del Consejo incluyen solo un vivero o asociación de paisajistas por cada estado o provincia que bordee los Grandes Lagos.

Entre los asistentes se encontraban directores ejecutivos de cada asociación, el presidente actual de la junta y el vicepresidente. La conferencia de este año en St. Paul, Minnesota, fue una oportunidad para los participantes de compartir información y aprender de los demás. Cada año cambian los temas en base a eventos de actualidad y su relevancia. Entre los temas que discutimos estuvieron los esfuerzos y éxitos de los programas de becas, cómo usar la tecnología para hacer avanzar la asociación o el negocio, estrategias legislativas y reglamentarias, mejores prácticas de gestión y marketing a los consumidores y futuros profesionales paisajistas. Todos regresamos con muchas páginas con anotaciones para compartir con los miembros del personal, comités y la junta de ILCA sobre cómo ILCA puede continuar siendo un componente importante y clave que apoye su negocio.

No tiene precio pasar unos días con compañeros paisajistas profesionales de toda procedencia que gustosamente comparten tanto sobre sus compañías y asociaciones. Al comienzo del evento, se nos pidió nombrar el lugar más interesante que hemos visitado y que nos atrajo a cada uno de nosotros al servicio en la asociación. Yo regresé con una lista grande de lugares para pasar vacaciones en el futuro, también aporté ideas interesantes sobre por qué cada persona decidió trabajar para la asociación. Las respuestas destacan los beneficios: oportunidades para establecer contactos, compartición de información, acceso a solución de problemas en grupo con compañeros de la industria, devolver a la profesión parte de lo que nos ha dado, influir en las legislaciones y regulaciones, fortalecer la industria, atraer a la próxima generación, desarrollo, mentoría y orientación y finalmente hacer amigos para toda la vida. Fue emocionante ver la pasión que cada persona siente por esta industria. Hay un viejo dicho que aplica aquí: “Si deseas ir rápido, ve solo; si deseas llegar lejos, ve acompañado.”

Atentamente, Ashley Marrin

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Mariani Landscape • Lake Bluff Natice Oasis

his project was created for a young family who wanted to live as environmentally responsibly as they could when they built their home and garden. It was who they were and how they wanted to behave as global citizens. Our objective was to greet them at that intersection, bring harmony into focus, and help them understand how they could be good stewards of nature. To achieve harmony, we extended indoors to outdoors and

we worked with fully organic plantings and natives throughout. While it wasn’t a great property upon move-in, they got the absolute best out of it by being respectful of resources and following a LEAD-certified directive to guide the pathway forward. Together we all said, “Wetlands are cool. Pollinators are cool. Not having an irrigation system? Cool.” We helped them pass this stewardship from parent to child, creating a laboratory of learning in their own back yard.

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Focus — The ZEE Revolution

“...We all want to change the world” ZEE Revolution is upon us

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by Nina A. Koziol hen September rolls around and the leaves are falling in earnest, residents of the tree-lined streets in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood can expect the melodious sounds of gas-powered leaf blowers blasting the debris into piles for collection. As one resident who works from home describes it, “The noise is non-stop from morning until it gets dark.”

In 2020, a bill was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly that would have banned the operation of gaspowered leaf blowers, but it was shelved. Although Chicago does not have a noise or emissions ordinance addressing gaspowered landscape equipment, some suburbs and towns have enacted them. The city of Evanston, for example, prohibited the use of gas- or propane-powered leaf blowers in 2021 and restricted the hours in which electric leaf blowers may be used. The city is also asking contractors to phase out fossil

fuel-powered lawn equipment.

“Most of these efforts stemmed from the pandemic and the noise that gas powered equipment generates,” says ILCA’s Executive Director Scott Grams. “More people in their houses during the day meant more noise complaints. The arguments are usually broader—environmental concerns, emissions, operators breathing in fumes, etc. However, most communities seem to want to shift due to the noise that gas powered equipment emits.”

Manufacturers from Echo, Stihl, Husqvarna, Ego, Toro and others have rolled out battery powered string trimmers, stick edgers, handheld and backpack blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, snow blowers and pole saws.

“The biggest push where the bans are concerned are for blowers,” says Dino Castino, business development manager at Russo Power Equipment. “Everything in two-cycle is available

No gas or oil needed for battery operated mowers

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

Everything in 2-cycle is available in a battery version

in a battery version. We’ve been offering battery equipment for about 10 years and the demand has gone bonkers. A lot of towns have adopted noise restrictions and the EPA is putting the push on everybody to be environmentally friendly when it comes to emissions.

Long Grove will not allow you to cut on their properties unless everything is green—no gas—and that’s trending through other municipalities.”

Zero Emissions Equipment (ZEE)

Tom Klitzkie and sons Paul and Ben at Nature’s Perspective Landscaping in Evanston began adding ZEE nearly three years ago. “It costs about $1,000 for a battery backpack that can run at full speed for about 45 minutes,” Kltizkie said. “We have one full crew of seven with fully electric battery powered equipment with all the attachments. The crew likes it. There’s less noise, (continued on page 12) The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Focus — The ZEE Revolution (continued from page 11) and although there’s a perception that the equipment doesn’t function the same as gas-powered, it does.”

A very early adopter of ZEE equipment was Sebert Landscaping in Bartlett, whose president Jeff Sebert is passionate about reducing the firm’s carbon footprint and helping introduce the idea to others in the industry. “More than 10 years ago, an employee said that battery equipment would be the way of the future and he was right,” Sebert said. Several Sebert crews use battery operated mowers, blowers, and line and hedge trimmers. “If we can use battery operated equipment, it’s quieter and environmentally friendly and a lot of our clients are hospitals.”

Sebert’s innovations extend from the Gold LEED-certified building and landscape (complete with a robotic mower) to the first custom-built trailer fit with solar panels used to recharge batteries while the crews are in the field. “There’s no gas, no oil and our biggest challenge is to have the infrastructure to recharge.” The trailer’s charging station inside it gets a complete recharge overnight back at headquarters.

Challenges

“Changing over night doesn’t happen,” says Klitzkie, whose company has invested $50,000 in ZEE blowers. “We had to bring in an electrician to wire to our electical box to handle the demand for electricity.”

ZEE often comes with a hefty upfront price tag, too. While a traditional gas blower may be in the $400-$500 range, it’s the battery backpack that can bump the cost to $1500-$2000.

But consider that there’s virtually no maintenance on the latter and maintenance means staff hours. “The blower’s battery backpack would last about three hours or so depending on the work,” Castino said. “A line trimmer could be four hours. By having two, one can be charging.”

Figure the price for a battery powered device will be two to three times that of a gas-powered equivalent. “That’s a good rule of thumb for everything,” Castino said, “even the stand on mower.”

While batteries are designed to have a very long shelf life, they do eventually run out. When they no longer hold the (continued on page 14)

Switching out batteries is faster than filling a gas tank

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Focus — The ZEE Revolution (continued from page 12) charge, you have to dispose of them properly and municipalities have different rules. If you’re not sure about the local requirements, check out www.call2recycle.org.

