Awards Committee 1, 8-9, Rick Reuland 10-12, 14, 16,18
Heather Prince 26-28, 32-33. 48-52
Midwest Groundcovers 42-46, Wasco Nursery 34-38
The official publication of Landscape Illinois, — Landscape Illinois —The Magazine is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine 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. LandscapeIllinois.org.
Volume 66, Number 7. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine (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 Landscape Illinois — The Magazine, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Display Advertising Sales: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632; email: rmgi@comcast.net. Classified ads, Circulation and Subscription: Landscape Illinois (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 Editorial office: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Naperville, IL
Staff
Executive Director
Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@landscapeillinois.org
Statewide Director of Development
Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@landscapeillinois.org
Director of Events
AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@landscapeillinois.org
Education Manager
Melissa Custic mcustic@landscapeillinois.org
Office Manager
Alycia Nagy anagy@landscapeillinois.org
Membership & Marketing Manager
Marissa Stubler mstubler@landscapeillinois.org v
Landscape Illinois
2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150 www.landscapeillinois.org
Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net
Debbie Rauen
Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com v
Meta Levin
Feature Writer meta.levin@comcast.net
Nina Koziol Feature Writer n.koziol@att.net
Heather Prince Feature Writer princeht@sbcglobal.net
June 16, 1976 was a typical beautiful summer day in Culver City, California. The streets buzzed with activity as motorists and pedestrians scurried-about trying to avoid a construction site for a street-widening project. A few moments later, there was a ping so soft it sounded like a weak ground ball in a little league game. A front-end excavator had struck a high-pressure petroleum line buried under the city street. Seconds later, a thick geyser of gasoline shot into the air. In an eye blink, the spray turned into an impenetrable wall of fire. A deadly cloud rained 16,000 gallons of low-lead gasoline onto everything and everyone in the blast radius. The entire block then turned into an enormous fireball that would leave nine people dead and 26 injured.
Months later, after hours of testimony and reams of official reports from state and federal agencies they identified the culprit — an 18-inch utility location error.
Over the next year, investigators found a series of troubling mistakes that led to the tragedy. As with most man-made disasters, there were small oversights during the planning, design, and construction phases that compounded into one catastrophic failure. The project owner and design team failed to locate the exact position of the gas lines on the construction plan. The project owner passed the location burden onto the contractor. The contractor did connect with the utility company, but dug only a few test holes hundreds of feet from the fatal ping. The morning of the accident, no one on that job site knew where the high-pressure lines were buried even as excavators, shovels, and jackhammers ripped through the earth.
resources and authority, but asked to do more in the same breath. In 1976, the JULIE system was accepted by the Illinois Commerce Commission as compliant with the one-call notification section of General Order 185. The Illinois General Assembly enacted the Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act on January 1, 1991. There have been five updates to the Act with the most recent coming in 2024.
Welcome to the Underground
A friend of mine told me the story of a DIY landscape job he did a few years ago planting some shrubs in his backyard under strict instructions of his wife. He had put the job off for a few weeks until his wife’s reminders had become relentless. Regardless of the statewide advertising, he never called JULIE and headed out back with a shovel and some Home Depot shrubs to plant near his property line. As he dug, he kept feeling a zap ripple up his arm and through his entire body. He was convinced he was having a heart attack, but also knew his wife would be mad if he stopped working. The way he saw it, his options were either to get in trouble or drop dead. Yes, this is the same mind-set as a prisoner on a chain gang. After a few more shovel strikes, his heart didn’t fail him, but he began to consider other reasons for the jolt. The shrubs he was asked to plant were to shield the view of a green electrical box. With each shovel strike, a nicked line electrified the dirt and sent shock waves through his body. He’s only alive today because his brain realized his odds of having a heart attack at 38 were outweighed by something buried in the ground.
The Culver City explosion prompted state and federal agencies to establish the Common Ground Alliance that worked on efforts to standardize utility location methods and best practices for construction excavations. Urban centers across America had similar issues as more utilities were buried under our feet and urban sprawl showed no signs of slowing down. Out of these efforts, the one-call system was born.
There are 63 individual One-Call centers across the United States. These One-Call centers receive over 20 million calls per year. It wasn’t until 2005 when Federal Communications Commission assigned the three-digit number 8-1-1 as the national “Call Before You Dig” number. This made it easier for homeowners and excavators to quickly reach the appropriate one-call center in their area with a number anyone could remember. As the old adage goes, if you aren’t prepared to call 8-1-1, be prepared to call 9-1-1.
Illinois excavators know our One-Call center by a different name: JULIE. JULIE stands for the Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators. JULIE pre-dates the Culver City explosion by two years. It was founded in 1974 with a very narrow focus and worked primarily in Will County. Four major Illinois utility companies realized they kept damaging each other’s lines when working on their own. In August 1974, they founded JULIE as a means of preventing injuries and reducing damage to underground utilities.
After Culver City, local One-Call centers like JULIE were thrust into the national conversation. They were given more
That story is funny; Culver City is not. Every year, One-Call centers estimate over 150,000 utility strikes are caused by human error. That is 150,000 excavations where the difference between a funny story and a catastrophic disaster is 18-inches or one more push of a shovel by a nervous husband.
In May, we purposefully sent out a survey during the busiest time of year about JULIE’s 2024 changes to the One-Call law. We wanted to get a sense from landscape excavators how the legislative changes have impacted their roles as excavators. The results were not great. 62% said the One-Call law changes have made response time slower than 2024. 58% of excavators said that 40% or more of their excavations have had delays longer than the standard 48-hour (not including the day of the call) window. 70% of excavators said that the recent changes to the One-Call process had made their jobs more difficult. This data indicated we were heading in the wrong direction.
The open-ended comments were equally as blistering. Many respondents said they anticipate a locate being delayed at least a week. There were inconsistencies on new pre-marking requirements. There were frequent reports of phone calls from an unlisted number going to voicemail only to be told that because the excavator did not pick up, the locator was adding another weeklong delay.
None of the changes to the One-Call law took the landscape industry by surprise. It had been 15 years since the law was last updated. New technology and the remote ticket entry system are now commonplace. Positive Response notifications from locators to excavators has become the nationwide stretch goal. The promise of electronic white-lining is only a few years away. We worked with JULIE on many of these provisions and dug in deep until the legislative language was altered to protect the interests of landscape
industry excavators.
I have worked with many special interest groups and JULIE is one of the most honest, ethical, and collaborative of them all. I am envious of their ability to build a hard wall around the One-Call Act. This prevents special interest groups from pecking away at JULIE’s authority. The tradeoff is that JULIE must be intensely collaborative when it is time for an update. They spend months shopping solutions to stakeholders and asking for comment. Ultimately, the JULIE Board of Directors will determine the final suite of changes, but no stakeholder can claim they weren’t asked to participate.
Landscaping is a tricky profession for JULIE. We are the heaviest users of the service even if our excavations are small and quick. What we lack in project size, we make up in volume. Also, the landscape industry moves at lightning speeds. Landscape companies don’t have a lot of administrative office staff to handle the back and forth between the project manager and JULIE. Lastly, landscape jobs are both art and science. Every contractor nows that a client changes his or her mind. Plants marked for the south side of the house may end up on the west side of the house. Having a fully located property helps sell plant material and soothes finicky clients. The landscape industry hits JULIE hard and fast each season and time is money.
It is easy to fall into the trap of looking at JULIE as a taskmaster. Delays are critical for excavators trying to work through eight-week backlogs when the weather is cruel enough. Excavators want to see the stated response window respected. They want a remote ticket entry system that is easy to use with rewards for using it. They want to see utility companies more worried about what is below the ground than if white paint is on top of it.
On the other hand, locators want grace and understanding. They want the landscape industry to respect locators have a “busy season” like they do. Locators want as much information before they step out of the truck so they can ensure efficiency without sacrificing safety. JULIE is the referee between two factions who have the identical goal of keeping everyone safe.
The more I stared at those survey results, the more I forgot that identical goal shared by everyone who walks down a street or across a public sidewalk. It takes stories like Culver City to jolt me back to reality. JULIE is a proud member, sponsor, speaker, and exhibitor for Landscape Illinois. They are never less than an e-mail away and always make time for the landscape industry. They are not our enemy. We cannot kill the messenger. We cannot let temporary frustration overshadow their permanent value. What we do need to do is continue our conversations. Rapid technological advancements will make locates easier and safer. Cans of white paint will be replaced by digital drawings and image files. All Clear notifications will be shot to cell phones of crew leaders in the field.
For now, Landscape Illinois must continue our role as the primary advocate for landscape excavators across the state and every segment of the industry. We need to remember this is Year One of legislative changes aimed to improve the safety and efficiency of locates. Each year, Landscape Illinois will listen to our members and carry that feedback back to JULIE with the aim of improving the process. We appreciate the members, from across the state, who took a few minutes to sound off on the survey in May. That will be coupled with additional comments to frame future conversations with JULIE. Without that feedback, JULIE will have no idea what is happening beneath their feet. And, in this business, not knowing what is happening beneath your feet is a recipe for disaster.
Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com
Mark Utendorf
Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com
Aaron Zych
ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 azych@iltvignocchi.com
www.landscapeillinois.org
Nothingmoves and motivates me quite as much as watching people learn. Whether it is helping my grandchildren learn to read and write, showing coworkers the correct way to plant a tree, or equipping colleagues with the leadership skills to get the best out of their team, being a educator is so rewarding. So too is being a lifelong learner. In order to be an effective teacher, you need to be humble and willing enough to always know you have more to learn.
A crucial part of fulfilling Landscape Illinois’ mission is providing opportunities for professional development. My connection to those education opportunities goes back to the days of MidAm when I helped select speakers for the education sessions. With the advent of iLandscape and InVigorateU, I was eager to serve on both committees as they reach a variety of different constituencies statewide. I continue to serve on both committees because of my passion for professional development.
But in the over ten years of serving on these committees, something has changed (for the good). As an association, we are looking at Education more holistically across all the committees and events. Our Education Committee recently met to start planning for the 60 education sessions for the 2026 iLandscape Show. But in that planning, we also identified speakers or topics that would potentially be better suited to InVigorateU, Impact, TED, Crew Leader Training, Women’s Networking Group events, the Design Tour or the Grower’s Tour. We are doing a even better job as an association considering the content, audiences, formats, and times of year that will reach the widest number of landscape professionals with timely, relevant information.
