The Landscape Contractor magazine JUN.21 DIGITAL EDITION by Association Publishing Partners

The Language of Stone 2

A New View of the Field

CELEBRATE POLLINATOR WEEK AT MIDWEST NATURAL GARDEN!

Join us for an Open House at Midwest Natural Garden on Friday, June 25, 2021. 38W443 IL-64 St. Charles, IL 60175 (note: Midwest Natural Garden is 7 miles from our headquarters on the west side of St. Charles)

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June 2021

CONTENTS

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Modern Hardscape Materials Romancing the Stone Part 2 10 The trends in manufactured stone iPix Winners 2021 20 More categories — more winners

The Field Museum’s Rice Nature Center Brings nature back to the Field

EN ESPAÑOL

Elementos sólidos de paisajismo Dos Romancing the Stone Part 2

Irrigation Focus 2021 44 A Conversation with National Irrigation Association Development Director, John Farner Diseases and Pests 52 Jumping worms and Dutch Elm Disease Inspiration Alley 61 Mark Dwyer employs a vibrant paint brush

Hidden Landscape Gems Lilacia Park, a Jens Jensen original

On the cover... Grant & Power Landscaping, Inc. won a Gold Award in 2020 for this project titled A Gardener’s Paradise. The Landscape Contractor June 2021

62 3

CONTENTS

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

Calendar 4 5 7 54 61

AUGUST August 19, 2021 WNG Event Ball Seed

SEPTEMBER

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee 1, 8-9 Unilock 10-12, 14, 18, 42 Belgard 12, 16, 18 Experience Committee 20-29 site design group, ltd 30, 35, 37 The Field Museum 31, 38

Scott Shigley 32-34,36.37, 39 Serio Photography 35 Rick Reuland 44 Neil Carter 54 Mark Dwyer 61 Heather Prince 62

September 15, 2021 Turf Education Day September 22-24, 2021 OWN IT! - Owners & Senior Managers Conference The Abbey Resort, Fontana, WI

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

September 30, 2021 ILCA Golf Outing

Volume 62, Number 6. The Landscape Contractor (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632

OCTOBER October 19, 2021 The Impact Conference

PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products

ILCA Staff

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From Where I Stand — This is the first time I am writing about

cryptocurrency. I’ll bet you a Bitcoin, it won’t be the last. Cryptocurrencies (or “cryptos”) have dominated the news the past six months. Most recently, Dogecoin, a crypto developed as a complete joke, based on a meme, featuring an adorable photo of a Shiba Inus dog, being promoted by an eccentric billionaire who builds electric cars and rocket ships, reached a market cap of $80 billion. If none of that sentence makes any sense, you are not alone. This is our economy, now. Finally, the currency of Ukrainian arms dealers, drug cartels, contract killers, dodgy billionaires, and stock trolls is going mainstream. This column is going to examine what cryptocurrency is, if your business should care about it, and if your employees will care about it before you do. Cryptocurrencies started with the premise that if you were to completely redesign currency to deal with a global, digital market, how should it be done? We used to hunt and gather. Then we bartered. Finally, we created coins and paper before those became ones and zeroes. Cryptocurrency may seem futuristic, but it is really a postmodern concept. When we used to barter, both parties walked away with items of utilitarian value. Money, on the other hand, has no actual value. Its value is entirely symbolic. It is merely a promissory note provided by the buyer to the seller that says, one day, the value of that utilitarian item that was just sold can be realized. On its surface, money is a leap of faith, crypto is no different. Let’s look at cryptos through the lens of Bitcoin. Bitcoin is the most famous and enduring of the cryptos. Bitcoin is the closest crypto to being a household name even though most households don’t own any. Bitcoin actually leans closer to the original ideas of monetary policy than the US dollar. Bitcoin is tied to a fixed cap of 21 million Bitcoins. That is its gold standard. It will never release more than 21 million Bitcoin to guard against inflation. As of today, one Bitcoin is worth $43,000 US dollars. To put that into perspective, in 2010, one Bitcoin was worth 8 cents. So how does it work? No one has ever held a Bitcoin in their hand. No one has ever found one tumbling around the dryer at the laundromat. No one has ever skipped one into a fountain. Bitcoin uses a decentralized banking model. Essentially, consumers who possess and accept Bitcoin agree that it has monetary value. Their personal Bitcoins are tied to identification numbers, but those numbers are entirely anonymous and transferable. An entirely digital currency opens itself up to fraud, hacking, and manipulation. Bitcoin guards against this using a concept called blockchain, which is a global computer network that records the valuation and transactions of Bitcoin. independent, decentralized networks all agree on the current amounts and value of Bitcoin just like your bank tells you how much money you have on a deposit receipt. These blocks are constantly pinging data back and forth as the monetary system is always in flux. As the system grows, the need for more blocks in the Blockchain becomes apparent. People who set up these blocks are called miners. Miners create new blocks that then become part of the Blockchain. These miners are incentivized to do this by receiving new Bitcoin

as payment. When new blocks are added, new Bitcoin is released to the miners who created the block. This will happen until a total of 21 million Bitcoin are finally mined and released. After that, that’s it. That is the entire amount of Bitcoin on the market and its value will ebb and flow based on market demand. The other quirk is that cryptos fluctuate in value. Yes, anyone who has ever used a foreign ATM on vacation knows there are exchange rates. US dollars are worth more or less, depending on the day, than their international counterparts. However, the dollar itself rarely surges and falls like an equity. Cryptos constantly fluctuate. It is the marriage of a fixed asset and an equity. One month, a Bitcoin user’s wallet could be worth $100, the next month it could be worth $35,000 all with the exact same amount of Bitcoin. It all sounds complicated and insane. Yet, replace a few words and it sounds a lot like our current system. Instead of dead presidents and queens, the money is covered in dogs and rocket ships. I get it. We are more comfortable using currency that flows out of nations with borders and flags and militaries. For now. More and more businesses are accepting cryptos as payment. Technologically, it is fairly easy to transfer cryptos using online apps from one wallet to the next. The buyer and seller transfer the requisite amount to seal the transaction. Crypto transactions are irreversible. There is never an opportunity for the buyer to run to the credit card company to cry fraud or for the client to kite a check. Any business that has been burned by a chargeback knows the power that consumers have when they cry foul. In addition, there are no credit card fees which is especially important when securing payment for a large ticket item. Finally, it diversifies payment options for clientele. I am sure every landscape company has worked for a few clients where no one knows how they made their money and no one is going to dare ask. Crypto is the currency of choice for keeping payments on the down low. A landscape company that accepts crypto may be surprised at how many high-net-worth clients are parking cryptos in offshore accounts due to the simplicity of moving money. The biggest drawback for businesses that accept crypto is that the IRS treats crypto as property, not money. Therefore, the business needs to valuate the price difference between the day it was bought and the day it was sold and then pay capital gains on the difference. Further, since crypto fluctuates, it would be best to cost the payment in US dollars and then accept the payment with crypto. If you cost the payment in crypto when a landscape job is bid, that fluctuation could either massively increase or decrease the cost of the job in even a few short months. Lastly, there is already a currency for businesses who want to remain anonymous and keep as much money as possible from the taxman. It is called cash. Most enduring and reputable landscape businesses have moved away from all cash payments. There is simply too much risk. I don’t see the unscrupulous end of the market accepting crypto when cash is available without the technical complexity. As of today, with the small number of consumers using crypto, there does not seem to be much need for small businesses to change payment operations beyond cash, check, or charge. As crypto matures, that will certainly change.