The Plus Side

Unlike gas-powered mowers, there’s virtually no maintenance on the battery operated ones. “It’s phenomenal—no spark plugs, not a lot of moving parts,” Castino said. “Your crews just go out and cut. No oil to change, no dirt ingestion. There are just so many positives.

You’re increasing your efficiency and your ability to cut with almost zero maintenance except for sharpening the blades. There’s no loss of power. I would put a battery mower up against a traditional mower any day.”

As companies do their annual equipment swap outs, many are choosing ZEE, according to Grams. “The push for local ordinances may eventually be subsumed by the industry just changing practices as a normal course of business.” (continued on page 16) Snowblowers have joined the list of ZEE equipment

“I would put a battery mower up against a traditional mower any day.” Dino Castino, Russo

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Fine Dry Cast Limestone Planters

Focus — The ZEE Revolution (continued from page 14) At ILCA’s Fire & Ice event this summer, exhibitor Halloran Power Equipment in Palatine had non-stop visitors inquiring about the Gravely electric mowers. Although the mowers are nearly three times the cost of their gas-powered units, potential buyers are wowed by the cost savings: battery charging could be $2 versus $60 for a tank of gas and there are no oil changes, no belts because the mower uses direct-drive motors, and the equipment could pay for itself in less than five years.

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

Hursthouse uses drone images for marketing, award entries and more

Calling All Robots

Ambrogio robot mowers have been on the market in Europe since the year 2000. “We are robot specific—with one of the few manufacturers concentrating on robots,” says Kathy Moseler, (aka “The Robot Lady”), president of Paradise Robotics, a Midwest distributor of robotic landscape equipment. “Around 2007, there was a glut in labor and we pretty much got laughed at by landscapers when we brought up the product.”

Now, robot mowers are a real thing, especially when it comes to labor shortages. They can be left onsite with a charging station or “drop and go” while the crew works on the property. “The crew would still come for trimming and other maintenance on a regular basis. I do advocate showing up on the property and having face time with the client.” Some robot mowers use GPS. However Moseler says that knocks out at least 60 percent of the properties because the homes and trees block the signals.

Moseler finds that lawns become healthier over time using robot mowers. “There’s reduced compaction [from using large mowers]. And by using random directions and frequent mowing—cutting one-third of the blades at a time—the grass is better.

I’m a big fan of random because I saw how well it worked on my lawn.” Another bonus: no clippings to blow.

Robotic mowers can reduce labor costs as well. “The longer you wait, the more money you’re missing out on,” Moseler said.

“Start converting your properties with small robots [mowers].

Now you have a revenue source. And, landscapers who move in right now can market themselves as being on the forefront—using the latest technology.”

(More ZEE coverage continues on page 18)

The Landscape Contractor 17 December 2023

Focus — The ZEE Revolution

Q&A with ILCA’s Executive Director Scott Grams

Is this a “fad” or can the industry expect more regulations at the local or state level?

California, due to federal law, had much more leeway to pass rigorous emission standards than all other states. In Illinois, most of the conversations have revolved around 2-cycle gas-powered leaf blowers. Evanston was the first community to enact a ban. They rolled it out so poorly and comprehensively that other communities in Lake County formed a task force to roll something out in a more reasonable fashion. Oak Park is going the Evanston route. In our opinion, the report drafted by Lake County is the gold-standard for how to conduct a policy task force.

fumes, etc. However, most communities seem to want to shift due to the lower noise that gas powered equipment emits.

Zero engine emission (ZEE) equipment is being sold as “silent” when it really should be sold as “less loud”. The difference between gas and ZEE is about 10 to 15 decibels. Law enforcement that participated in the Lake County effort even mentioned that on many of their complaint calls, the company is already using ZEE.

What is causing the push to ZEE? Most of these efforts stemmed from the pandemic and the noise that gas-powered equipment generates.

More people in their houses during the day, meant more noise complaints. The arguments are usually broader – environmental concerns, emissions, operators breathing in

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

I do see a cooling period of regulations as more people return to work and to offices. With that said, that is being met with the purchasing cycle for landscape companies. Leaf blowers just don’t last very long. As companies do their annual swap outs, many are choosing ZEE because, why not? The push for local ordinances may eventually be subsumed by the industry just changing practices as a normal course of business.

ILCA is pragmatic enough to support ordinances with carve-outs for the spring and fall clean-up period. We also recommend a 3 to 5 year phase out. With the cost to outfit a crew with electric models and two batteries being $10,000, we can’t support any 1 or 2

year phase out. I have not seen a community yet actually do a buyback. They usually say that to get it past the city council but no community is going to support spending community dollars to buy landscape equipment from contractors.

We always ask if this is about noise or the environment. Communities almost always say the environment, but then offer exclusions to public works, homeowners, golf courses, etc. From our vantage point, it’s almost always about noise. If it’s about the environment, those groups should not be exempted.

Most large companies are phasing this equipment out on their normal schedules. Fire & Ice, iLandscape, Equip are filled with new ZEE equip-

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

ment. Some commercial companies have bought ZEE mowers, but those are fewer and further between due to being several times the cost of a gaspowered alternative. ILCA will fight any regulations on ZEE mowers until the price comes down. Smaller companies are waiting until they have to swap them out.

Resources

https://russopower.com/ https://paradiserobotics.com https://voyageras.com https://www.606landsnow.com/606-robotmowers https://www.pestoutpost.com/ https://cw-mowers.business.site/ https://www.halloranpower.com

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Event Highlights —

Party On!

ILCA’s Annual Party and Member Meeting Draws Lively Crowd

By Nina A. Koziol

J

oe’s Live in Rosemont was rockin’ with plenty of laughter and good vibes last month when ILCA held its annual party and member meeting. The night was filled with networking, good food, brews and a recognition of achievements.

“We had over 460 people,” said Marissa Stubler, ILCA’s membership and marketing manager. “They want to celebrate the end of the season and this year more people brought their staff.”

At least eight companies brought 10 or more employees to the Scott Grams event and there was a noticeable uptick in landscapers under age ILCA Executive Director 40.

Noemi Gonzalez of Gonzalez Legacy Landscape in Waukegan is a good example of young industry professionals who are eager to become more involved with their peers and the Association. “This is my second ILCA event,” she said. “I want to grow my business and meet more industry people and get more help and knowledge.” Her late father started the business in 2005 and she and her brothers now run it. “ILCA and the people here are where I want to be. I have to learn from the people who are already where I see myself in the future.”

The party kicked off with a tribute to ILCA’s past president Jeff Kramer, vice president of Kramer Tree Service. In introBilly Oliver ducing Kramer, current president Ashley Marrin of Bret-Mar Membership Committee Chair Landscaping shared some little known facts about him. “You’re probably all wondering, ‘what does Jeff Kramer do to relax?’