It was also gratifying to consider just how much professional development Landscape Illinois offers. Whether you need CEUs as a Landscape Architect or Arborist or are just striving to get better at what you do, the sheer volume of resources has surged. Now with Bloom as Landscape Illinois’ online library of recorded content from 100s of education sessions from many of our events, there is access to education every day of the year. The Landscape Illinois staff has been working hard to make the online content more manageable and engaging. There are even more enhancements to come!
As we look back on our progress, we are reminded of the power of shared stories, diverse perspectives, and the invaluable learning experiences that arise from taking advantage of professional development. We encourage all members to participate actively in the educational opportunities we provide. Share your stories, your challenges, and your solutions. Your experiences are a critical part of our collective learning. By engaging with one another, we can continue to advance not only our own professional journeys, but also the greater good of the landscape industry.
Keep learning!
Kim
Nadame mueve y motiva tanto como ver a las personas aprender. Ya sea ayudando a mis nietos a aprender a leer y escribir, mostrando a mis compañeros de trabajo la forma correcta de plantar un árbol, o brindando a mis colegas las habilidades de liderazgo para obtener lo mejor de su equipo, ser educador es muy gratificante. También lo es ser un aprendiz de por vida. Para ser un maestro efectivo, necesitas ser humilde y estar dispuesto a saber siempre que tienes más por aprender.
Una parte crucial de cumplir con la misión de Landscape Illinois es proporcionar oportunidades para el desarrollo profesional. Mi conexión con esas oportunidades educativas se remonta a los días de MidAm cuando ayudé a seleccionar oradores para las sesiones educativas. Con la llegada de iLandscape e InVigorateU, estaba ansioso por servir en ambos comités ya que alcanzan una variedad de diferentes sectores en todo el estado. Sigo sirviendo en ambos comités por mi pasión por el desarrollo profesional.
Pero en los más de diez años de servir en estos comités, algo ha cambiado (para bien). Como asociación, estamos viendo la Educación de manera más holística a través de todos los comités y eventos. Nuestro Comité de Educación se reunió recientemente para empezar a planear las 60 sesiones educativas para el iLandscape Show 2026. Pero en esa planificación, también identificamos oradores o temas que potencialmente estarían mejor adaptados a InVigorateU, Impact, TED, el Entrenamiento de Líderes de Equipo, los eventos del Grupo de Networking de Mujeres, el Tour de Diseño o el Tour de Cultivadores. Estamos haciendo un trabajo aún mejor como asociación al considerar el contenido, las audiencias, los formatos y las épocas del año que llegarán al mayor número de profesionales del paisaje con información oportuna y relevante.
También fue gratificante considerar cuánto desarrollo profesional ofrece Landscape Illinois. Ya sea que necesites CEUs como paisajista o arboricultor, o simplemente estés esforzándote por mejorar en lo que haces, la cantidad de recursos ha aumentado significativamente. Ahora, con Bloom como la biblioteca en línea de Landscape Illinois que contiene contenido grabado de cientos de sesiones educativas de muchos de nuestros eventos, hay acceso a educación todos los días del año. El personal de Landscape Illinois ha estado trabajando arduamente para hacer que el contenido en línea sea más manejable y atractivo. ¡Hay aún más mejoras en camino!
Al mirar hacia atrás en nuestro progreso, se nos recuerda el poder de las historias compartidas, las perspectivas diversas y las experiencias de aprendizaje invaluables que surgen al aprovechar el desarrollo profesional. Animamos a todos los miembros a participar activamente en las oportunidades educativas que ofrecemos. Comparte tus historias, tus desafíos y tus soluciones. Tus experiencias son una parte crítica de nuestro aprendizaje colectivo. Al interactuar unos con otros, podemos continuar avanzando no solo en nuestros propios caminos profesionales, sino también en el bienestar del sector paisajístico.
¡Sigue aprendiendo!
Kim
Kim Hartmann
Mariani Landscape • Lake Bluff A Great Second Lap
This multi-faceted family home, once a horse stable, has undergone major landscape renovations to meet the homeowners’ evolving needs. The maintenance team provides meticulous care. Weekly visits tend to different areas of the property including more than 135 shrub roses. The result
is a landscape that transcends mere beauty. It’s actively enjoyed by the homeowners and their family throughout the seasons. The team’s dedication ensures that the property remains not only a picturesque space but also a beloved setting for daily life and gatherings.
August 7, 2025
by Meta L. Levin
Demonstration Derby, the 2025 Fire & Ice: The Landscape and Snow Expo theme, says it all. There will be landscape and snow and ice equipment demonstrations, even a tree pruning demonstration. Vendors have been encouraged to plan active presentations in their booths. “Education will be less of a classroom and more hands on,” says Tony Schanna, CSP, ASM, who co-chairs the event with Gary Brester, ASM. Schanna is also the director of snow operations for the Green Garden Group and Brester is director
of sales for Elevations Landscaping.
Even the autonomous mowers, so popular last year, will be back, trundling around where attendees can watch them.
“I think they are a hot topic in the industry,” says Schanna. “More and more companies are starting to use them.”
This year’s event will be held from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm, August 7, 2025, at Heritage Park in Homer Glen, IL. The setting in a public park is a departure from previous expos, which typically have been hosted by growers, nurseries and
other Landscape Illinois members. Last year marked a return to the Morton Arboretum, the first time since 2014.
Landscape Illinois Executive Director Scott Grams is excited about the new location for several reasons, not the least of which is that it addresses the needs of the municipality and public parks staff who annually attend Fire & Ice. “One out of every five attendees comes from the public sector,” he says. “But we never had Fire & Ice on municipal grounds before.”
Homer Glen Parks District Director Jennifer Vittori wasn’t thinking of that when she approached Grams a few years ago about hosting Fire & Ice at Heritage Park. “I thought it would be a great location,” she says.
Vittori, who has been at several of the events, points to
Heritage Park’s open space, newly expanded parking and locale, just off I-355. A former 18-hole golf course, the 103 acres were converted to a public park seven years ago.
Most of Fire & Ice will be held on the soccer fields, where the turf is flat, she says, but also on the schedule is a tour of the 40 acres of natural area. Many professionals are being asked to maintain native plants and naturalized areas. The walk-and-talk will cover native plant ID as well as maintenance practices so weeds aren’t confused with native plant species.
The walk through will encompass a discussion of plant choice, as well as stewardship of natural areas. Landscape Illinois’ Sustainability Committee will provide information on native plant layout techniques, says Schanna.
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(continued from page 11)
The Fire & Ice committee plans to take advantage of as much of what the park has to offer as it can, even including the playground equipment. Team Reil, Inc., a playground equipment supplier from Union, IL will provide some education about that, as well. “We incorporated that because we get a lot of park district staff who attend,” says Schanna. “This location will provide a lot of value to attendees,” says Grams. “This is what people want in the summer, the opportunity to let their people touch, smell and feel.”
There will be tree pruning demonstrations, as well as a tree planting and tree removal demonstrations, says AnneMarie Drufke, Landscape Illinois Director of Events. “That was well attended last year,” says Schanna.
Vittori is looking forward to mower and snow removal demonstrations, as well as perusing the new plants and networking. In those areas, the committee will not disappoint. “We’ll have demonstrations of all types of equipment, from snow to landscape,” Brester says.
Not only demonstrations, but the popular Equipment Rodeo is coming up. “You can sign up when you register,” says Brester.
(continued on page 14)
(continued from page 12)
Once again, attendees also can compete in the ever popular “Container Wars.” Participants are chosen on a firstcome, first-served basis. The opportunity to throw your hat in the ring is on your registration form.
On the snow side, a group from Yellowstone Landscape in Wauconda will provide some safety training on proper use of the equipment. In addition, Tom Marsan, general manager of Beverly Companies in Evergreen Park, will speak about closing the gap between
snow sales and operations.
John Kolkman, Kaplan Liquid Solutions in Ingleside, will conduct liquid deicer application training. Last year he spoke about how to get started in using the liquid deicers, a well-attended presentation.
As one way to beat the heat, the beer tent will return, as will lunch opportunities to chow down on hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and soft drinks. In the afternoon, the ever-popular Kona Ice truck will arrive.
(continued on page 16)
(continued from page 14)
“Oh, yes,” says Grams. “There might be some surprise guests.” A return of Fire and Ice perhaps? “Bring everyone from
Crystal Ball Vision From October 2024
An Irrigation Conversation with Nathan Bowen, Brett Gold and Scott Grams
by Meta L. Levin
This is the second of a two-part series based on an October 2024 conversation with Nathan Bowen, the national Irrigation Association’s Vice President of Advocacy and Public Affairs, Brett Gold, chair of Landscape Illinois’ Irrigation Committee and Scott Grams, Landscape Illinois Executive Director.
Brett Gold: How do you think organizations like Landscape Illinois and the Irrigation Association (IA) can collaborate to promote better water management practices?
Nathan Bowen: Irrigation and irrigated landscapes can be challenging to advocate for in times of significant drought and others. We have to elaborate and communicate that the industries that we represent and are advocating on behalf of have real societal benefits. We have to have cities that have green spaces, both for quality of life, but also for heat. Green spaces make our cities cooler. We have to be mindful and strategic about how we collaborate around the messaging on that. And, we have to talk about how our industries are offering solutions, whether that be through technology, but also how we can use those technologies, new practices and the plant palette to address some of those challenges. Make sure we’re all talking the same line and really being proactive in how we communicate the value of what our industry is doing.
Nathan Bowen: The green spaces we allow to flourish are critical in mitigating climate change. Moving water can be more expensive and resource intensive. The more efficient we are with water and the solutions our industry brings to that directly reduces energy consumption, which directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. So, I think you have the opportunity to talk both about the benefits of those healthy green spaces, but also the opportunity to talk about how more efficient irrigation technology allows us to ultimately need to move less water, which reduces energy use. It reduces the amount of infrastructure that cities have to build, and that reduces the amount of concrete that’s used. All these things have real benefits in terms of mitigating climate change.
Brett Gold: Have smart technologies evolved enough to the point that it’s helping to create a more efficient irrigation system for climate change or just for homeowners in general?
Nathan Bowen: You’re seeing technologies that are already in the marketplace making impactful benefits, especially when there’s the education piece that goes along with it. At the Irrigation Association we talk a lot about not only the products that our industry provides, but the people and the expertise that we provide as well. I think that’s where there’s some real opportunity for us. It’s not just having the technology; it’s leveraging and using it effectively.
Brett Gold: Recent studies have talked favorably about irrigation in terms of fighting climate change, lowering soil temperatures and things like that. What role do you see the irrigation industry playing in combating climate change?