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The Landscape Contractor June 2021

From Where I Stand —

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Now, let’s examine crypto and your employees. The Fair Labor Standards Act does allow for salaries to be paid in crypto as long as the proper taxes have been withheld. With that said, the State of Illinois, along with a number of other states, forbids earnings to be paid in anything but US currency. As of now, employers cannot pay any portion of earnings in crypto. In the same breath, Illinois is actively recruiting Blockchain employers and I would be surprised if the state sticks to its guns on barring crypto paychecks. Crypto presents a fascinating option for employees who are risk tolerant and willing to subject their salary to the whims of the market. Remember, the employee in 2010 who accepted 5 Bitcoin worth 40 cents is now sitting on $215,000. Now, here is the interesting quirk about crypto that directly pertains to the landscape industry. American banks and financial networks hate crypto. This makes sense because the entire world revolves around the US Dollar. This is not the case internationally. One of the most accepting and consumer-friendly countries towards crypto is Mexico. There are a number of reasons for this. Over 55% of Mexicans do not have a bank account especially among Mexico’s working class. However, almost every Mexican has a smart phone and a surprisingly robust broadband network. There is deep distrust in the Mexican banking system among its people. In addition, every year $25 billion are wired to Mexico from workers in the US. Every time a worker sends that money, he or she has to pay a transaction fee, not to mention go through the hassle of setting up a money transfer. Crypto has eliminated the middleman and allows for simpler transfer of money. Mexican fintechs like Bitso have made it easier to convert crypto to pesos at over 140,000 gas stations and convenience stores. Although Illinois law forbids employees to be paid in crytpo, landscape employers can communicate to employees who send money home how to use crypto instead of traditional wire transfers. Mexico’s lesson of working-class adoption of crypto is one not to forget in an industry with a massive Mexican working-class population. Consumers lean towards crypto because traditional banking leans against small net worth consumers who cannot speak English. Crypto is a far better alternative than a world of wire transfers, currency exchanges, and predatory lenders. Often, a lack of a bank account pushes reliable landscape workers into the shadows. The ease and discretion of crypto can solve many of these challenges. We can all pretend we are patriotic nationalists, but our purchasing habits reveal the exact opposite. We are motivated by accessing products and services cheaply, efficiently, and quickly. International borders and national pride will not stand in the way of that. Our current system of money is fine, but as global marketplaces replace national and territorial ones, it creates opportunity for a worldwide currency. Clearly, no one country would ever trust another to develop this global currency so the private sector will need to take up the slack. As the world slowly updates its institutions, savvy consumers can profit from speculation. It may be a half decade before a business has to look hard at crypto, but there are 43,000 reasons (and climbing) for why it’s worth a second glance.

Scott Grams, Executive Director May 19, 2021

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

President’s Message — It is a strange moment when you end your presidency.

Being retrospective, I am so proud to have served along with people that care as much about their own companies as they care about yours. The committees want to deliver the best membership services they can. Accompanied by providing not only education, but networking, which has been difficult during a pandemic. I feel as though they are doing their best. I find it rare in the non-profit arena that the staff and volunteers care so much. I have spent many years in service. It always felt like it is the right thing to do. I’ve always felt so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity that my family put before me. My father wasn’t out to be the biggest in our local industry. His goal was always to provide opportunities to people like our family that came here with nothing. Earning just a few dollars a week and trying to provide for a family. I am proud to say that is still my core value. Why should we ever put ourselves before someone who is willing to do hard work to propel our company or their personal well-being forward. This is something I am steadfast on and has become a more acute philosophy during my presidency. I want to take this opportunity to thank not only our Board of Directors for your commitment. Unless you’ve done it, you don’t know how much you are pledging to the service of ILCA in addition to your own company. I want to highlight the staff. Those wonderful people that never tell anyone, “I can’t,” or, “It’s too hard.” What a testament to ultimately Scott Grams. You have become a friend. I admire your dedication, your gusto, and your humor. This year has been tough on all levels. But. I will never regret being your president. It seems too big a title for me. But I will accept it upon my leaving the position. And Scott, where is my green jacket? Sincerely,

President

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

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

Immediate Past President

Jose Garcia Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991 info@naturalcreationslandscaping.com

Directors

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

Donna Vignocchi Zych President, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

Jennifer Fick Wilson Nurseries and Landscape Supply (847) 683-3700 jennf@wilsonnurseries.com

Dejar la presidencia produce una sensación extraña.

Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com

Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net Kevin Manning K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-8160 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

En retrospectiva, me enorgullezco de haber servido junto a personas que se preocupan tanto por sus propias compañías como por las de ustedes. Los comités desean proporcionar los mejores servicios posibles a la membresía. Junto con brindar no solo educación, sino también redes de contactos, lo que ha sido difícil durante la pandemia. Siento que están haciendo lo mejor que pueden. Considero poco usual en el área de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro que los miembros del personal y los voluntarios se preocupen tanto. He dedicado muchos años al servicio. Siempre he sentido que es lo correcto. Siempre me sentí agradecido de haber tenido la oportunidad que me dio mi familia. Mi padre no tenía el propósito de ser el más grande en nuestra industria local. Su meta fue siempre ofrecer oportunidades a personas como nuestra familia que vinieron aquí sin nada. Ganando unos pocos dólares a la semana tratando de mantener s su familia. Me siento orgulloso de decir que ese sigue siendo mi valor fundamental. ¿Por qué hemos de ponernos antes de alguien que desea trabajar arduamente para impulsar hacia adelante nuestra compañía o su bienestar? Esto es algo en lo que creo firmemente y se ha convertido una filosofía más acentuada durante mi presidencia. Quiero aprovechar esta oportunidad para agradecer no solo a la Junta Directiva, por su compromiso. Si no lo has experimentado, no sabrás lo que estás comprometiendo al servicio de ILCA además de a tu propia compañía. Quiero destacar al personal. Esas personas maravillosas que nunca dicen a nadie “No puedo” o “Es muy difícil”. Qué testamento en última instancia a Scott Grams. Te has convertido en un amigo. Admiro tu dedicación, tu gusto y tu humor. Este año ha sido difícil en todos los niveles. Nunca me lamentaré de haber sido su presidente. Pareciera un título muy grande para mí. Pero lo aceptaré al dejar el puesto. Y Scott, ¿dónde está mi chaqueta verde? Cordialmente, Sincerely, Donna Vignocchi Zych President, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Himsben Design Studio/Chicago Roof Deck & Gardens • Chicago Lakeview Parisian Paradise