Well, after a long day running a big business, Jeff Kramer… plays with goats. Yes, that’s right. Goats. Miniature goats. A herd of them in his backyard pen. He’s found that playing with those tiny goats melts away daily stress. Who knew?”

Kramer shared a story about when he was a child, he thought it would be a good idea to cut down a three-inch caliper tree in the neighbor’s yard. Although his father and the neighbor weren’t too thrilled, Kramer joked that it was the start of his career as an arborist. “I’ve loved the ILCA my whole career and I never dreamt I’d be president,” Kramer said. “It was a humbling experience, but Scott Grams made me feel like I could do that job.”

Although the tribute was billed as a farewell to his presidency, Kramer said, “I want to help whenever and wherever I can as long as I can,” he said. (continued on page 23) The Landscape Contractor 20 December 2023

Jeff Kramer ILCA Past President

Ashley Marrin ILCA President

21

Event Highlights —

25 Year Members

Seven companies were recognized for their 25-year membership: Illinois Central College’s Horticultural Department, J.J. Marshall Landscape Creations, Mundy Landscaping, Red Oaks Landscape Contractors, Spring Green Lawn Care Corp., The Savanna Group, and Triplett Lawn and Landscaping.

50 Year Members

Kankakee Nursery was recognized for its 50-year membership in ILCA

22 The Landscape December 2023

Contractor

2023 Committee of the Year — Experience Committee

(continued from page 20) Executive director Scott Grams recognized companies with 25- and 50-year memberships. The 25-year members include Illinois Central College’s Horticultural Department, J.J. Marshall Landscape Creations, Mundy Landscaping, Red Oaks Landscape Contractors, Spring Green Lawn Care Corp., The Savanna Group, and Triplett Lawn and Landscaping.

Kankakee Nursery was recognized for its 50-year membership in ILCA. And, it was the Experience

Committee that took home the Committee of the Year Award for its work at iLandscape, which celebrated 10 years.

Rich Forey, woody plant buyer at Lurvey’s, has been in the green industry for more than 35 years. but this was his first time attending the event. “It’s well overdue—-it’s a great venue and I wanted to mingle with people in a more social atmosphere.”

Dennis Rohr of Hinsdale Nurseries had been active with IGIA’s growers’ committee before that (continued on page 16)

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

24

Event Highlights —

(continued from page 23) association unified with ILCA. This was his first time at the ILCA party and it did not disappoint.

“It’s a great event. Lots of networking, meeting new people and seeing friends.”

Tiffany Lanoue, director of purchasing at the Green Garden Group, was happy to attend the party after a 10-year absence. “I was raising small children back then so this was great to see all my friends and I saw a lot of my vendors, too.”

Eric Garcia of Natural Creations Landscaping in Joliet has attended the annual party since 2016. “We work really hard all year and typically get together to talk about the positives of the company and this year it’s nice to be here enjoying ourselves.” He was attending with his father, Jose Garcia, past president (continued on page 26)

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Event Highlights —

(continued from page 24) of the ILCA, who said, “This is a wonderful event and there are so many friends here.”

Garcia’s words were echoed by Benjamin DeSalvo of Lurvey Landscape Supply.

“This event is awesome,” DeSalvo said. “I feel like you can spend time with people.

We had 10 people here and got to grow our relationships with each one from sales to management and others.”

Don’t miss upcoming events and workshops: https:// ilca.net/ilca-events/

26

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Event Highlights —

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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The Landscape Contractor December 2023

29

Focus — A Seasonal Gift

Winterscaping 101— A Tr Natural Beauty in the Quiet

by Heather Prince

T

Artful Architecture

he low silvery light of winter catches on the architectural twists of trees, lingers in the curling corners of dried leaves and paints pastels across the sky at sunrise and sunset. Ice crystals refocus our gaze on the delicate structures of dried flowers. Snow gives us a brilliant blank canvas to imagine the bubbling laughter of spring flowers and the soundless roar of summer. It’s the quiet season in the Midwest where the subtleties of plants step into the foreground and provide small moments of intimacy where we can stop, notice, and be seduced again and again.

Creating four-season landscapes is never easy, but perhaps it is most challenging in winter when the color palette shrinks, and the emphasis shifts to form over flower. As blossoms fade, bed lines reappear, hardscapes grab attention, and the elegant forms of trees and evergreens step from the shadows. This is an opportunity to consider plants for their architecture, their resilience to snow cover, and the simple pleasures of bark and berries.

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We are privileged to care for and plant more trees. From the broad branches of presettlement oaks to the delicate burgundy twigs of Japanese maples, our woody plants offer artful architecture in the winter landscape. The corrugated bark of hackberry, sugar maple, and honey locust offer opportunities for frost and snow to cling and etch timeless patterns. Once their sheltering leaves have fallen away, the scaffold branches, sturdy trunks, and reaching twigs of trees provide charcoal sketches on a snowy day.

As you consider the winter aspects of a design, especially with mature trees at play, take some time to figure out how the low, more northern seasonal sun will throw shadows. There’s magic in the interlaced patterns of trees on snow that can stop us in our tracks or beckon us to boots and gloves for a snowy explore. What views ease into the foreground once branches are bare? Can you borrow the neighbor’s pergola or the park’s rolling lawns?

Oramental trees whose scale is similar to our own hold their

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

ribute to Season

mysteries of form and function secret until foliage falls. Only in winter can we examine the wiry undercarriage of a weeping redbud or katsura. We can admire the nested cage of a lilac standard or the ballerina form of serviceberry reaching to pirouette. How do you highlight these small wonders in your designs? A thoughtful uplight brings them to life in the long cold nights. Clever placement near paths allows clients the opportunity to study their pencil-sketched twigs.

And then evergreens step out onto the winter stage.

Overshadowed during the growing season by brilliant perennial flowers or the flashy fall colors of deciduous neighbors, their myriad colors and textures come to the foreground. From the swaying dance of Norway spruce boughs to the funky false cypress, there is a deep palette of winter color to offset our inevitable browns and whites. Many evergreens change their feathers in winter offering us intriguing textures to take advantage of. Techny arborvitaes become almost a dark purple green, a perfect foil for the red stems of dogwood. Many golden arborvitaes turn shades of orange to startle the neighbors and delight the discerning client. Explore the frosted plum of the blue Chamaecyparis that can pair with the almost plastic shiny green of holly and yew.

Striking Stems

How magnificent is bark? We are spoiled with a richness of bark textures that contrast with snow and frost to stand out in the winter landscape. The splashed paint of sycamore, Stewartia, and Parrotia magically appear once their skirts of leaves have fallen to enchant us on a brilliant January day.