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(continued from page 18)
Brett Gold: The controller aspect of smart technology has changed so much over the years. I foresee AI heads that know exactly where the sidewalk is and exactly where the driveway is and providing precise watering. I can see that down the road. Do you see any new technologies or products coming up?
Nathan Bowen: I think we’re seeing that, especially in the residential space. Every home that has an irrigation system, also has a smart phone. Increasingly, we are seeing technology that goes right back to that smart phone and the ability for homeowners and business owners to control their irrigation systems from their phones, rather than going out in the backyard or the garage to do that. I think that will be a real driver in the coming years. It’s here already, more information is getting integrated into those smart phones. There are companies that are taking the drought monitor information and applying that to smart phone applications, so that the scheduling is adjusted based on that drought data.
Brett Gold: What about using rainwater for irrigation systems? I primarily work in the residential space, a little commercial, but mainly residential and my clients ask me a lot about that.
Nathan Bowen: You’re really starting to see a lot of attention to what alternatives there are to using potable water from our city water supplies. That’s a big place, especially when you’re talking about large commercial applications, whether it be a golf course or others, using recycled water, not potable water. Real opportunities there. The more we can use water recapture technology, the less infrastructure we, as a society, have to build.
Brett Gold: Have you heard of an atmospheric water generator?
Nathan Bowen: It is a new technology that was released this year. It looks like an air conditioner and creates water out of thin air. I am thinking that is the future of irrigation, once they get the technology where it needs to be. The current versions can create about 50 gallons of potable water out of thin air as long as it’s not a super dry area. You need some moisture in the atmosphere. They’re doing their best to get water into areas where you just can’t get water. I’m waiting for a trade show where someone brings that up.
Brett Gold: Two, three or even ten years down the road, how do you think the irrigation industry is going to look from a contractors’ perspective?
Nathan Bowen: I think one of the things we will be looking at closely is the changing demographics in our society. A lot of small businesses are owned by folks who are reaching
the point where they are going to want to retire and maybe they have a succession plan within the family where a kid follows up and wants to take on the family business. One of the things we are starting to see is that part of the succession planning seems to involve a little bit more consolidation. I think that is a trend that we are likely to see more of as there are fewer kids now than there were before. That will have a real impact on the way our industry looks in the coming years. When people reach that point when they do not want to do this every day, they might not have someone to pass it on to. That seems to drive consolidation. The other thing we have been talking about is that we seem to be driving in a bit more of a gig economy. You see that more in a lot of spaces. I don’t think we know for sure what that looks like yet or if it will impact us in a significant way. That’s certainly a trend that is worth keeping an eye on. The other thing and I think one of the things that does speak to some potential for younger generations to come into this business. What does the future of education look like? How many people are pursuing the traditional four-year degrees, versus doing this twoyear program and that’s going to set me up to own my own business. That could be one of those trends that results in new blood coming into our industry.
Brett Gold: When I was going through high school, no one talked about the green industry. It was never a subject in school. It’s an important part of our lives, whether people know it or not. Can you see in middle school, the lower school, besides just post high school degrees, that kids get involved in an earlier stage?
Nathan Bowen: We’re sure hoping to influence it in that direction. We are having a lot of conversations around how we can get into elementary and middle schools. How can we get onto the students’ radars and show them the potential for real productive careers in the green industry? We’re excited. We’re going to be starting some new partnerships around supporting things like school gardens at our irrigation show and education week coming up in November. I think there’s some real possibilities there for the industry.
Brett Gold: Obviously, a lot of the workforce is transitioning to working from home. How do you see that working for the irrigation industry for installs or service? We have a lot of large office spaces that are emptier or shut down, because the whole company works from home now.
Nathan Bowen: There’s certainly a conversation about what does the future of cities look like. How has the remote workfrom-home experience and now you are seeing the pendulum swing a little bit the other way, too. The return to office trends. But certainly, cities are not going to look like they have looked historically. And what is that going to look like? Potentially, more opportunity on the residential side, (continued on page 22)
(continued from page 20)
for example, than for the large office parks. How do trends around green infrastructure in public rights of way or public parks and some of the other ways things are changing, going to impact our industry? Maybe it’s a little early to tell for sure how things will look. Something happened in 2020 that certainly has caused people to look differently at what cities are going to look like.
Brett Gold: When people ask me about the green industry. Why do I want to get involved? What’s the selling point?
Nathan Bowen: One of the first things I tell people is that you get to be outside a lot. Most jobs are 9 to 5. You sit in an office all day. You drive home. You’re barely outside. (Working in the green industry) You really get an opportunity to be outside and appreciate nature more.
Brett Gold: When you talk about education and information sharing, is a primary focus trade shows and classes or are you talking about using AI and social media to reach as many people as possible, regardless of whether they are in the industry or not?
Nathan Bowen: It’s all the above. There are certainly opportunities in person to collaborate, to share information and help educate awareness, but our industry is dispersed, it’s diffuse and we rely on those social networking tools to create community, to create collaboration, information sharing. LinkedIn in particular. We’re seeing a lot of engagement there. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for those of us in the industry to share best practices and engage at the local level.
Brett Gold: What economic challenges or immediate opportunities do you predict for the irrigation industry in the future?
Nathan Bowen: Obviously, the general economic health of our economy is very important. Anecdotal information we’re seeing from our networks, this seems like it’s going to be another strong year for us. One of the things I’m going to be really interested to see is what we are going to see with the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates. To see what kind of impact that has on the economy and housing starts and all the rest. That certainly has an impact on the irrigation industry.
Brett Gold: When Covid happened our industry had a boom, because everyone was home, no one was traveling and everyone was focused on doing what was best for their house, because they were there all the time. I think this was the year that we finally passed that Covid bump and everything will be back to normal. Obviously, the economy is going to fluctuate based on other things. Do you agree?
Nathan Bowen: We’re certainly not where we were four years ago. What we are seeing on the landscape irrigation side,
while maybe not what we were seeing in 2020, there’s still a lot of optimism in the landscape irrigation contractor industry.
Brett Gold: How did the landscape irrigation industry fare on the national level in 2024?
Nathan Bowen: The information we work with is imprecise. And we ask these questions every year. The information we have been gathering from our irrigation contractor network looks very similar to last year and there is broad optimism in the industry. Certainly, there are opportunities, going back to the Federal Reserve and their decision around interest rates, we could see some uptick based on the effects of those decisions.
Brett Gold: Besides drought and water conservation, do you think there are any other major disruptions that could affect the irrigation industry in the next five, 10 years?
Nathan Bowen: A few things come to mind. One is the general health of our economy and the trends there. Another big one is the availability of labor. Our industry relies on a dependable source of labor. Especially in the landscape contracting space, that labor market is impacted by the decisions around guest worker programs. One of the places of risk for our industry is anything that impacts negatively on the availability of that guest worker workforce. So, we are very mindful and working a lot with whoever the next president is, whatever the next Congress looks like, to make sure that we are advocating loud and clear that it is critical for us to have that dependable source of labor. If we don’t have it, our industry and those related to it could have some significant negative impacts.
Brett Gold: What about customer experience? With Amazon you can get something in two days. Everything happens so fast. Customer expectations have changed across the board. Have you seen that influence in the irrigation industry at all?
Nathan Bowen: One of the places we are seeing that is the customers’ expectations of their ability to control their irrigation systems. I think there is a lot of interest in the ability to monitor and control, track all that from a smart phone and that is something that could be a real benefit and opportunity in our industry. Certainly, there is some opportunity for disruption, as well – new players coming into the market with new and exciting technologies. There’s the issue of how AI fits into this picture. The Irrigation Association represents the landscape sector and the agricultural sector. There’s a lot of thought being put into how we leverage AI tools to make irrigation more effective and more efficient. That’s another big piece that is being driven, largely by customer expectations.
Brett Gold: Is there anything concrete that is being driven by AI?
(continued on page 24)
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• Skip the Rototilling (see website for info)
(continued from page 22)
Nathan Bowen: There are several irrigation companies that are employing solutions based on AI both in the landscape and agricultural sectors. You are really seeing a lot of that in the agricultural space right now - how we use the wealth of information out there, weather data, crop history and the rest. It’s used to produce irrigation schedules that are more efficient. You’re seeing several landscape irrigation companies employing some of those solutions, as well.
Brett Gold: Are you seeing any collaborations with big tech companies and irrigation specialists to come to some sort of solution?
Nathan Bowen: Yes. Google just announced a partnership with an ag irrigation company in Nebraska. You’ll see a lot of tech providers start to play in that space in a lot bigger way.
Brett Gold: When I got into the industry, probably 10 years ago, we used to talk about how old the industry is. Not only the technology we use, but the software. The CRM is outdated. We just transitioned to a new CRM, cloud based, paperless. I feel like going paperless should be an emphasis in the green industry. Am I wrong?
Nathan Bowen: You are not wrong. We had a conversation last week about how we can reduce our own paper use. I think that ties to values. Our industry is focused on being good stewards of our natural resources. We do that by enhancing the ability to use water more wisely, but we also have the opportunity to use other resources more wisely, too.
Brett Gold: Do you think these technologies can proactively address climate change related issues, maybe unpredictable weather patterns?
Nathan Bowen: I think the biggest opportunity is to mitigate the impact. For example, as we deal with severe and prolonged drought conditions, the ability of our industry to mitigate the effects of that. There are some opportunities around more efficiently using the water we have. It does have an impact on the amount of energy we are using and that can have an impact on reducing climate effects.
Brett Gold: Is the industry planning to address environmental justice concerns related to water use?
Nathan Bowen: We, as an association, are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. That impacts the things we do as an association. That impacts how we look and approach our policy engagement. How we look at our community engagement. There are certainly opportunities to integrate that in more significant and robust ways into how we work.
Brett Gold: I know inclusion is something Landscape Illinois has talked about. It feels like it is a male driven industry. What are you trying to do to make it more diverse?
Nathan Bowen: I really appreciate that question. As I mentioned, the IA’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies and initiatives really are supporting increased focus on making sure that we are creating an industry that allows everyone to thrive and have opportunities. We are engaging with and creating opportunities for women to network in the industry, because that is really an important piece of getting ahead in our industry. That’s something that a trade association like IA has a real ability to impact and influence. That is one of our key priorities. Also, looking at how the IA and other associations are focused on workforce development initiatives and making sure it is informed by our principles around diversity, equity and inclusion. There is a lot of opportunity for us as an industry to focus there and really drive the industry to be one where there is more opportunity for everybody.
Brett Gold: What are the kinds of things you would say to someone who wants to join the irrigation industry, to sell them on why they should do that?