This French-inspired patio

and garage deck have been transformed to bring new life to otherwise underused outdoor space. The outdoor spaces celebrate the Parisian architecture of the home while also creating an elegant oasis suitable for larger entertaining as well as intimate gatherings. The garage deck has been programed into three elegant “outdoor rooms.” The garage deck supports a gorgeous dining area, conversational lounge space, and vegetated entry

experience. The lattice screens, pergola, plantings and fireplace are key features to the garage deck. The lower patio supports a built-in grill and sculptural armillary to anchor the intimate lower lounge node. Special attention was paid to the landscaping, furniture and lighting that are the finishes that truly bring this space to life. The French-inspired vision for this project was a unique treat to design and detail in the urban environment of Chicago.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Manufactured Stone Hardscapes —

Hardscapes: Here’s what’s trending in manufactured products by Nina A. Koziol

(Editor’s note: In the April issue we covered different types of natural stone and how designers currently use them. For this issue, we spoke with representatives of two of the largest firms of manufactured products — Unilock and Belgard.)

Have you looked at Houzz, Pinterest or

magazines for fresh ideas on hardscape design? What you’ll see is not exactly your parent’s patio of 20 years ago. Like all design trends, things come and go as materials evolve and homeowners’ tastes and styles change. Think about how you built patios, paths or retaining walls 10 or 15 years ago. Product innovation today gives contractors and clients something novel that can bring a contemporary vibe to landscape projects. We spoke to Brad Gesbocker, general manager at Unilock in Aurora, and Joe Raboine, director of

residential hardscapes with Belgard in Atlanta, Georgia, to find out what’s hot.

How have products changed in the past 15 or so years?

“Years ago, everything was smaller — tumbled, cobblestone — those things are going away,” Raboine said. “Now it’s much sleeker and polished-looking overall. The most significant changes to concrete are larger sizes. We have some

Unilock has found a commercial market trending toward linear designs and rich colors that provide movement. 10

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Belgard’s Mirage Porcelain slabs provide a contemporary vibe to this patio. pavers that are 24 by 36 inches, and they’re typically mechanically installed. The ‘natural’ look is still popular, but things are transitioning to a smoother look because people prefer more clean, smooth surfaces. We’re also seeing a lot of pergolas and arbors and the technology has changed — they’ve got electric louvers, built-in lighting and fans.” For Gesbocker, “Straight lines and bigger shapes have really been the popular thing — large, modern and sleek versus the old traditional look. Larger scale has been a trend—we have a product where one stone is six square feet. The commercial market has really gravitated towards linear designs with multiple shades of color tones and surface textures to provide movement and interest. We’re seeing mechanization of the installation process and that comes into play because labor has been such a challenge for all of our customers. Another benefit to using large slabs is fewer joints. And there’s less maintenance of the joints with larger stones.” “In 1994, we introduced Brussels Block, a tumbled product that broke away from the old geometric shapes of Uni Decor, Symetry and Unistone,” Gesbocker said. “This product still provides homeowners and contractors with a solid choice and now comes in a Face Mix/ Enduracolor version with Brussels Premier.” (continued on page 12) Unilock’s Beacon Hill Smooth Pavers with EnduraColor create a sleek, modern look. The Landscape Contractor 11 June 2021

Manufactured Stone Hardscapes — (continued from page 11)

What are some of your most popular products and how are designers using them?

“In the residential market, we have Beacon Hill Smooth or Flagstone and Bristol Valley, which have been a huge success over the last several years,” Gesbocker said. “These products are packaged as a three-shape system with two rectangles and one square. The product sizing and scale fits perfectly for backyard patios and walkways while its thicker version can be used for driveways. The system also has an XL unit that provides close to 6 square feet of coverage each time it’s placed. This shape can be incorporated with the random shapes or installed on its own. Although the XL is heavy at 160 pounds per unit, contractors are realizing great efficiencies when using vacuum tools such as the Unilyft and other vacuums to lay large projects fast.” Belgard began selling porcelain slabs

about five years ago. “The demand has grown exponentially every year and it’s a big part of the sales,” Raboine said. “The product is about 30 to 40 psi harder than glass and can be used in just about any climate — we’ve sold it for projects in Alaska. It has many pedestrian applications — patios, pathways and pool decks — but it’s possible to use on a driveway on a concrete slab. It’s extremely resistant to stains and scratches and it’s extremely slip-resistant so it’s used around pool decks. Porcelain offers very detailed textures—some that look like natural stone or wood. And porcelain will look the same 100 years from now.”

What about color and color-fastness?

“The Midwest was always a market for harvest colors and browns and we sold that for years,” Gesbocker said. “Reds have been out for a while, and what’s really popular is gray. Most of

The long, clean lines of Unilock’s Artline pavers reflect a trend to modern, linear designs. 12

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

our color developments have been in gray tones.” Decades ago, pavers faded, he says. “Without specialized aggregate to hold the color and pigment, UV light, acid rain, and overall wear exposed the aggregate underneath. Today, we offer several products with Easy Clean technology, a process that goes beyond surface coating and becomes integral to the product during manufacturing, making spills and other debris easier to clean before a stain can develop.” (Unilock’s EnduraColor product’s refined surface is achieved with a two-step process that combines a base of coarser aggregates for a stronger foundation, with concentrated color and wear-resistant finer aggregates on top. The top layer prevents large, lighter color aggregates from showing through.) “Color used to be an afterthought— maybe three or four colors — but consumers are so savvy with design that color becomes the most important (continued on page 14)

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The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Manufactured Stone Hardscapes — (continued from page 12)

thing to us,” Raboine said. “They want contrasting borders, contrasting shapes. It’s forcing us to be more dynamic, fluid and responsive.” (Belgard’s manufacturing process evenly disperses color throughout each paver for consistency. TrueColor is a surface-level, colorenhancing protectant designed to extend color fastness, durability, stain-resistance and UV protection.) “We have deeper, richer colors that last longer. So from a technology perspective, color fastness and stain resistance has come a long way.”