The puzzle-piece mosaic of lacebark elm begs to be examined. Fiery paperbark maple catches and holds the sun. We are so head over heels for birch bark that we can find it everywhere in winter from the trees in our backyards to cut poles in porch pots to rustic candlesticks on the mantel. (continued on page 32)

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

31

Focus — A Seasonal Gift (continued from page 31) Shrubs offer us endless possibilities in bark. The ubiquitous red twig dogwood hides its light under a cloak of leaves, only to surprise us each winter anew. Place them thoughtfully against dark backgrounds or backlit to showcase their brilliant red, coral, yellow, burgundy, or acid green. Thank goodness dogwood shrubs benefit from regular thinning so we may enjoy their crayon-colored twigs in arrangements! Think about intertwining them with sturdy hydrangea and grasses so their candy stems are layered with dried blossoms and windswept foliage.

If weary of dogwood, there are many other shrubs to work into designs for winter color. Coral bark willow is a flame lit at sunset when sufficient given space. Oakleaf hydrangea and ninebark are shaggy and peeling. Seven son flower’s stark peeling creamy bark is drama with evergreen accompaniment. Kerria and Itea create sprawling bounding arcs of green stems to surprise the eye when allowed their natural shape.

Snowcatching Blossoms “A plant is only worth growing if it looks good when it’s dead.” – Piet Oudolf Summer memories can hold snow so beautifully. From the dense mopheads of hydrangeas to the cheerful polka dots of echinacea and rudbeckia seedheads, there are myriad textures in dried flowers. Hydrangeas leap to mind as snowcatchers, but also hold their own against the textures of bark and evergreen foliage. Think about adding them to indoor arrangements and outdoor swags, porch pots, and wreaths. They add a lovely rustic floral touch and hold up to whatever weather winter throws at us.

Seek out perennials that hold their forms when dried, as Oudolf urges. Look at our prairies and savannas for inspiration in asters, goldenrod, prairie dock, mountain mint,

32

milkweed pods, coreopsis, and many many more. Newly frosted, dried calyxes, sepals, and seedheads whisper to us of the heat of July. Magical in ice, we are captivated by their delicate architecture that still stands after months of weather. Who can resist the white gnome hats of snow on echinacea? Think about leaving these sumptuous textures up in beds and borders to create a winter fairyland while providing essential habitat to a myriad of wildlife.

Bountiful Berries

The flock of cardinals stopping by the hedge on a snowy afternoon may signal a lost loved one checking in or simply offer us a dash of needed crimson in our quieter winter landscapes. Not only do berries provide food for birds, they also bring new colors and textures to our snowy scenes.

Red berries abound from the much-storied holly and winterberry, to viburnum, crabapple, hawthorn, cotoneaster, Eastern wahoo, yew, and rose hips. These small scarlet moments become more impactful with careful placement against walls and fences or with the softened textures of grasses. Take advantage of crabapples bred for a heavy berry set to provide clients with months of winter color and tasty treats for birds and animals, come early spring. Red berries also say holiday-time for us and sprigs can be harvested for use in decorations indoors and out.

There’s more than just red berries to intrigue us from the purple haws of blackhaw viburnum to the deep blue of Virginia creeper. Try Aronia for clusters of black berries that are nutritious for humans and animals. However, the Chinese junipers offer a long-lasting four-season magic with their bountiful blue fruits that ripen the second year.

You’ll always have berries from the frosted green first year clusters to deep blue mature berries snatched away by cedar waxwings and cardinals. If you have a stubborn hot, dry, sunny site, a juniper’s winged branchlets and (continued on page 34)

33

Focus — A Seasonal Gift (continued from page 33) abundant fruit may bring your client myriad moments of color and texture.

As many of us catch a breath this winter after the hurry and scurry of the growing season, I ask you to cultivate pauses. Look for those breathless moments of cold splendor with layer upon layer of texture. Remember to work in the subtle pleasures of winter, even if it’s viewed from a cozy window tucked under a quilt. Give your clients the gifts of winterscaping where they can stop and notice and be charmed again and again by Mother Nature’s quiet surprises.

34

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Contenedores de piedra simulada añaden esa aparienciaépoca Por Nina A. Koziol

Hay maceteros hechos

de madera, metal,plástico, fibra de vidrio y piedra, pero ninguno se acerca a los contenedores rústicos del pasado. Los más genuinos—abrevaderos antiguos tallados de piedra caliza o granito para uso del ganado—son importados de Europa y reutilizados como recipientes o fuentes en muchos proyectos de alto nivel. Son increíblemente pesados, además de muy caros, dependiendo de la antigüedad y condición. Estas bellezas de piedra tienen una elegancia del viejo mundo difícil de superar para ese cliente muy especial y usted puede descubrirlos en chatarrerías, tiendas de antigüedades o en línea.

Pero, hay otras opciones a la piedra tallada.

Durante años, el Jardín Botánico de Chicago (CBG) presentó más de 40 contenedores de hypertufa en el suelo con exhibiciones sorprendentes de plantas anuales de primavera de clima frío y bulbos florecientes seguidos de plantaciones estacionales.

Tom Soulsby, horticultor sénior, y miembros del personal fueron responsables del proyecto de bricolaje que produjo estos maceteros exclusivos. “Hacer contenedores es un trabajo pesado y polvoriento, pero el resultado es único y duradero”,

36

afirma Soulsby.

La hypertufa es una piedra simulada solicitada por su durabilidad y resistencia a la intemperie. Pesa menos que la piedra sólida o el hormigón y el costo para elaborar una es muy razonable. Los contenedores de hypertufa son hechos de cemento Portland, sustrato de turba, perlita gruesa y agua.

(Usted encontrará toda clase de “recetas” para hypertufa en Internet, pero proporcionamos la que usa el CBG).

Los maceteros del CBG tienen un acabado desgastado para que parezcan abrevaderos y comederos europeos de época para ganado. Estos contenedores de bricolaje se prestan a una variedad de combinaciones de plantas—desde plantas de sedum y suculentas hasta bulbos de primavera, anuales, alpinas y coníferas enanas. Son ideales para plantas perennes resistentes de raíces superficiales, alpinas enanas y árboles de hoja perenne, así como hierbas tolerantes a la sequía y de ambiente cálido. Como mini-jardines, se pueden colocar en una jardinera, en un patio o elevadas en la superficie de una mesa, una escalera o en la pared de un jardín.

Una mezcla para macetas sin suelo fértil o mezcla para

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

macetas de cactus (diseñadas para plantas suculentas o alpinas) y una capa de gravilla o grava después de plantar, ayudan a retener la humedad. Si usa bulbos y anuales, es conveniente añadir un fertilizante granulado a la mezcla para macetas.

Debido a que los contenedores tienden a ser poco profundos, son adecuados para plantas más pequeñas. Para lugares sombreados, piense en usar hostas en miniatura o plantas tropicales de hojas pequeñas. Las suculentas funcionan muy bien en sitios con sol/sombra parcial y ofrecen texturas, formas y colores contrastantes que crean una obra de arte “viviente”. Sugiera una (o 10) como una “lienzo hypertufa” para el jardín de su cliente especial.