Nathan Bowen: I’ll answer that by why I joined the irrigation industry. As we look at the challenges society faces, water is becoming an increasingly important and scarce resource. The ability to focus and to drive a wiser use of our water resources has a real, tangible impact on our society. For those folks who are looking to come into the irrigation industry, they have an opportunity to impact and influence how we use water more wisely and more efficiently. That creates exciting opportunities professionally. It creates real opportunities for businesses to connect to that societal impact that our industry can improve.
Scott Grams: The Midwest is sort of like in this bomb shelter when it comes to drought. Yes, we deal with droughts, but we are dealing with so many different challenges than we see in the southwest or the southeast and it’s interesting to have your perspective and the perspective of the IA. You are such a national powerhouse, but when you get to the state level, it is up to the agriculture associations, the nursery and landscape associations. Even in Illinois, we are trying to make the case that irrigation professionals belong here, because they’re kind of off doing their own thing and going rogue. It’s through the hard work of Brett and the committee to entice them in, because we are stronger together. That local soft spot is a real concern for us. Watering days and water bans have been in place since the 1970s. I think you’re right, wrenching that away from local governments is going to be a real challenge, especially as water resources get scarcer and scarcer.
Nathan Bowen: I appreciate the opportunity to have the conversation.
Mentorship PROGRAM
The Women’s Networking Group (WNG) launched their mentorship program in 2022, with both a summer and winter session. After 3 years, they learned that the program is more successful during the Fall/Winter months. With that being said, the new and improved mentorship program will run from September 15th-March 15th. The new program encourages participants to meet in any fashion that works best for them, whether it be in person, virtual, or a combination of both. It also allows for participants to meet up at the Landscape Illinois Annual Party in November and the iLandscape Show in February.
WNG Mentorship Program Mission Statement
Facilitate a mentoring program that connects the Women members of Landscape Illinois with positive partnerships that will build meaningful relationships within our industry and develop women leaders exponentially.
Mentoring is a special partnership between two individuals based on a commitment to the mentoring process, common goals, trust, and respect. Both the mentor and the mentee give and grow in the mentoring process. Each session is different depending on the goals set by the mentee and a mentor’s pathway towards helping to achieve those goals.
The success of the program is dependent on the desire of experienced women to share their knowledge to those willing to invest in the development of their career.
Visit landscapeillinois.org/wng-mentorship-program for more information!
The deadline to apply to be a mentor or mentee is August 15th.
Narrow Landscapes
by Heather Prince
At iLandscape 2025, we were treated to a lively presentation by Jason Reeves, curator of the University of Tennessee Gardens in Jackson, TN featuring tall, narrow trees and shrubs for tight spaces. While Reeves featured a long list of possible plants,
Acer saccharum ‘Monumentale’ or ‘Temple’s Upright’Sugar Maple
Size: 20 to 30 ft high; 2 to 4 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to moist well-drained
Foliage: Classic sharp-lobed sugar maple leaves that are leathery green in summer turning fiery shades of yellow and orange in autumn.
Notes: This cultivar has been around for many years, although it may be hard to find. “I cannot grow sugar maples in my end of the state of Tennessee,” observed Reeves. “It’s much too hot. But I love the tall, slender ones, and Monutmentale has that really tight form.” Exceptional as a specimen or an elegant hedge.
we pulled out 10 selections that are hardy in Illinois, generally available, and delightfully ornamental. Let’s explore these wonderful plants that bring texture and color to small spaces.
Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’ and ‘Frans Fontaine’ –European Hornbeam
Size: 30 to 40 ft high; 10 to 20 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to moist well-drained
Bark: smooth fluting gray bark
Foliage: small, toothed green leaves turn yellow in fall
Notes: Reeves enthusiastically embraces European hornbeams for their distinctive tight shape and structure. Traditionally used as a hedging plant, Frans Fontaine is narrower than Fastigiata, especially in youth. Try these as an alternative to evergreen hedges since their tight branching habit screens well, even in winter.
Need Skinny Trees
Size: 20 to 30 ft high; 4 to 6 ft wide
Sun: full sun
Soil: average to drought tolerant
Foliage: distinctive fan-shaped green leaves turn brilliant gold in fall
Notes: “Thankfully, it is a male, so you don’t have to worry about the fruit,” commented Reeves. “It was found growing at Grindstone Lake, thus the name. In winter, even when it doesn’t have leaves on, it’s very architectural.” Happiest in a full sun spot, this makes a unique specimen plant where it can be featured for its fall color.
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’
Size: 40 to 60 ft high; 6 to 8 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average and adaptable
Foliage: Starry sharp-lobed leaves are dark green in summer, turning gold, orange, red, and purple in fall.
Fruit: While it will have some spiky seed pods, fruit set is minimal.
Notes: “The original tree was found by Don Shadow in Middle Tennessee, growing on the bank of a lake,” said Reeves. “I have found with Slender Silhouette that it really does best in poor, unirrigated soil. If you’ve got it in amended rich soil, and you’re running irrigation, some of the branches are going to have a tendency to splay as it grows much too fast.” This cultivar is also much more tolerant of alkaline clay soils and thrives in our Midwestern climate.
Ginkgo biloba ‘Grindstone’
Skinny Trees
Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Arnold’ – Tulip Poplar
Size: 30 to 45 ft high; 10 to 15 ft wide
Sun: full sun to light shade
Soil: average to moist well-drained
Foliage: Tulip-shaped deep green leaves turn golden in fall.
Flower: Cup-shaped green flowers with bands of orange at the base.
Notes: “Arnold is an older cultivar, but still a really good one,” commented Reeves. “Tulip poplar has a really thin leaf. It disintegrates, so you don’t really have to rake it up. If it’s in a lawn setting, you only have hit it with a mower once.” Try Arnold tulip poplar as a textural screen as the leaves also tend to flutter in the slightest breeze.
Size: 25 to 30 ft high; 10 to 12 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average and adaptable
Bark: Flaky and peeling
Foliage: Ruffled simple green leaves turn beautiful shades of gold, apricot, and orange in autumn.
Notes: Persian ironwood is a slow grower, so this dapper little tree will stay relatively small and slender for many years. “It’s a very heat and drought tolerant plant, once it’s established,” reported Reeves. “Plus, it gets really good fall color.” The small leaves often dry and hold over the winter for additional screening.
Parrotia persica ‘Golden Belltower’™ - Persian Ironwood
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries is conveniently located in Lockport to serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop -shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and ground covers. We are, not only your one-stop shop, but we are also sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Barrington, Illinois
Picea omorika ‘Pendula Bruns’ - Serbian Spruce
Size: 10 to 20 ft high; 2 to 3 ft wide
Sun: full sun to light shade
Soil: average to moist well-drained
Foliage: Medium green needles have a silver underside.
Fruit: Papery cones begin purple before maturing to bronze and drying.
Notes: This specimen Serbian spruce is for the collector or someone who appreciates its very narrow and slightly twisted form. “It’s kind of Dr. Seuss-looking,” observed Reeves. Plant this as a conversation starter or add to a conifer lover’s collection.
Quercus x Kindred Spirit® - Columnar Oak
Size: 30 to 35 ft high; 4 to 6 ft wide
Sun: full sun
Soil: average to drought tolerant
Bark: A bit flaky due to its swamp white oak heritage.
Foliage: Fiddle-shaped lobed dark green leaves with paler undersides that may hold on into winter.
Notes: A cross between English and swamp white oak, Kindred Spirit tends to be narrower than its cousins.
“Developed by Earl Cully and Joshua Nadler, it’s very architectural even in wintertime,” said Reeves. This columnar option can be an ideal solution for clients who want an oak to support wildlife, but don’t have the space for a huge species.
Taxodium distichum Lindsey’s Skyward™ - Bald Cypress
Size: 20 to 25 ft high; 4 to 6 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to wet tolerant
Bark: Fine reddish shreddy bark.
Foliage: Small light green needles that turn bronze in autumn and fall.
Notes: A tighter form than Peve Minaret, Lindsey’s Skyward provides the beautiful textures of bald cypress in a small package. “The branching structure is so tight, that the fallen needles tend to gather at the base of the plant until you clean them out,” commented Reeves.
Size: 30 to 40 ft high; 20 to 25 ft wide
Sun: full sun
Soil: average to drought tolerant
Bark: Stunning flaky bark forming a mosaic pattern.
Foliage: Small toothed green leaves turn yellow in fall.
Notes: Naturally Dutch elm resistant, this elegant lacebark elm maintains a tight branching structure, making it perfect for formal gardens. “The form is so tight that you’re not really seeing its beautiful bark,” said Reeves. A medium-grower, try this selection for formal allées or where the bark can be uplighted.
Ulmus parvifolia ‘Everclear’ – Lacebark Elm
5 Skinny Shrubs That Shine
Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Rubicon’ or ‘Red Star’– White Cedar
Size: 10 to 15 ft high (eventually); 2 to 3 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to moist well-drained
Foliage: Short blue-green needles turn plum purple in winter.
Notes: A very slow growing selection, this white cedar will be happiest with extra moisture to establish. “It’s been around for many years,” observed Reeves, “and I love the purple tones that it gets in the wintertime.” Try this as an alternative to the ubiquitous arborvitae in a garden that benefits from additional seasonal color.
Taxus × media ‘Beanpole’ –Japanese Yew
Size: 8 to 10 ft high; 3 to 5 ft wide
Sun: full sun to full shade
Soil: average to well-drained
Foliage: Deep green needles
Notes: A tight columnar yew that grows nearly straight up, Beanpole makes an excellent fence in the shade. “Drainage, of course, is very important with them,” observed Reeves. Try this pencil point specimen as a unique hedge or statement plants in a shady garden.
Hibiscus syriacus Purple Pillar® and White Pillar® - Rose of Sharon
Size: 10 to 15 ft high; 4 to 5 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to moist well-drained
Foliage: Abundant mid-green leaves with no significant fall color
Flower: Large showy hibiscus flowers in purple or white that bloom July into September. Notes: “You know, Rose of Sharon have come a long way in the last 10 or 15 years,” said Reeves. “It’s a tough plant and very drought tolerant once established. It’s also relatively insect and disease resistant. Plus, the deer don’t bother it, except they will eat the blooms off.” These two selections may have some seeds but can make a show-stopping hedge for a client that loves flowers.