What other hardscape features are in demand?

“Fire pits and fireplaces—fire is huge,” Gesbocker said, “but fire pits are more affordable. There’s been a big demand for outdoor kitchens with builtin appliances. Everyone wants to extend the season on their patio but you just

don’t see a small patio with a seat wall anymore. Pergolas, large patios, lighting, outdoor kitchens — the outdoor living room has become a ginormous category.” “Almost every space we see has a fire pit,” Ragoine said. “With gas, you can do crushed glass, different types of stones and pebbles and make the fire pit linear versus square or round. It gives you a lot of options. There’s been a significant shift to gas to convenience and for design flexibility and it’s being driven by local ordinances. Fireplaces are still very big but costly. They’re a visual anchor for a lot of spaces and you can do really artistic things with them.”

Has the demand grown for permeable pavers? “Two things are happening,” Raboine said. “They’re being mandated (continued on page 16)

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Unilock’s Beacon Hill Flagstone, seat walls and subtle lighting enhance the outdoor experience. The Landscape Contractor June 2021

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Manufactured Stone Hardscapes — (continued from page 14)

by some municipalities and there’s a growing awareness at the consumer level, although it’s in its infancy in the residential side. Most contractors aren’t suggesting or installing them; they may not be familiar with installation methods. You have to take into account where the water will go. That’s where manufacturers can guide them — we have engineers on staff. It’s more costly (labor wise)

because of the excavation and base preparation. We’re investing in new product development. Permeable pavers — smaller sizes — need a certain infiltration rate so we’re creating new permeable designs in large format.” Unilock was the first company to introduce permeable pavers in North America. “Homeowners are discover(continued on page 18)

As stormwater management becomes increasingly important, Belgard’s product development staff are creating new permeable designs in small and large format. 16

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

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The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Manufactured Stone Hardscapes — (continued from page 16)

ing the environmental benefits of this technology,” Gesbocker said. “They’re not only durable and aesthetically pleasing, but they play an important role in the management and conservation of rainwater.”

How did the pandemic affect the business?

“When May and June hit, it was off to the races,” Gesbocker said. “I’m responsible for four sites and 150 employees. We put a ton of protocols in to keep them safe. It was quite interesting to see how the pandemic created so much more demand. The demand hasn’t let up and from what we’re hearing, contractors are booked well into fall.” “We have a design studio and our authorized contractors send us their plans and we can render them and track the projects and trends,” Ragoine said. “Over the last year, we’ve seen outdoor spaces that people want to use every day. They’re yoga meditation spaces and herb gardens — it signifies a significant shift for us and how they view their space.”

“Everyone wants to extend the season on their patio — the outdoor living room has become a ginormous category.” — Brad Gesbocker, Unilock.

What do you like best about your job?

“I’ll be with Unilock 26 years,” Gesbocker said. “It’s the people — the incredible team — and the customers. I really enjoy seeing what a contractor can do with a project. The product is one thing, but it takes creativity, design and craftsmanship for the project to last and be enjoyed for the next 30 years.” “Being a former contractor, I absolutely love designs and product development and that’s what I primarily focus on here,” Raboine said. “When you look at outdoor living and how complex and beautiful these spaces have become, the fact that they bring people together and improve their quality of life…think of another industry that makes things beautiful and encourages those connections. The potential is unlimited.”

For more ideas, visit: Belgard’s Melville Plank offers a smooth face and clean lines for a contemporary look with classic appeal. The Landscape Contractor 18 June 2021

www.belgard.com www.unilock.com

A Partnership in Plants...

SUPPORTING DIVERSITY IN THE LANDSCAPE

25865 W.Ivanhoe Rd. Wauconda, IL 60084 info@montalegardens.com 847.487.8435

Winner of the Black & White Category: Melissa Benz

2nd place in the Black & White Category:

2nd place in the Flower Category:

Bryan Attermeier

Susan Booker

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

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2nd place in the Pet Category: Tina Sevilla Winner of the Pet Category: Tony Wasemann

Winner of the Flower Category: Lesley Bruce-Smith

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Winner of the Garden Art Category: Jonathan Arnold

2nd place in the Garden Art Category:

2nd place in the Sunset Category:

James Ward

Lesley Bruce-Smith

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

iLandscape

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Winner of the Tree Category: Kevin Barnes

Winner of the Sunset Category: Linda Kiscellus

2nd place in the Tree Category: Chase Morgan

The Landscape Contractor 23 June 2021

Winner of the State/National Park Category: Ryan Norbeck

2nd place in the State/National Park Category: Richard Twitchell

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

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Winner of the Water Category: Bryan Attermeier

2nd place in the Water Category: Susan Booker

The Landscape Contractor 25 June 2021

Winner of the Public Garden Category: Chase Morgan

2nd place in the Public Garden Category: Bryan Attermeier

2nd place in the Winter Category: Anna Smailus

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

iLandscape

0 2 Landscape 1 The i llinois + wi2 sconsin C T Show O

2nd place in the Wildllfe Category: Tammy Spears Winner of the Wildlife Category: Tony Wasemann

Winner of the Winter Category: Jonathan Arnold

The Landscape Contractor 27 June 2021

2nd place in the Judges Award: Bryan Attermeier

Winner of the Wild Card Category: Heather Lough

2nd place in the Wild Card Category: Richard Twitchell

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Linda Kiscellus won the Judges Grand Prize with this sunset photo.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens

Bringing Nature Back:

The Field Museum’s Rice N By Heather Prince

The lakefront of Chicago has a long and

storied history of human usage and as we learn more about the impacts of landscaping on the built environment as well as wildlife populations, many of our local institutions are pivoting to embrace sustainable practices and native plantings. The Field Museum of Natural History has taken some ambitious steps toward these goals. In 1998, Lake Shore Drive was moved west of the Museum to create a park-like campus for the Field, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium. Rolling lawn, walkways, trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals were installed and Chicagoans flocked to this new green space on Lake Michigan. However, traditional landscaping required high inputs of resources like water and fertilizers. As the Field Museum re-examined its green spaces, new goals were created. To

achieve and keep LEED Gold status and to better connect the campus to the regional Midwest landscape, the Field, in partnership with its sister museums and the Chicago Park District, launched a Landscape Masterplan. They hired site design group ltd. to develop a plan that “envisions a Field Museum property and Museum campus that participates in larger ecological systems and landscape patterns — a networking that has the potential to improve the overall ecological health of the City of Chicago’s lakefront, catalyze additional sustainable landscape design and management at the regional level, and furnish new interpretive and exhibit opportunities that will bolster the museum’s mission.” In 2017, site design group won the Illinois ASLA Honor Award for their visionary masterplan for the Field, and the Rice Native Gardens have flourished since installation. Due to complex land-leasing agreements with the

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Early construction 1916-18; note the soil conditions.