Cuando tengan tiempo de inactividad (¿existe tal cosa?), deje que su equipo de trabajo explore su creatividad haciendo estos contenedores inusuales. Esta es la receta de Soulsby para contenedores de bricolaje (fotos cortesía del Jardín Botánico de Chicago).

Mariani Plants se enorgullese en su attencion al cliente.

Tenemos expertos ajentes de ventas de habla hispana en nuestras dos localidades, Kenosha Wisconsin y Garden Prairie Illinois. Mariani Plants esta aquí para proveerle mejores plantas, mejor servicio y mejor selección.

Llámenos a Mariani Plants: 866-627-4264 / marianiplants.com

TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR.

1. Reúna equipo de seguridad—guantes, gafas protectoras, mascarilla. Cree una armazón de madera con parte superior e inferior abiertas. Forre el interior con láminas de plástico de alta resistencia para que el hormigón no se pegue a la armazón.

2. Mezcle 1 parte de cemento Portland, 1/3 parte de sustrato de turba y 1/4 parte de perlita gruesa. Añada agua hasta que el hormigón húmedo se desprenda lentamente de la pala.

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

37

3. Vierta unas 2 pulgadas de hormigón húmedo en la parte inferior de la armazón.

4. Ponga otra lámina de plástico grande en el interior de la armazón. Añada una capa de 4 pulgadas de arena sobre la lámina.

5. Entre las dos láminas de plástico, vierta más hormigón húmedo para formar las paredes laterales.

“Tratamos de hacer las paredes de un grosor de aproximadamente dos pulgadas, asegurando que queden lo más niveladas posible y no tengan bolsillos de aire”, explica Soulsby. “A medida que las paredes se hacen más altas, continuamos añadiendo arena en la parte superior de la segunda lámina de plástico. La arena soporta las paredes hasta que se endurece el hormigón”. Llene la parte superior de la armazón con la mezcla de hormigón, asegurando que la arena de apoyo esté a la misma altura.

6. Después de que el hormigón esté fraguado, pero no completamente seco (de 6 a 18 horas, dependiendo de su consistencia en el Paso 2), quite la armazón de madera y plástico.

7. “Luego envejecemos el contenedor para darle una apariencia desgastada”, afirma Soulsby. “Usamos una variedad de herramientas incluyendo martillos, escoplos y cepillos de alambre”. ¡Un año usaron una hidrolavadora!

“Una vez que el contenedor ha sido envejecido, perforamos orificios de drenaje y dejamos que el hormigón se cure completamente por varias semanas”.

Añadir más perlita o sustrato de turba hará el contenedor menos pesado y le dará una textura ligeramente diferente. “En nuestra experiencia, eso también los hace un poco más frágiles”. Deje el exterior del contenedor liso, en lugar de áspero, para lograr una apariencia más formal o moderna. “Forrar el molde o la armazón con hojas— especialmente las que tengan venas o patrones—es otra apariencia divertida de los contenedores”.

38

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

Para que crezca su negocio, unase a...

Servicios y Beneficios • Certificaciones • Seminarios

• Talleres de Trabajo • Publicaciones • Capacitación • Videos • Eventos • Programa de Seguros • Trabajadores Temporarios • Subasta de Herramientas de jardinería

El Paso al Professionalismo.

Llame al 630-472-2851

Para mas informacion sobre como inscribirse miembro.

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

39

Focus — Events Highlights

Wildscaping. Water. Natives. Planting it Forward.

Something for everyone at this year’s conference.

Nina A. Koziol

W

hat does conservation and sustainability look like?

What is the carbon footprint of trucking mulch and stone from far-away places? How do you manage client expectations while trying to move their landscapes into a more eco-friendly existence? Those were just some of the topics discussed at this year’s Impact Conference.

Since the first conference in 2017, the interest in sustainable landscaping methods continues to explode, especially with younger professionals. Attendees were wowed with presentations about how to use more suitable native plants, reduce water and chemical consumption, and discuss ways to market sustainability with clients. Moving the event to NIU’s campus in Naperville this year brought in a new crowd with many new green-industry pros.

40

“I always get excited about this event,” said Marissa Stubler, ILCA’s membership and marketing manager.

“Attendees are ready for the season to be over, but this event carries them through. We saw many new faces and companies. We’ve heard a lot of great conversations. And, the exhibitors are also innovators and educators that add to the experience.”

Canadian writer and landscape designer Tony Spencer, known as The New Perennialist, kicked off the program with a thoughtful look at “Wildscaping,” in which he explored naturalistic planting designs. “Wildscaping brings the human touch,” Spencer said. “In many ways the greatest teachers are the plants themselves and I’ve never stopped learning. I’m inspired by natural places.” His garden includes a (continued on page 42)

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

Event Sponsors

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

41

Focus — Events Highlights (continued from page 40) bioswale and a green roof on his home.

“Everything is designed to be super functional.”

“I thought his talk was great,” said landscape architect Carolina Irani with BrightView. “He focused on native plants, climate change and water use, and it’s all important.” Irani, who has a LEED accreditation, said, “I want to focus on new trends and see how I can apply them to projects I’m working on.”

Other speakers discussed climate change, water use and storm water management, designing with natives, maintenance, and managing client expectations.

Following the presentations, small group discussions took place during which there was some debate over whether cultivars of native plants (aka nativars) should be used.

“A true native is part of local wildlife,” said landscape architect John Mariani of LandServe LLC who spoke on how and why to use natives. “It’s important for people in the green industry to use true natives for your ecoregion. Look it up and know what they are. Natives are just so inherently subtle and sophisticated,” he added. “They’re not as colorful, but we’ve created so many plants that look like plastic.”

To keep the carbon footprint low, Mariani uses local materials. “I don’t use trucks going to New York for bluestone.” Instead, he sources stone from surrounding states. “It’s all about working with the local vernacular—art is still part of it but so is the environment.”

Attendee Ray Mabry, the mayor of Princeton, Illinois, is also a realtor/ developer, and chuckled when he told other attendees that one of his duties is watering the planters in the historic downtown district, which he enjoys.

Mabry was very interested in the conference. “I come here for the day to learn more. It’s very informative and relevant to our town.”

Foregoing chemicals works with some clients but not all. Loriena Harrington, president of Beautiful Blooms in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, led one of the group discussions and noted some of the challenges (continued on page 44) 42

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Focus — Events Highlights (continued from page 42) with moving homeowners to more sustainable efforts. “By 2014, our company was chemical-free, but by 2016 they were back on the shelf. My clients were disappointed because they wanted their property to be disease-free.” She was losing clients that were going back to conventional means. There’s an irony in that as well. “People see the sprayer and safety gear and get concerned,” said Alex Cardenas of George Cardenas Landscape in Northbrook, “but they will buy over-the-counter products and assume they are safe.”

Making incremental improvements—giving clients the opportunity to opt-out of chemical use or leave the landscape debris on their property—can go a long way towards sustainability.