Ligustrum vulgare Straight Talk™ - Privet
Size: 10 to 12 ft high; 2 to 4 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to drought tolerant
Foliage: Small shiny dark green leaves
Notes: This tightly compact selection of privet from First Editions is virtually seedless. “It is one of those plants you kind of want to come up and give it a little hug,” chuckled Reeves. It makes a good substitute for Sky Pencil holly with vertical branching, adaptability to alkaline soils, and good winter hardiness.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’ - Arborvitae
Size: 5 to 10 ft high; 2 to 3 ft wide
Sun: full sun to part shade
Soil: average to well-drained
Foliage: Soft feathery needles are bright gold in spring before maturing to chartreuse.
Notes: “I like to use yellow ribbons also at Christmas time, as cut Christmas greenery,” said Reeves. This is a smaller graceful arborvitae that can be easily used as a small hedge or as a specimen. Its needles may turn a pumpkin orange for winter interest.
Growing Strong Wasco Nursery and Garden Center Celebrates
by Nina A. Koziol
When Lynn Jay began growing trees on a 20-acre farm on La Fox Road, just south of Wasco, Illinois, he could not have foreseen that his business would grow into two farms on 140 acres, with 11,000 square feet of greenhouses, and an eight-acre garden center that offers landscape design, installation and planting services. Today, Wasco Nursery and Garden Center is a testimony to those early years as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
“There were zero big box stores when I started,” says owner Matt Zerby. “Despite all that, we’ve continued to grow and our customers have come to expect service, planting, design and advice. Box stores can’t do that.” Most customers are homeowners in a 20- to 25-mile radius, but others come from Chicago’s North Shore and as far away as Rockford and Springfield.
Zerby was 14 when he joined the nursery in 1992. “I had a lawn-mowing business, but no driver’s license. One of my customers was the secretary at Wasco and she offered to drive me to work.” His duties then included loading cars and helping at the garden center. He picked up knowledge at work along with reading books, like those of Michael Dirr. “I read and I made flash cards.” And, by the time he was 17, he had earned an Illinois Certified Nurseryman designation — and is the youngest to date to achieve that accomplishment.
A Look Back
Lynn’s grandson Robert L. Jay (R.L.) joined the business in 1971, expanding services, establishing the greenhouse operation and enhancing the retail sales yard. He also introduced landscape design and installation services. He bought the nursery from his father in 1987. As the business continued to grow, a 40-acre farm on Winters Road was purchased to meet the increasing demand for plants, primarily woodies, in the Fox Valley area. In 2003, the old glass houses were replaced with a modern, state-of-the-art retail greenhouse.
Zerby took on management roles in the late 1990s, and purchased half the business from R.L. in 2005. “He made me an offer to stick around for one year. I was getting married and graduating and thinking about changing jobs.” But Zerby was hooked and became the sole owner in 2012. “We’re four to five times larger than when I started in terms of volume and staff.” During the height of the busy season there are 77 staff, with six crews on the road, six days a week. “We’re certainly not corporate-y. This was a small mom and pop shop and we’ve tried to maintain that family feel.”
For the past decade, Stephanie Beaulieu of St. Charles, Ill., has been a devoted customer. She shopped this spring with her baby, Lena, in tow. “I love this place—it’s just like peace.” She also brings her two sons when they’re looking for new fruit trees to add to their garden.
Lynn Jay and his son Robert expanded Wasco Nursery throughout the 1940s, and in 1952 his son took ownership. In 1966, Robert bought a 90-acre farm on Route 64 and a few years later the nursery operation moved to this location. “Lynn’s son was a fur trapper during winter to supplement his income. There was literally nothing out here then,” Zerby said.
Senior Landscape Designer Meagan Provencher has been with the nursery for almost 20 years. “Every project, every week, every year is different. I really enjoy talking to people and translating their needs and wants from paper to real life. The best part is installing it and in the end, they say, ‘wow! This is great. You really listened and saw my vision.’”
Celebrates 100 years
Challenges
Computers arrived in the office in the mid-1990’s, and the first CAD software arrived in 1998. “I wired the network myself,” Zerby said. “We ran coaxial cable through the ceiling.” By 2004, given the volume of sales, it was impossible to handwrite any orders and the designs went digital. “We are doing 300 drawings a year,” Provencher explained. “We have to use software now versus hand drawing. We used to have big, flat design files of drawings in the attic, but now it’s all stored online.”
Finding labor can be a struggle, but the plants — especially trees — have their own issues. Ash trees were top sellers until the dreaded borer arrived in 2006. “Emerald ash borer was found one mile from here and at Northwestern University,”
Zerby explained. Quarantines were enacted to try to stop the insects’ spread by restricting movement of firewood and ash material, such as trees. “I made a decision to bulldoze every ash in the field and replant more elms, maples and oaks.”
Because so many ash trees were affected in local communities, Zerby added stump grinding services in 2007 and the first season paid for the equipment. He phased out the problematic Bradford pears completely by 2008.
The housing market and the economy was also in a free fall at that time. “We felt the sting of the recession, but it was not as bad as it could have been.”
(continued on page 36)
(continued from page 35)
Choosing an Inventory
Zerby has one area used as a test plot. “I grow a lot of newer varieties of things to see how they perform. There has to be a compelling reason to add them. It may be a plant that people have been requesting, or a new or hardier plant.” One example is the panicle hydrangea. “Every breeder is coming out with more and more. We may have 30 to 50 on hand of 20 to 30 varieties of some plants. Some trees take six to seven years to finish, so when there’s a new plant, we’re not going to plant large numbers the first year.”
Amy Hurst of Bartlett, IL., has shopped at the garden center for the last three years. “I’m a long-time gardener and they have a better, greater variety of plants,” Hurst said. “Sometimes the big box stores have one or two [cultivars] of something, but here there may be seven or eight. It’s so beautiful and everyone is so friendly and knowledgeable.”
Provencher has been in the green industry for 31 years and is surprised at how the plant palette has changed. “The shear quantities that are available is amazing. The customer has a great selection to choose from.” And native plants are hot. “Every week, at least half of our customers ask for natives.
They’re much more aware and they want low-maintenance pollinator plants.”
Wasco Nursery brings in bare-root liners as well as starting seed for some lines. “We have a lot of native woodies,” Zerby said. A top seller emerged during Covid. “No one wanted to see their neighbors, so columnar evergreens like ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae became very popular.”
The nursery uses few to no chemicals, which is a selling point for customers. Zerby often takes them to the field to choose their tree. “And we grow all of our own vegetables with 40 types of
tomatoes and organic sweet corn for the fall fest.” One of his favorite plants is Heptacodium ‘Temple of Bloom’.
Zerby is constantly looking for ways to improve the business. “We’ve been remodeling because we practically live here this time of year. We’ve improved the fleet of vehicles and we’ve been expanding the garden center. There’s space for another 250 trees above ground.”
A second deep well was dug three years ago. “I just like redundancy,” he said. “We have two wells and two internet providers. If we have 90 degrees and a hot summer, and we lose water, that’s a big problem. And when 90 percent of our customers pay with credit cards the backup internet provider is helpful.”
Many new customers are in their thirties, telling Zerby, “We used to come here with our grandparents.” And that’s a legacy that any business owner would cherish.
(see more on page 38)
Wasco Nursery’s Meagan Provencher Offers
Seven-son Flower — A late-flowering small tree for just about any spot that is amazing for pollinators, has unique peeling bark, and great fall interest.
Katsura Tree — A unique, majestic, beautiful tree, and I love that it smells like cotton candy in the fall.
Hydrangea ‘Pinky Pollen Ring’ — Great for pollinators because it’s not sterile. Has dusty pink flowers on a sturdy plant.
Tulip Tree — Just a great, standalone shade tree and a bonus are the flowers.
Roses — I love all roses and sometimes they just don’t grow well for me. But they are still one of my favorites and I will forever be swayed by their intoxicating blooms and fragrance.
Balancing Cool and Warm Season Grasses for Landscape Impact
By Shannon McEnerney
When planning a garden with ornamental grasses, it’s helpful to understand the difference between cool season and warm season varieties. Each type offers unique growth habits, seasonal preferences, and aesthetic benefits. Knowing when they thrive can help you create a dynamic, resilient landscape year-round.
Cool season grasses grow best in mild conditions – when the soil temperatures are between 50-65 degrees, and the air temperatures are between 60-75 degrees. In Illinois, these conditions translate to spring and fall – this is when the plants are actively growing, and also the best time to transplant. Cool season grasses tend to green up sooner in spring than warm season grasses, and often – but not always –bloom in spring. These plants typically need more moisture during the spring and fall when they are actively growing; they may go dormant or semi-dormant during the summer, and many do best when they are left on the drier side during this period. Carex, Deschampsia, Festuca and Sesleria are examples of cool season grasses.
Warm season grasses thrive in the heat of summer. It can take some patience while waiting for warm season grasses to begin pushing their new growth in late spring / early summer – so planting with cool season grasses or spring blooming
plants can be beneficial to give the garden some earlier interest. Once they get going, warm season grasses are generally fast growers that get taller than their cool season counterparts; they also typically flower in late summer and early fall, and are better suited to hotter, drier climates. Examples of warm season grasses include Andropogon, Hakonechloa, Panicum, Pennisetum, Schizachyrium and Sporobolus.
Both types of grasses provide winter interest when left up after blooming. Many cool season grasses are semievergreen; while warm season grasses that are larger in stature add height to the winter garden, often being able to withstand all but the heaviest snow. Both types of grasses can be cut back in late winter or early spring, but care should be used to not cut back cool season varieties too short – this may impact spring blooming.
Cool Season Grasses / Sedges
While technically not a grass, Carex, or Sedges are typically used in a similar way as grasses, which warrants their inclusion here. This genus includes over 2,000 species which are found all over the world, so there is a suitable Carex for almost any situation! The finely textured Carex albicans (White-tinged Sedge) is a great option for dry,
Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ (continued on page 42)
Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’
(continued from page 40)
shady areas, and can handle a wide range of soil types. Conversely, Carex sprengelii (Long-beaked Sedge) does well in moist, shady areas. And Carex Nordic® Blade is a new introduction that was discovered in Denmark, and is well suited to partial shade areas, with striking black, blade-like seed heads in spring.
Deschampsia is a genus that is often overlooked, but can be useful as it can tolerate a bit more shade than other grasses. Clump forming and finely textured, it comes in a few different statures, all with airy inflorescences that become attractive seedheads for birds. Deschampsia cespitosa, or Tufted Hair Grass, is the largest of the options at 3 – 4’ tall and 18 – 24” wide, and is native to the northern and western U.S. It is the earliest bloomer of the bunch, with light green inflorescences.