Illustration courtesy of: site design group, ltd.

Chicago Park District, the Field Museum elected to target the spaces directly adjacent to the building where it could develop plantings under their complete control. “We wanted to show that even the most formal building — it’s modeled after the Erechtheum temple of ancient Greece — can make native plants work aesthetically,” explains Carter O’Brien, Sustainability Officer at the Keller Science Action Center within the museum. “We wanted to prove that you can create native gardens here, at a school, or around any Chicago vernacular architectural style. The planting plan from site design group layers tall plants in the back, short plants in the front, but with natives. We balance the blooming, as having something attractive for people to see and wildlife to use in each season is really important.” The imposing facades of the Field Museum can be intimidating. “What we really wanted to do in many ways (continued on page 34)

Photos courtesy of: The Field Museum

Native Gardens

The Landscape Contractor 31 June 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Photo courtesy of: Scott Shigley for site design group, ltd.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens (continued from page 31) was to soften the exterior of the building and have it more welcoming. The plants are perfect. They give us inside/outside opportunities to connect the exhibitions with the science. We’re putting in some purple martin houses. We have staff who do wildlife monitoring all over the city, and now they can go right outside the front door and engage guests.” Starting in 2014, the museum conducted a baseline inventory of the grounds to record which plants and animals existed before the gardens were installed. Each year, staff captures and records how wildlife is using the gardens, and it’s been surprising how quickly nature has moved in. “They found about 70 species of native flies alone!” says O’Brien. “We found a fly they think is new to science. They don’t think it’s unique to the Field Museum, but that it represents a shift in habitat for the flies. It probably occurs in a larger area of the Midwest, but we just happened to have our collecting traps out at the right time and caught one.” Birds, butterflies, bats, and more have been attracted to the gardens. The museum has also implemented a monarch butterfly monitoring program. Not only has wildlife flocked to the new gardens, but people have also. A key element to the masterplan is interpretive signage, community engagement, events, and staff participation. “We had some really fabulous content advisors for Photo courtesy of: Scott Shigley for site design group, ltd.

the signage tucked around. They provided some absolutely irreplaceable insight into how these plants had coexisted with people for thousands of years,” observes O’Brien. The Field has partnered with the American Indian Center of Chicago for cultural insights and events, among them stewardship, seed collecting, and redistribution back into the community. In its first year, 300 seed packets were given away to some of Chicago’s most nature-deprived communities. The children’s summer camps have used the gardens, including raising a bat house to attract little brown bats. The public is also enjoying the garden spaces, especially during the pandemic. “What we see now on the grounds is folks using it after hours to picnic. Families come in and enjoy the garden for an hour or two,” notes O’Brien. Not without challenges The Rice Native Gardens initiative is not without its challenges. The site’s physical features include an unusual soil profile, stormwater management, high winds, reflected heat, and drought conditions. Culturally, sustainable landscaping is a monumental shift in the Field’s institutional systems and thinking. People are another large, multi-faceted challenge from regular visitors to special-event crowds to many thousands of Bears fans from adjacent Soldier Field. (continued on page 36)

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Photo courtesy of: Serio Photography for site design group,

Illustration courtesy of: site design group, ltd.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens (continued from page 34) Because the Field Museum is built on a manmade peninsula that was created with a huge array of spoils, fill, and dumping, the soil profile is an intriguing mix. “I have a soil core we use for education purposes,” O’Brien points out. “We have about two feet of pretty good soil. Based on a variety of known timelines and historical reference, it seems possible that our site was topped off with soil scooped out when various parts of the Chicago River system were dredged and straightened. After that you have crumbly rubble with burnt coal ash, clay, cinders, gravel, and all kinds of construction debris. The Field Museum received its own extension of the freight tunnel system that runs below the subway downtown, and train carloads of spoil, burnt coal and other material were delivered and dumped into the lake. Depending on where you dig, it’s very different.” So far, the prairie plants are adapting readily to the planting areas, although they are gradually moving into their

preferred ecological niches. “We’re curious to see how the prairie plants will actually interact with city soils,” O’Brien explains. We feel pretty good that the roots will go down. Burnt coal might actually be good for them. We’re hoping to see measurable carbon sequestration, and we can also put some metrics on the stormwater retention.” Because of the sustainable nature of the masterplan, the goal is to use no pesticides other than those strictly necessary for treating truly aggressive weeds. This is a major shift from maintaining pristine panels of turf. “In many ways, the maintenance challenge for us has been to toe the line on using chemicals only when absolutely necessary,” comments O’Brien. “We really want to stick to the idea that what we’re doing is good for the ecological health of the area, and one of the initial things we were thinking is that we’ll meet some LEED goals by putting some cisterns, bioswales, etc., in place. Then we found out that our water goes straight through and drains into Burnham Harbor. We really doubled

Photo courtesy of: Scott Shigley for site design group, ltd.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

down on the idea that we don’t want to add anything you don’t want to drink to the hydrology, even though it gets filtered.” A Shifting Paradigm The addition of the Rice Native Gardens has caused significant shifts in the institutional mindset of landscaping the grounds. “I think the primary challenge is that the original landscape design was based on more of a ‘look but don’t touch’ aesthetic,” observes O’Brien. “Ironically enough, some of the push-back we initially got was that people who won’t have lawns to use. We pointed out that people aren’t using them anyway because they cook in the sun. There’s no shade. On a hot, 92-degree day, I measured the temperature of the pavement, turf, permeable pathways, and the gardens. The native plants dropped it by at least 5 degrees.” One of the biggest hurdles to overcome has been altering the institutional systems, specifically buildings and grounds, to respond to the needs of native plants. “We’ve learned that (continued on page 38)

Photo courtesy of: Scott Shigley for site design group, ltd.