Tari Delisi of Delisi Design (whose slogan is Sustainable Landscape Design Done Beautifully) said, “I over-plant and I leave my leaf litter and plant clippings.” As a result, she’s observed more beneficial insects in her home garden.

However, leaving the litter may have some drawbacks. For Melanie Martin of George Cardenas Landscape, the leaf litter on her own property has produced mixed results. “I let everything stay overwinter but I had thrips on all my plants the following year.”

“Don’t be afraid to propose things to clients—like taking out some mulch and

44

show them pictures of plants to replace it—you’ll be making more money as well,” Harrington said. Anne Bohl of Marek Landscaping in Milwaukee said she considers non-toxic options, which appeal to homeowners. “Social media is a resource for marketing sustainable landscaping to clients,” Bohl said.

Austin Eischeid, of Austin Eischeid Garden Design and Kasey Eaves of Vivant Gardens, talked about the successes and challenges of fostering naturalistic plantings at the new North Gardens in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

Closing keynote speaker Jack Pizzo of The Pizzo Group talked about the need for professional education and educating potential clients about creating sustainable landscapes. “Change is constant and epiphanies are constant. Think about using edging with native plants—put a little spit and polish on your design. The plants won’t care if there’s an edge.” But your clients will appreciate that manicured look, even if they don’t recognize native plants. And that’s ok.

Learn more about sustainable landscaping from the ILCA: https://ilca.net/ professional/resources/sustainable-landscaping/

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Welcome New Members —

ILCA Welcomes Members fr Contractor and Garden Center Members Brookside Landscapes Inc Kurt Cottrell 686 County Rd 1200 E, Eureka, IL 61530 Email: brooksidekurt@gmail.com Phone: 309-573-9837 www.brooksidelandscapes.com Chizmar Landscaping, Inc Chris Chizmar 416 S. Robinson St., Suite 3, Bloomington, IL 61701 Email: chizmarlandscaping@outlook. com Phone: 309-820-7482 Country Arbors Nursery Shane Cultra 1742 County Rd 1400 N., Urbana, IL 61801 Email: scultra@cultra.com Phone: 217-367-1072 Creative Garden Services, LLC Carol Rakers 1909 N Sheridan Drive, Quincy, IL 62305 Email: crakers1@comcast.net Phone: 217-653-7495 creativegardenservices.com Curt Feucht Services, LLC Curtis Feucht P.O. Box 164, Eureka, IL 61530 Email: curt@curtcares.com Phone: 309-467-4777 Custom Mowing George Fiersten 9300 Swigert Rd, Rochester, IL 62563 Phone: 217-498-9696

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Designer Landscapes Inc. Patty Brockmeyer 4110 Morrisonville Ave., Farmersville, IL 62533 Email: patty@designer-landscapes.com Phone: 217-227-3256 www.designer-landscapes.com

Hoelterhoff’s Nursery, Inc. Keith Hoelterhoff 5591 County Farm Rd., Bartlett, IL 60103 Email: hoelterhoffs@att.net Phone: 630-289-1380 www.hoelterhoffsnursery.com

Frese Ornamental Nursery Katie Ippensen 3100 North 18th St., Quincy, IL 62305 Email: fnursery@sbcglobal.net Phone: 217-222-0977

Jones Country Gardens, Inc. Chad Jones 22055 N. 800 E Rd, Pontiac, IL 61764 Email: jonescountrygardens@yahoo.com

Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center Kelly Conner 40 W. Higgins Rd., South Barrington, IL 60010 Email: leeg@pumpkinfarms.com Phone: 847-428-6727 Goebbert’s Farm Pingree Grove Emily Zoellick 42W813 Reinking Rd, Pingree Grove, IL 60140 Email: emilyz@pumpkinfarms.com Phone: 847-464-5952 goebberts.com Greenridge Landscaping Inc. Erin Downs 14 Minnesota Rd., Carbondale, IL 62903 Email: inquiry@greenridgelandscaping. com Phone: 618-549-6165 www.greenridgelandscaping.com Hawthorn Gardens Bill Koch 24481 N. Old McHenry Rd, Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047 Email: hawthorngardens@comcast.net Phone: 847-726-0627

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Leyden Lawn Sprinklers Inc Bill Lind PO Box 4528, Naperville, IL 60567 Email: leydenlawnsprinklers@gmail.com Phone: 630-665-5520 Meyer Landscape & Design Inc Kurt Meyer 2817-47th St., Moline, IL 61265 Email: kmeyer@meyerlandscape.com Phone: 309-762-6226 Prairie View Farm Market, Inc Cheryl Linnemann 48W130 IL Route 72, Hampshire, IL 60140 Email: flowerfarmer@sbcglobal.net Phone: 847-683-4970 The Munie Company Clare Munie 1000 Milburn School Rd., Caseyville, IL 62232 Email: claremunie@muniegreencare.com Phone: 618-624-5296 West End Florist Inc & Garden Center Elizabeth Hoffman 3800 Old Glenview Rd, Evanston, IL 60201 Email: ehoffmanwest@ameritech.net Phone: 847-251-1943 www.westendflorist.com

rom IGIA

Winding Creek Nursery & Garden Center Mike Perkins 8241 Millbrook Rd., Millbrook, IL 60536 Email: wcnursery57@aol.com Phone: 630-553-7211 www.windingcreek-nursery.com Government or Not-for-profit Member Trees Forever, Inc. Emily Ehley 80 W 8th Ave, Marion, IA 52302 Email: eehley@treesforever.org Phone: 319-373-0650 x263

GET Group Inc. Allyson Hoffmeyer PO Box 166, Union, IL 60180 Email: allyson@hoffienursery.com Phone: 815-923-1023

Kuenzi Turf & Nursery Rick Metzger 6475 State Street, S alem, OR 97317 Email: rick@kuenziturfnursery.com Phone: 503-585-8337

Gingerich Tree Farm Jay Gingerich 620 W Parkview Dr, Arthur, IL 61911 Email: jay@gingerichtreefarm.com Phone: 217-717-2534

National Nursery Products Brian Aaron Williamston, MI 48895 Email: beatreeman2@gmail.com Phone: 309-258-1630

Supplier Members

Grant Park Tree Farm Inc. Dale Van Baren 4424 N. Rt. I-17, Grant Park, IL 60940 Email: dalerosewoodland@aol.com Phone: 708-906-9450

Arrowhead Ornamentals Mike Roberts PO Box 157, Hubbard, OR 97032 Email: mctreegrower@gmail.com Phone: 503-651-2040

Home Landscape Materials Inc. Thomas Tuch 751 N. Bolingbrook Dr, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 Email: homelandscape@comcast.net Phone: 630-759-1205

Dunlap Enterprises, LTD Lisa Dunlap PO Box 118, Blue Mound, IL 62513 Email: lisa@dunlaptrees.com Phone: 217-692-2915 www.dunlaptrees.com