Warm Season Grasses
Panicum, or Switchgrass, is an increasingly popular genus of warm season grass. Switchgrass is native to a large portion of the U.S., and is one of the key plants in the native tallgrass prairie. While it does want full sun, Panicum can otherwise be very adaptable, naturally occurring in settings ranging from dry slopes to riverbanks and marshes. Cultivars currently on the market span a wide range of foliage colors and sizes. ‘Cape Breeze’ is a shorter variety (24 – 36” tall) and features softly cascading brown to red seedheads, and good tolerance to salt (it was discovered on Martha’s Vineyard!). Several varieties, such as ‘Cheyenne Sky’ and ‘Shenandoah’ display red foliage and flowers in summer. And ‘Apache Rose’ and ‘Heavy Metal’ are two lovely blue-foliaged varieties with pink to rose colored flower panicles.
Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed) is another Illinois native that most people are likely familiar with. But for those that may not have quite the width to accommodate the straight species, ‘Tara’ may be a good option, growing in a neat vase shape to around 12” wide. Sporobolus airoides is native to the western U.S., and handles dry conditions with ease. It is similar in size to S. heterolepis, but blooms about a month earlier. Seed heads are pink, aging to tan, and planted in mass give the effect of a cloud hovering over the garden.
Whether you prefer the early green-up and spring blooms of cool season grasses or the height and heat tolerance of warm season types, both bring value to the garden. When combined thoughtfully, they provide structure, seasonal interest, and year-round beauty — even through winter.
Sporobolus airoides
Carex Nordic® Blade Sedge
Panicum virgatum ‘Cheyenne Sky’
Cómo balancear plantas herbáceas de temporada fría cálida para más impacto en los jardines
Por Shannon McEnerney
Cómo balancear plantas herbáceas de temporada fría y de temporada cálida para más impacto en los jardines
Por Shannon McEnerney
Cuando se planea un jardín con hierbas ornamentales, ayuda comprender la diferencia entre las variedades de temporada fría y las de temporada cálida. Cada tipo ofrece hábitos de crecimiento, preferencias estacionales y beneficios estéticos únicos. Saber cuándo prosperan puede ayudarle a crear un jardín dinámico y resiliente durante todo el año.
Las plantas herbáceas de estación fría crecen mejor en condiciones moderadas – cuando las temperaturas del suelo oscilan entre 50 y 65 grados, y la temperatura del aire, entre 60 y 75 grados. En Illinois, estas condiciones se trasladan a la primavera y el otoño – esto es cuando las plantas están creciendo activamente y también es la mejor época para trasplantar. Las plantas herbáceas de temporada fría tienden a enverdecer antes en la primavera que las plantas herbáceas de temporada cálida y con frecuencia – pero no siempre –florecen en la primavera. Estas plantas usualmente necesitan más humedad durante la primavera y el otoño, cuando crecen activamente; podrían entrar en un período de dormancia o semi-dormancia durante el verano y a muchas les resulta
mejor cuando se las deja en el lado más seco durante este período. Carex, Deschampsia, Festuca y Sesleria son ejemplos de céspedes de temporada fría.
Las plantas herbáceas de temporada cálida prosperan en el calor del verano. Hay que tener un poco de paciencia para esperar que comiencen a impulsar su nuevo crecimiento a finales de la primavera / comienzos del verano – por lo que puede ser beneficioso plantar hierbas de temporada fría o plantas que florecen en primavera para darle al jardín algún interés temprano. Una vez que comienzan a crecer, las plantas herbáceas de temporada cálida generalmente crecen rápidamente y alcanzan una altura mayor que sus contrapartes de temporada fría; también suelen florecer a finales del verano y a comienzos del otoño y se adaptan mejor a climas más cálidos y secos. Ejemplos de plantas herbáceas de temporada cálida incluyen Andropogon, Hakonechloa, Panicum, Pennisetum, Schizachyrium y Sporobolus.
Ambos tipos de plantas herbáceas son de interés en el invierno después de florecer. Muchas plantas de temporada fría son semiperennes; mientras que las de temporada cálida de mayor estatura proporcionan altura a los jardines de invierno, siendo con frecuencia capaces de resistir todo menos las nevadas más fuertes. Ambos tipos de plantas se pueden podar a finales del invierno o principios de la primavera, pero se debe tener cuidado de no podar mucho las variedades de temporada fría – esto podría afectar su floración primaveral.
Hierbas y juncias de temporada fría
Si bien técnicamente no es una hierba, Carex o juncia se usa frecuentemente de forma similar a las plantas herbáceas, lo que explica su inclusión aquí. ¡Este género incluye más de 2,000 especies que se encuentran en todo el mundo, por lo que hay una Carex para casi toda situación! La Carex albicans (Juncia teñida de blanco), de fina textura, es una opción estupenda para áreas secas y sombreadas y puede resistir una variedad de tipos de suelo. En cambio, Carex sprengelii (Juncia de pico largo) prospera en áreas húmedas y sombreadas. Y Carex Nordic® Blade es una nueva introducción que fue descubierta en Dinamarca y se adapta bien a
fría y de temporada
áreas con sombra parcial, con llamativas inflorescencias negras que tienen forma de hoja cortante en la primavera.
Deschampsia es un género que con frecuencia se pasa por alto, pero puede ser útil debido a que puede tolerar un poco más de sombra que otras hierbas. De fina textura, forma grumos y viene en diferentes estaturas, todas con inflorescencias aireadas que se vuelven cabezuelas atractivas para las aves. Deschampsia cespitosa o Tufted Hair Grass (Pasto de penacho), es la más grande de las opciones con 3 – 4’ de altura y 18 – 24” de anchura y es nativa de las regiones norte y oeste de EE. UU. De todas, es la que florece más temprano, con inflorescencias color verde-claro.
Plantas herbáceas de temporada cálida
Panicum o Switchgrass (Pasto varilla) es un género de hierba de temporada cálida que está ganando popularidad. Switchgrass es nativa de una gran parte de EE. UU. y es una de las plantas clave entre las nativas de las praderas de pastos altos. Si bien necesita pleno sol, Panicum puede ser muy adaptable, dándose de forma natural en ambientes que van desde pendientes secas hasta riberas de ríos y marismas. Las variedades actualmente en el mercado cubren una amplia gama de colores y tamaños de follaje. ‘Brisa del cabo’ es una variedad más pequeña (de 24 a 36” de altura) y tiene inflorescencias de color marrón a rojo en forma de suave cascada y buena tolerancia a la sal (¡fue descubierta en Martha’s Vineyard!). Algunas variedades, como ‘Cielo de Cheyenne’ y ‘Shenandoah’ tienen follaje rojo y flores en el verano. Y ‘Rosa Apache’ y ‘Metal Pesado’ son dos bellas variedades de
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.
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TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR.
follaje azul con panículas de flores con matices de rosado a rosa.
Sporobolus heterolepis (Gota de la pradera) es otra nativa de Illinois con la que probablemente la mayoría de la gente está familiarizada. Pero para los que no tengan la anchura suficiente para dar cabida a las especies de tipo silvestre, ‘Tara’ podría ser una buena opción, la cual crece en forma nítida de florero hasta alcanzar las 12” de anchura. Sporobolus airoides es nativa de la región oeste de EE. UU., y se adapta fácilmente a condiciones secas. Es similar en tamaño a S. heterolepis, pero florece aproximadamente un mes antes. Las inflorescencias son color rosado y plantadas en masa, producen el efecto de nubes que vuelan sobre el jardín.
Sea que prefiera el reverdecimiento temprano y la floración primaveral de las plantas herbáceas de temporada fría o la altura y tolerancia al calor del tipo de temporada cálida, ambos realzan los jardines. Cuando se combinan creativamente, aportan estructura, interés estacional y belleza durante todo el año—incluso a través del invierno.
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Problem Solving Native Shrubs: For the Birds
By Heather Prince
Shrubs are splendidly useful plants in a landscape.
Usually, we first think of them as screening from the neighbors or providing a degree of separation between garden rooms. They can be so much more. Try shrubs woven throughout designs to anchor vignettes, provide height, or add structure. From residential to commercial and municipal applications, shrubs can be steady workhorses or spectacular specimens. In this three-part series, we’ll look at species for pollinators, birds, and autumn splendor. Check out the choices below for shrubs particularly attractive to birds. More and more clients are seeking out opportunities to provide for our feathered friends and these beautiful plants will provide food and shelter.
Aronia spp, or Chokeberry
Aronias are four-season shrubs with pure white spring flowers, red or black berries, orange-scarlet fall color, and smooth grey bark. There are several cultivars available from dense diminutive selections to large hedging shrubs, and black chokeberry is native to Illinois. They prefer average to wet soils, making them handy for damp corners and under downspouts. Black berries are rich in antioxidants and used in braising recipes where their tartness mellows out. Birds will feast on berries once they have frozen and softened, while bees enjoy the flowers, and coral hairstreak butterfly caterpillars will nibble the leaves. Rabbits adore them, so make sure young shrubs are protected.
As you pull together plant lists, take a look at these native shrubs to add layers of diversity, fall color, and food for our animal compatriots.
For the Birds
Providing shelter and food for birds in backyards, parks, and commercial sites has become more crucial as climate change alters the seasonality of our plants. Birds need more ways to find sustenance as flower and fruit timing shifts. While caterpillars are, in general, their favorite food, these six shrubs offer colorful and nutritious berries for fall and winter. They also provide shelter, fall color, nectar and are larval hosts – making them some hard-working shrubs!
Cornus racemosa or Gray Dogwood
Gray dogwood is a medium to large, rounded shrub with clean green leaves featuring silvery gray undersides that turn shades of rich reddish-purple and mahogany in the fall. The rounded racemes of creamy white flowers turn into clusters of bright white berries that birds enjoy. Like most dogwoods, gray dogwood is exceptionally adaptable to soils, but unlike its cousins, is drought tolerant. This is a structure shrub for the mixed border that can be artfully pruned in formal settings. New tips will have a reddish cast that is subtly ornamental and blends well with purple foliage perennials. The leaves are a larval host to a huge range of moths including the showy cercropia silk moth as well as spring azure butterflies.
Cornus sericea or Red Twig Dogwood
A bit smaller than its cousin gray dogwood, red twig dogwood is a beloved native for its deep red winter twigs. Many cultivars are available, including ones with variegated foliage. This tough, adaptable, wet tolerant workhorse is easily incorporated into hedges and shrub borders. It provides much needed winter interest in the Midwest, but it also offers bright white berries for birds among its sheltering branches. Flat clusters of white flowers brighten the plants in spring and delight myriad bees and small pollinators. Like its cousin, red twig dogwood is also a host to a long list of moths and spring azure butterflies. This species has been found in studies to offer phytoremediation properties at mining sites and soils polluted with chlorinated compounds. Include one if only as a source for winter twigs in holiday porch pots and arrangements. Tuck it behind the garage and let the songbirds have a private bistro.