Photo courtesy of: site design group, ltd.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

3737

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens (continued from page 36) maintenance isn’t a regular cycle like you have with turf. You’re doing more on the front end when you’re getting everything established,” notes O’Brien. “Before we planted so much as a single milkweed, the project won an ASLA award, which was great! Our facilities staff were then understandably concerned about any further revisions that strayed from the award-winning design. However, the plants move, so it’s been a process of getting everyone comfortable with that reality.” Another mindset shift had to happen within the museum from treating landscaping as a static exhibit to embracing a living, breathing, changing, vibrant ecosystem. “We typically affix things on a wall or put things in a case, and they don’t really change. There’s a permanence to putting things on exhibit in a museum,” explains O’Brien. “The native plantings have a more organic approach where you have to recognize it looks different each time of year. Plants change and evolve through a season and through time. We’re all getting more comfortable with that reality. We make sure we always feed our facility guys positive

feedback. We don’t expect them to keep it like a painting frozen in time.” New landscaping also could connect the museum campus to the rest of the lakefront and the city. “What we really thought was an appealing part of the masterplan was that it could create a unified, on-mission identity for the museum and the campus. You could come down Lake Shore Drive and see this lush, beautiful landscape and maybe it could be a day trip all by itself. The campus itself is a very lovely place to walk around or ride a bike.” Finally Just Add visitors People have been another factor, and the museum campus is a beloved place to visit. “People don’t just come to the Field Museum. They come through the Field Museum to get to these other spaces,” comments O’Brien. “Let’s give them pathways that are inviting but keep them on a path. So far, that has worked fantastically! You don’t really need fences — you just need spaces that are welcoming and take people where they want to go.” With people, however, comes litter. “The bigger concern we had was litter

Photo courtesy of: The Field Museum

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

and trash. The look is very important to a place like the Field Museum and its reputation. With lawns, trash just blows right over it. When you have plant material, litter catches. You have to be more active in terms of that element of the maintenance. Following a concert or a Bears game, there’s litter that needs to be picked up. So we’re trying to get people rethinking and pivoting to the idea of a proactive approach. Make the space so nice as people walk through it, they want to keep it that way. You wouldn’t do it inside the museum, so why would you do it outside? It’s really worked well. One of the best parts of the whole thing is that the response we’ve gotten so far has been staggeringly positive.” As the Rice Native Gardens continue to grow and evolve, the Field Museum is studying the effects of native landscaping on wildlife, cultivating stewards of the land, and examining the relationship between people and public spaces. “We’re unlearning how we took care of it for 100 years and baking a new approach into the building management. So far, so good,” enthuses O’Brien.

The Landscape Contractor 39 June 2021

Photo courtesy of: Scott Shigley for site design group, ltd.

Elementos sólidos de paisajismo Esto es lo que está de moda en productos m Nina A. Koziol (Nota del editor: En la edición de abril hablamos sobre diferentes tipos de piedras naturales y cómo los diseñadores las usan actualmente. Para esta edición, hablamos con representantes de dos de las firmas más importantes de productos manufacturados—Unilock y Belgard).

¿Ha consultado Houzz, Pinterest o revistas

para obtener ideas frescas sobre diseño paisajístico con elementos sólidos? Lo que verá no es exactamente el patio de sus padres hace 20 años. Como todas las tendencias de diseño, las cosas van y vienen a medida que evolucionan los materiales y cambian los gustos y los estilos de los dueños de casas. Piense en cómo se construían patios, senderos o muros de retención hace 10 o 15 años. Los productos innovadores ofrecen actualmente a contratistas y clientes algo novedoso que puede aportar un toque contemporáneo a proyectos de paisajismo. Hablamos con Brad Gesbocker, gerente general de Unilock en Aurora, Illinois, y Joe Raboine, director de elementos de concreto residenciales de Belgard en Atlanta, Georgia, para averiguar qué está de moda.

¿Cómo han cambiado los proyectos en los últimos 15 años? “Hace años, todo era más pequeño—cantos rodados, guijarros—esas cosas están desapareciendo”, dijo Raboine. “Ahora todo tiene una apariencia general más elegante y pulida. Los cambios más significativos en el hormigón son los tamaños más grandes. Tenemos algunos adoquines que miden 24 por 36 pulgadas y usualmente se instalan mecánicamente. La apariencia ‘natural’ sigue siendo popular, pero se está pasando a una apariencia más lisa porque la gente prefiere las superficies más limpias y uniformes. También estamos viendo muchas pérgolas y cenadores y la tecnología ha cambiado— tienen rejillas eléctricas, iluminación integrada y ventiladores”. Para Gesbocker, “Las líneas rectas y formas más grandes realmente han sido lo más popular—grande, moderno y elegante versus la vieja apariencia tradicional. La mayor escala ha sido una tendencia—tenemos un producto en el cual 40

una piedra mide seis pies cuadrados. El mercado comercial ha realmente gravitado hacia diseños lineales con matices múltiples de tonos de colores y texturas de superficies para proyectar movimiento e interés. Estamos viendo la mecanización del proceso de instalación y esto es pertinente debido a que la mano de obra ha sido un desafío para todos nuestros clientes. Otro beneficio de usar losas grandes es que tienen menos juntas. Y con las piedras grandes, hay menos mantenimiento de las juntas”. “En 1994 presentamos los bloques de Bruselas, un producto pulido que rompió con las viejas formas geométricas de Uni Decor, Symetry y Unistone”, afirmó Gesbocker. “Este producto sigue ofreciendo a los dueños de casas y contratistas una opción sólida y ahora viene en una versión bicapa/ Enduracolor con Brussels Premier”.

¿Cuáles son algunos de tus productos más populares y cómo los están usando los diseñadores? “En el mercado residencial, tenemos adoquines lisos Beacon Hill o losas y Bristol Valley, que han tenido gran éxito en los últimos años”, aseguró Gesbocker. “Estos productos son embalados como un sistema de tres formas con dos rectángulos y un cuadrado. El tamaño y la escala del producto se ajustan perfectamente a patios interiores y senderos de jardines, mientras su versión más gruesa se puede usar en entradas para autos. El sistema tiene también una unidad extra grande que proporciona cerca de 6 pies cuadrados de cobertura cada vez que se coloca. La forma se puede incorporar a las formas aleatorias o instalar de forma autónoma. Aunque la unidad extra grande es pesada a 160 libras por unidad, los contratistas están logrando gran eficiencia al usar herramientas de vacío, como la máquina Unilyft y otras máquinas de vacío para completar proyectos grandes más rápidamente”. Belgard comenzó a vender losas de porcelana hace unos cinco años. “La demanda ha crecido exponencialmente cada año y es parte importante de las ventas”, aseguró Raboine. “El producto es aproximadamente de 30 a 40 psi más duro

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

manufacturados que el vidrio y se puede usar en casi todos los climas—lo hemos vendido para proyectos en Alaska. Tiene muchas aplicaciones para peatones—patios, senderos y áreas alrededor de las piscinas—pero es posible usarlo en una entrada para autos sobre una losa de hormigón. Es extremadamente resistente a las manchas y los rayones y es también extremadamente antideslizante por lo que se usa en el área que rodea las piscinas. La porcelana ofrece texturas muy detalladas—algunas tienen la apariencia de piedra o madera natural. Y la porcelana se verá igual dentro de 100 años”.