J. Carlson Growers, Inc Jon Carlson 8938 Newburg Rd, Rockford, IL 61108 Email: jon@jcarlsongrowers.com Phone: 815-332-5610

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries Tim Kline PO Box 189, Fairview, PA 16415 Email: info@fairviewevergreen.com Phone: 800-458-2234

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. Roger Purcell PO Box 189, Boring, OR 97009 Email: jeffl@jfschmidt.com Phone: 503-663-4128 www.jfschmidt.com

Forrest Keeling Nursery Kim Lovelace Young 88 Forrest Keeling Lane, Elsberry, MO 63343 Email: khainsfurther@fknursery.com Phone: 800-356-2401

Jerry’s Landscape Nursery LLC Lauren Lusch 13122 Stolletown Rd, Breese, IL 62230 Email: lauren@jerryslandscapenursery.com Phone: 618-526-7961

Nufarm Jim Crockett 1310 Huntington Ct, Auburn, AL 36830 Email: jim.crockett@nufarm.com Phone: 334-744-0682 Nursery Supplies Inc Jeff Pissocra 1415 Orchard Dr, Chambersburg, PA 17201 Email: jpissocra@nurserysupplies.com Phone: 614-286-5391 Proven Winners Tom Ewing 15475 Artesian Spring Raod, San Diego, CA 92127 Email: tewing@provenwinners.com Phone: 619-517-0100 ProvenWinners.com Ringhouse Enterprises, LLC Mark Ringhouse 17318 Owens Rd., Maple Park, IL 60151 Email: mringhouse@aol.com Phone: 815-245-9118 St. Louis Composting Tom Tharp 39 Old Elam Avenue, Valley Park, MO 63088 Email: ttharp@stlcompost.com Phone: 636-861-3344 (continued on page 48)

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Welcome Members

WE’RE FOR EVERY TREE.

Stoneleaf Nursery John Cottrell 476 County Road 1200E, Goodfield, IL 61530 Email: stoneleafsam@gmail.com Phone: 309-261-7008

EXPERT TREE CARE FOR 115 YEARS — AND GROWING.

Strand Nursery Donna Schwartz 5644 W 650 N, Wawaka, IN 46794 Email: donna@strandnursery.com Phone: 260-894-3996 www.strandnursery.com

For 115 years, our family-owned company has brought a rare mix of groundbreaking science, award-winning safety practices, and global resources to every tree and shrub care task at hand.

And at the heart of our success are our people — experts who know and champion every tree, no matter the species. Discover how our passion is inspiring one beautiful property after another.

Surface Nursery Inc. Shawn Nerison 33740 SE Lusted Rd, Gresham, OR 97080 Email: debbie@surfacenursery.com Phone: 800-831-2599

Call 877-227-8358 or visit bartlett.com PRUNING | FERTILIZATION | CABLING & BRACING INSECT & DISEASE MANAGEMENT | TREE INVENTORIES STORM DAMAGE | LIGHTNING PROTECTION | REMOVALS

Northbrook - Bolingbrook - Lake Barrington - Chicago

The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company

An IncredIble SelectIon With Infinite PoSsIbIlItIeS .

Revel in an infinite selection of over 15,000 trees, 35,000 shrubs, 100,000 perennials, and 500 varieties at our 650-acre farm.

Trees, Ornamentals, Evergreens, Shrubs, Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcover.

Over 11 acres of holding yard in two convenient locations.

Main Office & Sales Yard

7200 S. Madison · Willowbrook, IL 60527 630-323-1411

Little Rock Farm

2353 Creek Road · Plano, IL 60545 630-552-8314

For sale updates and availabilities, sign up for our email newsletter.

48 HN_007_ILCA_7.375x4.8125.indd 1

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

HinsdaleNurseries.com 11/14/22 10:31 AM

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QUALITY MULCH DELIVERED QUICK 13920 S. ARCHER AVE. LOCKPORT, IL 60441

(815) 838-0863 | HOMERINDUSTRIES.COM | ORDERS@HOMERTREE.COM

Member Profile Snapshot

Gambaro Landscapes LLC 1025 Industrial Drive Libertyville, IL 60048 (847) 323-2110 dgambro@gambrolandscapes.com

by Meta L. Levin It was, of course, not the right time two years ago, when Derek Gambro and his wife, Michelle, sat down to discuss starting their own landscape contracting firm. “I always wanted to start my own business,” he says. But with three children, the thought of leaving a secure job to go out on his own was daunting. “We decided it never was going to be the right time, so let’s make the jump.”

Gambro is glad he did. He now has three full crews, nine full time employees and, he says, “we’re having a blast. The guys are having fun and I’m having fun.”

Jesus Soto is Gambro’s “right hand man.” He “does a lot, is reliable and has been with me since day one,” says Gambro.

Soto often comes in on Saturday or Sunday if he sees something that needs to be done, including watering plants on his day off. Originally hired as a foreman, Soto now leads the enhancement division.

Moreover, Gambro found that the relationships he built in his nearly 17 years in the green industry have served him well during the start up. He began mowing lawns in March 2022,

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gradually growing as irrigation contractors, tree professionals, lighting professionals and others began providing references – even offering to let him park his truck on their lots. “Everybody I have met over the last 10 to 12 years has helped me out,” he says.

This has allowed him to expand his services. In addition to landscape maintenance for high end residential clients, he and his crews now do stonework, garden design and perennial bed installation on a small scale.

Gambro comes from a family of firefighters and, in fact, thought that’s where he was headed. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University in health studies, he spent summers working for a company that focused on pesticide application. Right out of college, a landscape contractor, who he describes as one of the leaders in the landscape industry, hired him as a client representative.

His boss and others in the company mentored him and he found that he had a passion for the work. “He taught me that you grow your business through customer relationships, not just the almighty dollar,” he says. Their connection was so strong that

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

even now they continue to talk several times a week. Gambro rose to the point where he was leading the company’s maintenance division.

Eventually, however, another company bought that one.

Gambro continued to work there for a year. Even though he loved it, he knew that if he was going to start his own business, last year was the time.

He learned many lessons while working for the other company, one of the top ones was to do things, speedily and efficiently, all while maintaining high standards. “If someone calls asking about business, I get the quote to them that night,” he says. “I’m a one-man band. The more I can turn over and push out, the less work stacks up on my desk.” Customers and potential clients have remarked on the speed with which he responds to their queries.

He also prioritizes time with his three children, Emmie, age six; Sam, four and Charlie, two. “We knew it was going to be hard to find time to spend with my family,” Gambro says about operating his own business. He and his wife do the office work after the kids are in bed.

Gambro’s wife is also an entrepreneur, running an artistic balloon company, that provides balloon décor for events like weddings, parties and other special occasions.

Sam wears a Gambro Landscape T-Shirt to school and often accompanies his dad to work on Saturdays. “He loves it,” says Gambro.

So does Gambro.

Growing for your success.