Landscape Illinois — The Magazine
Ilex
or Winterberry
Our native holly loves wet feet and partial shade. You’ll need both male and female plants to get the signature bright red berries. Generally, one male plant will pollinate 6 to 10 females. The orange-scarlet fall color is a surprise, making this an interesting plant for rain gardens and swales. There are several cultivars available, since on its own, winterberry tends to be a bit rangy in its habit. Small bees visit the insignificant flowers, but birds adore the scarlet berries. Blend this into a perennial border where it can shine with grasses, asters, and goldenrod in low autumn light. Harvest a few berried branches for holiday decorations but keep an eye out for rabbit damage over the winter.
Sambucus canadensis or Elderberry
This big brawny fast-growing native shrub features dinnerplate-sized flat clusters of lemon-scented white flowers in June. It’s an ideal plant for the back of the border or hedge where it can be its large, loose, rangy self. The flowers are beloved by a wide range of pollinators and turn into deep purple edible berries that birds feast on. Elderberry is also chock-full of antioxidants and vitamins, so much so that you’ll find elderberry syrup in the vitamin and health food aisle. Pioneers used the berries for juice and wine. This assumes that the delighted songbirds haven’t cleaned it out. Although not a larval host to many Lepidoptera, native bees will excavate the soft pith of broken stems for their larva. There are a few cultivars available with variegated foliage and tidier habits.
Main Office & Sales Yard
7200 S. Madison · Willowbrook, IL 60527
630-323-1411
Over 15,000 trees, 35,000 shrubs, 100,000 perennials, and 500 varieties at our 650-acre farm. HinsdaleNurseries.com Little Rock Farm 2353 Creek Road · Plano, IL 60545 630-552-8314
Over 11 acres of holding yard in two convenient locations. For sale updates and availabilities, sign up for our email newsletter. Trees, Ornamentals, Evergreens, Shrubs, Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcover.
verticillata
Hydrangea
Symphoricarpos alba or Snowberry and S. orbiculatus or Coralberry
The Symphoricarpos species will quietly occupy a corner of the landscape before putting on their fall show of white or pinkishpurple berries. You won’t notice their tiny flowers, although myriad pollinators happily will. They are also the larval host for snowberry clearwing and hummingbird clearwing moths, which are welcome garden visitors that charm and fascinate us. From full sun to part shade and average to rocky soils, Symphoricarpos is adaptable and trouble-free. It steps from the shadows in fall with either brilliant white showy berries along arching stems or clusters of pink to purple ones. They are splendid in fall arrangements with grasses and asters. Birds allow them to freeze and soften before devouring them as critical winter food. These are small arching shrubs that can easily weave into cottage and naturalistic garden styles. Cultivars have doubled the berry set for even showier displays. If you’re designing for fall, tuck a few in as a delightful surprise for clients and wildlife.
Mission Statement: To enhance the professionalism and expertise of all members through leadership, collaboration, education, representation, and services while advancing the value of the landscape industry.
Objective I: Implement and evaluate diversified networking opportunities using selected demographic groups.
Implement and make successful:
Women s Networking Group events hosted in the Southern Region
Women s Networking Group events hosted in the Central Region An Owners and Senior Managers Committee
How this helps members:
Demographic groups are one of the strongest aspects of Landscape Illinois These groups use a shared trait (females in the landscape industry, those with ownership and management experience) to improve networking and education.
Objective II: Develop and implement a plan for Bloom to ensure more annual subscribers.
Bloom launched in 2023 as a video library for Landscape Illinois educational content The platform has hundreds of educational videos aimed at improving the skills of all levels of landscape industry businesses This year, the Board looks to consider video content of varying lengths, paid access versus a member benefit, sponsor support, educational grant support, vendor-specific content, and editorial oversight.
How this helps members:
Even nationally, Bloom is one of the most comprehensive libraries of educational content in the entire landscape industry Landscape Illinois plans to improve the platform to make it an essential part of our members professional development no matter where they reside in Illinois.
Objective III: Execute and adjust the statewide plan to become a stronger organization by implementing the 3-year calendar of events and develop and implement a rebrand.
Landscape Illinois has divided the state into six regions Landscape Illinois must decide how to deliver adequate value to each region in a sustainable manner This means that programs must have adequate volunteer, member, and market support.
How this helps members:
Landscape Illinois will become a statewide organization by spreading events across the state to deliver member value These programs will be placed in a strategic fashion across the next three years Statewide programs include InVigorateU, Spring Training, Crew Leader Training, pruning, irrigation training, networking events, among others
Objective IV: Develop and implement methods to improve committee management and communications to increase effectiveness.
Landscape Illinois uses a bottom-up strategic model. It is the volunteer committees of Landscape Illinois who develop the programs that improve member value The Board of Directors looks to invest more resources to make sure these committees are managed effectively and communicate better.
How this helps members:
Landscape Illinois uses almost 250 industry volunteers who delivers value beyond the Board and staff Innovation flows from these committees and they are segmented to deliver maximum value to our member businesses.
Summerfield Trading, LLC
Kelly Girup
1555 W Fulton St
Chicago, IL 60607
312-469-8322
summerfieldtrading.com
by Meta L. Levin
In 2016 a landscape architecture firm that specialized in high end projects decided it needed a way to procure high quality plant materials, ones that complimented their designs. So, they established their own organization to source them.
“They decided to start it as a way to control the quality of their plant materials,” says Kelly Girup, the organization’s director of sales. It was, at first, private, solely for their projects. Their staff hand tagged and sealed specimens – trees and plants considered to be something special and they offered the service to a handful of their projects and clients.
Gradually, they developed a network of providers whose products met or exceeded their high standards. Others took notice. It was then that they began thinking about offering this service to other landscape architects, designers and contractors.
In the fall of 2016 Summerfield Trading LLC was born and
in 2024 Girup came on board as Summerfield began offering services to outside landscape contractors, landscape architects, builders and others in the industry. Girup is proud that Summerfield offers high quality plant material chosen for the specific landscape architect, designer, customer and project.
The owners want Summerfield “to grow relationships and find cool, hard to source plant material” for its outside customers, although they continue to supply their original owners and founders, she says.
In addition to finding hard to source plant material, Girup is proud of the knowledge and care the staff brings to such details as understanding the design, the proper way to load a truck, transport the material and ensure that the landscape contractor on the other end is ready to receive it. “It’s a white glove concierge service for the landscapers,” she says. “We’re able to connect the dots from the grower to the clients.”
This is helped by John Evans, who is Director of Summerfield Trading and who, throughout his career in landscape construction, site development and horticulture has developed a nationwide network of plant production nurseries that now are key to Summerfield Trading’s sourcing and procurement operations.
Girup, too, has an extensive background in the green industry. She took her first horticulture class at age 15, which led her to Iowa State University’s horticulture program from which she earned a bachelor’s degree. Since then she has worked in wholesale and retail plant sales, horticulture consulting and her own landscape design/build business. “I love my job,” she says. “I love seeing the different designs and helping make it easier and more profitable for our customers.”
Other major players include Lara Carling, who works in sales and buying, as well as serving as the logistic manager. She oversees the processes and systems that help keep Summerfield running smoothly and has a background in the flower and houseplant industry as a designer, buyer and project manager. “She is passionate about gardening,” says Girup.
Paul Ramos is a purchasing and
logistics specialist. “He plays a crucial role, keeping everything about the sale in order,” says Girup. “He is incredibly organized and pays attention to details.”
Summerfield Trading joined Landscape Illinois (formerly ILCA) toward the end of 2024, but Girup has been a member at previous jobs, even serving on the Young Professionals committee at one point, attending trade shows and taking advantage of educational opportunities. Since Summerfield became a member, she has joined the Women’s Networking Group. “I enjoy the coffee talks, having conversations with other women in the industry and the networking opportunities,” she says. She is delighted to see the increas-
ing number of women and opportunities for women in the industry. “I couldn’t believe that a job like this existed for women,” she says. “Twenty to twenty five years ago there were few women in leadership roles. As the industry has grown, more opportunities opened up.”
Girup is happy to be working in the green industry at a time when more and more homeowners are recognizing the importance of investing in their landscapes. “It adds value to what the landscape architects, designers and contractors do to be able to tell their clients that they are partnering with a horticulture and plant procurement specialist,” she says.
Proven Expertise: Leverage our two decades of industry know-how and support to grow your business.
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Are you a landscaper or hardscaper ready to elevate your business and boost your revenue? Partner with All Things Turf, the premier name in artificial turf with over 20 years of unparalleled installation experience.
We Are Seeking a Distributor/Partner in Chicagoland!
Proven Expertise: Leverage our two decades of industry know-how and support to grow your business.
Exclusive Territory: Be the go-to provider of artificial grass in the Chicagoland area.
Ideal Candidate:
· Owns a brick-and-mortar facility capable of hosting a small turf display.
· Owns an established landscape or hardscape business
· Committed to excellence and customer satisfaction.
Maximize Your Business Potential: Contact Doug today to explore this lucrative opportunity and become a key player in the artificial grass revolution! Don’t miss out – Take the first step towards a prosperous future!
Salary Range: Owner/Operator listing How to Apply: Email Doug Steeves at doug@allthingsturf.com
PREMIER SERVICE
We are seeking a results-driven and highly organized Plant Health Care (PHC) Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations and long-term development of our growing PHC division.
This leadership role will oversee multiple field crews, manage routing and scheduling, coordinate material logistics, and work directly with senior leadership to build scalable systems that support division-wide growth and efficiency. The ideal candidate has strong operational management skills, a solid understanding of plant health care services, and the ability to drive performance, standardization, and innovation within a service-based organization.
Premier Service provides elite landscape architecture design and snow removal services to commercial and residential clients across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
Salary range: $85k to $100K
How to apply: https://www.premierservice.com/premier-careers/
Landscape Supervisor
We are looking for a Landscape Supervisor for our construction division! Beverly Companies is family-owned and has been providing full-service landscaping for both commercial and residential properties throughout the Chicago area for over 26 years. Our services include landscaping, snow removal, paving, & topsoil. We are one of the largest landscaping & snow removal companies in Illinois and are proud to be the top-rated in Chicagoland.