¿Y los colores y la firmeza del color? “El Medio Oeste siempre fue un mercado para colores otoñales y marrones y vendimos eso por muchos años”, afirmó Gesbocker. “Los rojos han estado fuera de moda por un tiempo y lo que realmente está de moda es el gris. La mayor parte de nuestro desarrollo de colores ha sido en tonos grises”. Hace décadas, los adoquines se descoloraban porque, “Sin agregado especializado para mantener el color y el pigmento, la luz ultravioleta, la lluvia ácida y el desgaste generalizado exponían el agregado debajo [la superficie original]. Actualmente, ofrecemos varios productos con tecnología EasyClean, un proceso que va más allá del recubrimiento de la superficie y se vuelve integral al producto durante la

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manufactura, haciendo más fácil limpiar derrames y otros escombros antes de que se manche”. (La superficie refinada del producto EnduraColor de Unilock se logra mediante un proceso de dos etapas que combina una base de agregado más grueso para lograr un fundamento más sólido, con color concentrado y agregados más finos resistentes al desgaste en la parte superior. La capa superior evita que afloren agregados grandes de color más claro). «El color era considerado algo secundario—quizá tres o cuatro colores—pero los consumidores entienden ahora tanto de diseño que el color se ha convertido en lo más importante para nosotros”, dijo Raboine. “Desean bordes contrastantes, formas contrastantes. Eso nos está obligando a ser más dinámicos, flexibles y receptivos”. (El proceso de manufactura de Belgard dispersa uniformemente el color por cada adoquín para consistencia. TrueColor es un protector que realza el color a nivel de superficie diseñado para extender la firmeza del color, la durabilidad, la resistencia a las manchas The Landscape Contractor

June 2021

y la protección contra la radiación ultravioleta). “Tenemos colores más intensos y ricos que duran más. Por consiguiente, desde una perspectiva tecnológica, la firmeza del color y la resistencia a las manchas han avanzado mucho”.

¿Qué otros elementos sólidos de paisajismo están en demanda? “Fogatas a la intemperie y chimeneas—el fuego es muy popular”, aseguró Gesbocker, “pero las fogatas a la intemperie son más asequibles. Ha habido gran demanda de cocinas al aire libre con aparatos incorporados. Todos quieren extender la temporada en su patio, pero ya no se ve un patio pequeño con un murete para sentarse. Pérgolas, patios grandes, iluminación, cocinas al aire libre—la sala de estar al aire libre se ha convertido en una categoría descomunal”. “Casi todos los espacios que vemos tienen una fogata a la intemperie”, dice Raboine. “Con gas, usted puede hacer vidrio triturado, diferentes tipos de 41

piedras y guijarros y hacer la fogata a la intemperie lineal en lugar de cuadrada o redonda. Le da muchas opciones. Ha habido un cambio significativo hacia el gas por comodidad, por flexibilidad de diseño y está siendo impulsado por ordenanzas locales. Las chimeneas siguen siendo muy populares pero costosas. Son un anzuelo visual para muchos espacios y se pueden hacer cosas realmente artísticas con ellas”.

¿Ha crecido la demanda de adoquines permeables? “Dos cosas están ocurriendo”, explicó Raboine. “Están siendo ordenados por algunas municipalidades y hay una consciencia creciente a nivel de los consumidores, aunque está en su infancia en el lado residencial. La mayoría de los contratistas no están sugiriéndolos ni instalándolos; podrían no estar familiarizados con los métodos de instalación. Hay que tener en cuenta hacia dónde irá el agua. Ahí es donde los fabricantes los pueden guiar—tenemos ingenieros en el personal. Es más costoso (con respecto al trabajo) debido a las excavaciones y las preparaciones básicas. Estamos invirtiendo en nuevo desarrollo de productos. Adoquines permeables—de menos tamaño—necesitan una cierta tasa de infiltración por lo que estamos creando nuevos diseños permeables en formato grande”. Unilock fue la primera compañía que introdujo adoquines permeables en Norteamérica. “Los dueños de casas están descubriendo los beneficios ambientales de esta tecnología”, afirmó Gesbocker. “Además de ser duraderos y estéticamente agradables, también desempeñan un rol importante en el control y la conservación del agua de lluvia”.

¿Cómo afectó el negocio la pandemia?

¿Qué te gusta más de tu trabajo? “He estado con Unilock casi 26 años”, dijo Gesbocker. “Es la gente—el equipo increíble—y los clientes. Realmente disfruto mirando lo que un contratista puede hacer con un proyecto. El producto es una cosa, pero se necesita creatividad, diseño y destreza técnica para que los proyectos duren y se disfruten durante los próximos 30 años”. “Habiendo sido contratista, me encantan los diseños y el desarrollo de productos y en eso me concentro principalmente aquí”, dijo Raboine. “Cuando miras la vida al aire libre y lo complejo y bello que se han vuelto estos espacios, el hecho de que unen a las personas y mejoran

la calidad de su vidas…piensa en otra industria que hace cosas bellas y anima tales conexiones. El potencial es ilimitado”.