We are Midwest's leading wholesale nursery supplier since 1985, with 700+ acres and 500 varieties of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

(815) 653-9293 8920 Howe Road Wonder Lake, IL www.goodmarknurseries.com The Landscape Contractor December 2023

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Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Design Principal and Senior Landscape Architect Award-Winning Premier Service is seeking a Design Principal and a Senior Landscape Architect to join our Team!

Versed in landscape architecture, design concepts, and department team development, our Design Principal will oversee architectural assignments throughout site planning, construction estimating, and project implementation.

Our Senior Landscape Architect will possess expertise in design concepts, hardscape materials, stormwater management, layout, and grading.

How to apply:

-Degree or equivalent knowledge of landscape management or horticulture.

-Ability to work independently from home and field.

-Good verbal and writing skills.

-Solid knowledge of a variety of computer software applications (Microsoft, etc.).

-Valid driver’s license with good driving record.

How to apply: email Cindy@Alvarezcorp.com

Salesperson Needed Alvarez, Inc. is a business that has been providing various landscape and grounds practices to the Chicagoland area for over 40 years.

Our office is in Barrington, IL along with a yard location in Chicago. We are looking to add a part-time or full-time experienced landscape sales employee to our team. Our main goal is to build a client list. This would include identifying sales leads, visiting, and scheduling appointments with prospective customers. Calling, emailing, and networking events are a must.

Requirements:

Estate Manager A large west suburban estate/garden seeks a full-time salaried estate manager. The position is year-round with excellent health and associated benefits package and liberal PTO during winter months.

The applicant will work in the gardens with small seasonal staff, coordinate subcontractors and vendors, and generally oversee the estate property. Proof of good character and a strong work ethic is more important than prior experience.

How to apply: Please apply by email (mwalsh@walshgroup.com) or by mailing a resume to 929 West Adams, Chicago IL 60607.

Please provide a full resume, background, and references.

Turn-Key Landscape Facility For Lease Hampshire, IL Furnished Office, Shop, and 3 Acres of Lighted Yard Area For Lease.

Suitable for Landscape Contractors with all the Amenities at this Turn-Key Facility.

Contact Adam Neisendorf for detailed information.

Email: aneisendorf@ploteproperties.com or Phone: (847) 428-1000 ext. 228

Call Abbey for more information at (847) 287-7962 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers 58

The Landscape Contractor December 2023

HELP WANTED 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

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES January 2024 issue ads: Dec. 4, 2023 February 2024 issue ads: Dev. 14, 2024 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

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Our people are the bottom line

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 ext. 1

JOIN NOW for 2023!

Visit ilca.net

for membership VIEW CURRENT information.

OPENINGS

OA K B R O O K • AU R O R A • C H The I C AG O • P L Contractor A I N F I E L D • L E M O N T • G R I F F I T H , 59 IN Landscape December 2023

Official Show Guide January 31 - February 2, 2024

All the classes All the Exhibitors All the Fun! Listed in one place

Don’t Wait!

Call Debbie to Finalize Your Ad 817-501-2403

Let the Good Times Roll iLandscapeShow.com

Advertisers Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................49 Bowling Nursery ......................................................55 Compost Supply ......................................................52 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4 Goodmark Nurseries ................................................57 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................49 Homer Industries ...................................................51 James Martin Associates .......................................58 Holcim Fox River Stone ........................................35

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.

Read It and Reap

By Nina A. Koziol

Who has time to read in May when the crews are out and it feels like your hair is on fire? Enjoy a bit of “down time” now in the winter months and find some inspiration with a hand-held device: a good book. Here are some picks from your peers.

Longshadow Planters ............................................15 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants .........................................................37 McGinty Bros. .......................................................53 Midwest Groundcovers .............................................2 Midwest Trading .....................................................43 Premier Services .....................................................59 Spring Meadow Nursery .........................................45 Straughn Farm ........................................................25 The Mulch Center ....................................................29 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box E Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com FairviewEvergreen.com

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara. “It demonstrates the difference between customer service and the level-up of true hospitality,” says ILCA executive director Scott Grams.

Matt Dingeldein, outside sales manager at Midwest Groundcovers, recommends “Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead.”

Landscape designer Mary Saba of The Growing Place suggests Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West.

It’s Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope for Meagan Provencher, senior landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery & Garden Center.

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Before You Go —

Warm Up Your Winter with ‘Flame’ Willow

by Mark Dwyer

A

s we adjust to the cold winter months and make plans for spring, there’s no reason we can’t have some amazing and impactful interest out in the garden. We promote the value of ornamental bark, perennial grasses with winter stature, colorful conifers and of course, vivid stems. With stems, we understandably lean towards the many red-twig, yellow-twig and orange-twig dogwoods (Cornus sp.) that become very conspicuous throughout the winter landscape. When we’re recommending plants in our Midwest landscapes, most clients seem very receptive to the purposeful and strategic placement of elements in the winter landscape for extended interest. I would encourage everyone to become familiar with the ‘Flame’ willow (Salix hybrida) which has few rivals that can match the intense, fiery orange-red winter stem coloration.

This fast-growing willow is hardy in zones 4-9 although I’m aware of some specimens thriving in zone 3 as well. This adaptable and dependable plant prefers full sun and moist but well-drained soils. ‘Flame’ willow is also pH adaptable and alkaline tolerant. Growing vigorously, this hybrid willow wants to reach 15-20’ in height. Don’t ever let it get that tall!

It works as a fabulous screen in the 6’-8’ range if tended properly with well-timed rejuvenation pruning. This willow also has functional value for erosion control, slope stabilization and is urban pollution tolerant.

As with many of our most colorful “stemmed” woody

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plants, it’s the newest growth that has the most intense coloration. Older stems offer less color and the older ‘Flame’ willows only display colorful stems on the outer extremities of the plant with little to no color on the older stems. The dark green, narrow, 4” long leaves turn yellow in fall and as they drop, the stems of ‘Flame’ willow start their transition to an intense orange and ultimately a red that warms the landscape.

Cutting an established ‘Flame’ willow back severely in March to 6” stubs will result in 5’-6’ of new growth that year. These new stems will be amazingly colorful again in winter!

Many years ago, I had a narrow, severe slope in full sun that needed some plants for erosion control and hopefully some interest. I planted 20 ‘Flame’ willows (#1 gallon pots) about 5’ apart on this 45 degree slope. This variety was new to me at the time. They were left to establish for 2 years and were then cut back reliably every March for the next 12 years.

They consistently regenerated new, vigorous growth (4-6’) that offered rich and warm colors the following winter and were encouraged to repeat the show every year. Those willows (seen in included photos) were happy to oblige and are still offering function and beauty. While ‘Flame’ willow is my favorite for winter stem coloration, my second favorite is the ‘Britzensis’ coral bark willow (Salix alba subsp. vitellina) which has proven itself as another colorful component in the winter landscape.

Salix ‘Flame’ fall color The Landscape Contractor December 2023

Salix ‘Flame’ in winter

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