The Landscape Supervisor will report to the General Manager. This position will oversee all landscape construction projects, ensuring they’re completed safely, on time, and with excellence. The Supervisor will be issued a company vehicle (available at our main shop) for travel to company locations and job sites. Compensation is 16% above the industry average according to Indeed.
Responsibilities:
-Oversee day-to-day landscape construction operations on commercial and residential sites.
-Dispatch and manage crews, including drivers, equipment operators, shoveling crews, and subcontractors.
-Train, mentor, and evaluate crew members to uphold quality, safety, and productivity standards.
-Coordinate material deliveries, equipment staging, and site logistics.
-Serve as on-site point of contact for clients, architects, and vendors.
-Plan and execute snow removal operations on assigned routes during winter months.
-Ensure compliance with company policies, safety regulations, and ILCA/ASA Chicago standards.
-Prepare and submit daily reports, time sheets, and project status updates to the General Manager.
Qualifications:
-Minimum 2 years of experience in the landscaping or landscape construction industry.
-Proven leadership skills with experience managing crews and subcontractors.
-Strong organizational and problemsolving abilities.
-Ability to speak Spanish is a plus for crew communication and client relations.
-Proficiency with basic computer applications (email, scheduling software, mobile reporting).
-OSHA 10+ or equivalent safety training preferred.
Compensation & Benefits:
-Competitive salary with opportunities for bonuses ($60,000 - $80,000).
-Company vehicle provided for business use.
-401(k) Plan (enrollment available after 6 months and 1,000 hours of employment)
-Health Insurance—Group Health Plan with 50% company contribution (eligible the first day of the month after 2 full months).
-PTO—10 days in the first year, plus 1 additional day earned each subsequent year (max 15 days), accrued monthly.
HELP WANTED
-A cellular phone and laptop for workrelated tasks.
-Seasonal bonus potential based on performance and profitability.
-Opportunities for professional development and advancement within Beverly Companies.
Interested applicants can send their resume to info@beverlycompanies.com.
Woody Plant Buyer
The landscapes we build are only as good as the plants we source.
That’s why we’re hiring a Woody Plant Buyer — someone who knows quality when they see it, understands how to navigate nurseries, tag the best specimens, and bring our design vision to life through every tree and shrub selected.
You’ll work hand-in-hand with our design and construction teams, making strategic purchasing decisions and sourcing plant material for some of the most sophisticated residential landscapes in the Midwest.
This isn’t a desk job. It’s hands-on, in the field, and highly collaborative — ideal for someone with deep horticultural knowledge, who wants to build strong supplier relationships, and an eye for excellence.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to talk.
For additional details and to apply, visit https://scottbyron.com/careerswoody-plant-buyer/ Salary Range: 80 - 90 K
Full-Time Grouns Worker
Oakton College is seekig an enthusiastic, energetic, and motivated individual to join our Grounds Department as a full-time Grounds Worker. We ffer competitive compensation with a starting salary of $48,310. Under the general supervi-
HELP WANTED
sion of the Supervisor of Grounds, this position plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing the band functionality of Oakton’s campuses. Key responsibilities include: performing mowing operations, including cutting and trimming turf areas, weed control, conducting snow removal to ensure safe access to campuses, assisting with tree removal and trimming, and maintaining and preparing Athletic fields for college use. Excellence in the performance of these duties ensures a high-quality campus experience for the community. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a flexible spending account, SURS Pension, and tuition reimbursement. We offer generous paid vacation, holidays, sick time, personal days, and Fridays off in the summer.
For the job description, qualifications, and application, please go to: https:// oakton.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=183006
Required Qualifications:
1. High school education or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired.
2. Two years of landscaping, groundskeeping, and athletic fields experience.
3. Illinois State Public Applicator License must be obtained within 6 months of employment.
4. Ability to operate various types of power equipment, including lawnmowers, trimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, and other landscaping equipment.
5. Ability to use hand tools required for landscaping.
6. Ability to follow instructions and complete assignments.
7. Excellent time management, verbal, and written communication skills.
8. General computer knowledge is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Illinois State Commercial Driver’s License. Class B with Air Brake Endorsement is preferred. College spon-
HELP WANTED
sorship for earning Class B is available. Oakton College is an equal opportunity employer and has a strong commitment to diversity. In that spirit, we seek a broad spectrum of candidates, including minorities, veterans, women, and people with disabilities. EOE/AA/M/F/D/V
Oakton is committed to maintaining an environment free from harassment and discrimination for all and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex (gender), sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, and reprisal or any other protected status. Further, Oakton does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational, employment, or extracurricular activity.
Salary: $48,310.00
CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES
Aug. 2025 issue ads: July 15, 2024 Sept. 2025 issue ads: Aug. 15, 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
Crew Foreman
Position Expectations:
The primary responsibility is to oversee and coordinate a crew of landscape workers, planning and managing landscaping projects, ensuring quality work is completed on time and maintaining the overall health and aesthetics of outdoor spaces, including tasks like planting, pruning and mowing while adhering to safety protocols and client specifications.
Position Expectations
▪ Regular and on time attendance
▪ Strong communication and note taking skills
▪ Oversee crew, equipment, and materials preparation for each job
▪ Provide comprehensive training to new and existing employees on all aspects of their role
▪ Monitor crew performance and address any issues
▪ Ensure safety compliance on all job sites
▪ Show care for Contour and client property
▪ Leadership skills and ability to motivate and manage a team
Position Requirements
▪ Ability to adapt project timelines and works schedules as needed
▪ Strong organizational and leadership skills
▪ Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
▪ Ability to multitask, prioritize effectively and take on additional responsibilities as needed
▪ Knowledge of tools and equipment used in landscaping
▪ At least one (1) year of snow experience
▪ Valid driver’s license
▪ Aspire knowledge is a plus or other landscape software program
▪ Bilingual/Spanish speaker is a plus
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.00 - $28.00 per hour
Benefits: Paid time off
Schedule: Monday to Friday, Weekends as needed
Email kim@callcontour.com to apply
Project Manager
Position Expectations:
This position’s overall role is to oversee and assist with logistics, training, management and physical work related to completing work orders, while maintaining the standards and quality assurance set forth by Contour Landscaping. Lead by example and strong communication and organizational skills are required to be successful in this role.
Position Responsibilities:
▪Manage crew, equipment and materials preparation for each job
▪Must maintain a reliable attendance record, consistently arriving on time for scheduled shifts and meetings, demonstrating a commitment to punctuality and team efficiency
▪Exceptional communication both verbally and in writing, alongside detailed note taking skills
▪Lead managed employees in a positive and productive manner
▪Demonstrate a diligent approach to maintaining client properties, ensuring all tasks are completed with the utmost care and in strict adherence to the specific requirements outlined for each individual job, including detailed inspections to identify any potential issues and proactively communicating any concerns to clients
▪Manage job times for entire crew for each project
▪Follow end of day procedures for returning to yard, parking and storing equipment
▪Take part in snow removal operations
Position Requirements:
▪Ability to adapt project timelines and works schedules as needed
▪ Proven experience in Project Management or a related field
▪ Strong organizational and leadership skills
▪ Excellent communication and interpersonal
abilities
▪ Ability to multitask, prioritize effectively and take on additional responsibilities as needed
▪ Knowledge or project management principles
▪ 1-2 years of snow and maintenance production management
▪ Valid driver’s license
▪ Aspire knowledge is a plus or other landscape software program
▪ Bilingual/Spanish speaker is a plus
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $52,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Vision insurance
Schedule: Monday to Friday, Weekends as needed
Work Location: In person
Email kim@callcontour.com to apply
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The Nose Knows
By Nina A. Koziol
Ashley Buzan has a great sniffer. A perennial expert at Sunrise Greenhouse in Grant Park, IL., she enjoys using fragrant plants in clients’ gardens. “I really like Easy Bee-zy™ Knock Out® rose. It’s very fragrant for a shrub rose. The cherry on top is the huge orange hips in autumn. And, I’ll absolutely use ‘Gros Bleu’ lavender after trialing them at home. Zero die back two winters in a row. And, if they have shade, a mass planting of Polemonium ‘Heaven Scent’ is great. I also adore Hosta ‘Guacamole’ and ‘Stained Glass’.”
European Ginger — Glossy and Glamorous
by Mark Dwyer
One of my many pet peeves is reviewing a landscape plan that simply references an area as an ambiguous “groundcover.” What does that mean? We all have familiarity with groundcovers and some of their challenges including their tendency to dominate their neighbors (i.e. vinca, ivy, pachysandra, etc.) I certainly feel that the use of groundcovers has merit although I now universally shy away from those thuggish selections that demonstrate their vigor by gobbling up valuable garden square footage. I like to use a wide variety of clumping perennials in close proximity to create that “collective groundcover” that might include various selections that work politely together but accomplish the goals of covering garden space, suppressing weeds and looking good while doing it. The beautiful European ginger (Asarum europaeum) is on my short list as a courteous groundcover with plenty of ornamental appeal. This slow-spreading perennial has deep, dark green, very glossy foliage (3”
across on average) that is best described as heart or kidney-shaped. The glossiness is very striking and I don’t state that lightly. I’ve always appreciated glossiness as a foliage characteristic and the thick, leathery foliage of European ginger demands attention. Native to moist, open woodlands throughout a wide range of Europe, this perennial is hardy in USDA zones 4-7 and thrives in part sun or shade. Dappled sunlight is ideal and really showcases that glossy reflection. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has previously recognized this robust perennial with an Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
As a slowly creeping groundcover, European ginger (also called asarabacca, hazelwort and foalfoot) roughly doubles in spread every year but maintains a nice 6” height. Best grown in humusy, slightly acidic, moist and well-drained soils (how often do we run across those requirements!?), happy specimens create a “solid collective” of fantastic foliage. I’ve seen
this species exhibit some drought tolerance once established. The tiny, bellshaped flowers (purple-brown) appear in late spring but are not noticeable without ground-level attention as they are covered by the foliage (and pollinated by flies). The clean, lustrous foliage is the primary appeal of this stalwart groundcover. Deer and rabbits leave it alone and it doesn’t mind growing near walnuts. Notably, this plant is toxic for both humans and animals.
While the roots do have a gingerlike aroma with some historic uses, this plant is not related to the true, culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale). Our native wild ginger (Asarum canadense) is an excellent plant in the landscape as well, but has larger, non-glossy leaves and a more robust growth rate. It certainly has its uses. However, in terms of top notch and tidy groundcover, I really appreciate that European ginger will never make you regret planting it; to grow it is to love it!
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