Para más ideas, visite:

“En los meses de mayo y junio, estábamos listos para re-arrancar con fuerza”, dijo Gesbocker. “Soy responsable

de cuatro locales y 150 empleados. Implementamos una tonelada de protocolos para mantenerlos a salvo. Fue muy interesante ver cómo la pandemia estimuló tanta demanda. La demanda no ha disminuido y por lo que he oído, los contratistas tienen trabajo reservado hasta bien entrado el otoño”. “Tenemos un estudio de diseño y nuestros contratistas autorizados nos envían sus planes y nosotros podemos proveerlos y rastrear los proyectos y tendencias”, afirma Raboine. “Durante el año pasado, hemos visto espacios al aire libre que la gente desea usar todos los días. Son espacios para meditaciones guiadas de yoga y herbarios— significan un cambio significativo para nosotros y cómo ellos ven su espacio”.

www.belgard.com www.unilock.com

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

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Focus — Irrigation

A Conversation with John Farner: Part 1 COVID 19 and the Future by Meta Levin

In April 2021, The Landscape Contractor maga-

zine listened in on a conversation between ILCA Irrigation Committee Chair Alex Mayfield and National Irrigation Association Industry Development Director John Farner.* The hour-long discussion covered everything from the industry’s performance during the COVID-19 pandemic to the future and much in between. This is the first of a three-part series of excerpts from that meeting. Q. From your position, how did the landscape irrigation industry fare in 2020-2021 nationally? John Farner (JF): To look at the past year, we really need to look at the last 12 to 15 months and COVID-19 and how it affected our industry nationally. The very early days of COVID-19 were tough for everybody, not just landscape and irrigation conJohn Farner tractors. There were a lot of unknowns out there in the economy. But the landscape and irrigation industry is a resilient one. Collectively, we actually came out of this really well and unapologetically so. This is a year when people really value the outside, really value their landscapes. It’s a safe place to be. People are investing in their homes. It really showed the resiliency of our industry and the importance that our industry has in our society. Our manufacturers are having a tough time keeping up with demand, which is a problem we like to see. We wish we didn’t have any problems, but it’s a problem we met and continue to do so. Our forecast for 2021 continues to be positive, which we’re very excited about. We’re excited about the new technology out in the marketplace. We’re excited about the orders already coming in. People really value their outdoor space.

Alex Mayfield (AM): I agree with you 100 percent. We did very well. My companies, irrigation-wise and landscape-wise, thrived because we could. We were deemed essential. The challenges of everyone staying home and looking at their yard all day long really helped. Q. What regulatory challenges do you see on the horizon on the national level and the state level? Alex Mayfield JF: Our industry is regulated primarily at the state level. So we are looking at 50 different jurisdictions as well as local jurisdictions that manage anything from how contractors do their business to water use in their states and, in some cases, what plant material can be installed in different landscapes. We are seeing a trend across the United States, in other states and Illinois, where legislation is introduced to mandate certain technologies, such as pressure-regulating sprinklers. That has already passed in a handful of states. The irrigation association believes in this technology where appropriate. It is not needed everywhere. In some areas of Illinois — I don’t know the specifics of water pressure in your different jurisdictions — but some areas have very high water pressure, in some areas there is very low water pressure, and — like Goldilocks — some are just right. In those instances, you don’t necessarily need a pressure-regulating sprinkler head on every single sprinkler. So as an industry, we’re looking at this technology to be used where needed and where appropriate. We’re working with legislatures in various states to say we are in favor of this technology, but not necessarily mandated everywhere. We want to give consumers the choice; we want to give contractors the option to work with the most innovative technology. In some instances, (continued on page 46)

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

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Focus — Irrigation (continued from page 44) technology can be even more innovative than pressure-regulating sprinklers. That’s just one example of what we are seeing, what we saw last year, that’s being carried over into 2021. AM: I know California and I think Arizona did adopt the pressure-regulating sprinklers. Unless we have booster pumps out here, we don’t need them. When we have boosters, it is absolutely the best thing to do. We shouldn’t take the challenge from California with the high pressure and try to fit it into our area. Q: What hot topics does the Irrigation Association see coming down the pike in terms of education, training, products, or systems? What are you hearing now

that will impact irrigation professionals in three years? JF: Over the past few years, the irrigation industry has seen a renaissance in the technology that’s been placed on the market. If you think of where we were 15 years ago, weatherbased irrigation controllers were just a sparkle in our eyes. They weren’t really used. Contractors didn’t know much about them. Manufacturers were just rolling these things out, saying “look how great they are.” Now they are being widely implemented and accepted in the market. Our technology development has just skyrocketed from there. Education is going to be a key, including educating the consumer. We are also seeing the advanced use of app-based management for irrigation systems, which gives homeowners more control over their irriga-

tion systems. So it’s not only contractor education, but it’s also the partnership with the homeowner, with the manager of the irrigation system, making sure they are aware of how to effectively and efficiently use these tools and resources available to them. I see value that this conversation has really come full circle. The value of landscapes is going to continue to rise. That value of the landscape is one of the positive things that has come out of this global pandemic, and that’s going to continue to be true. More and more people are going to be working from home permanently. They’re going to be living in their houses, looking out their windows at their yards, going out and enjoying their landscapes. So we’re going to see more value placed on (continued on page 48)

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Focus — Irrigation (continued from page 46) outdoor spaces, which is going to put more and more pressure on the landscape and irrigation industry to continue to provide those resources to homeowners and property owners who invest in these new technologies. I see more focus on education. Education that really looks at how to use the technology and how to train your consumers, your customers on how to use the technology is going to be a big component. Look at the different technologies that are out there, because more and more are coming on the market every day. We’re already seeing more come on the market this year alone. Those are some of the things we see in the next few years. AM: Technology has become so user friendly. It’s easier for us, it’s easy for the client. It’s going to help everyone.

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Q. Two to five years down the road, how do you think the industry from the contractor’s perspective is going to shake out? Do you see more smaller service providers? Will there be some consolidation at the top? Where are the shifts going to occur for irrigation contractors and where might opportunities lie? JF: I’ve seen things happen at both ends of the spectrum. I’ve seen companies become more diversified in their offerings because that’s what their customers want. They want a onestop-shop. They want someone who can not only maintain their landscaped areas, but can also provide irrigation, lighting, and everything else in between. They just want to (continued on page 50)

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The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Focus — Irrigation (continued from page 49)

Not an ILCA Member? JOIN NOW for 2021! Call Marissa at 630-472-2851 for membership information. Set yourself up for the great recovery ahead.

deal with one person. On the other side, you have irrigation companies that are so specialized they are almost a consultant to other companies, but yet they can go in and do the work themselves. They are so specialized that landscape companies that have the big contract may reach out to them to do the work. We’re seeing both sides. At the end of the day, I think what we are going to see less of are landscape companies that just dabble in irrigation. Those are the ones that are going to have a lot of focus put on them to increase their expertise and knowledge regarding efficient water use in the landscape. Companies are either going to invest more in increasing their services in irrigation or get rid of it completely and subcontract it out. That’s where I see things going. It depends on the state. In California, it’s rare to see someone doing only irrigation. In the East, we see more irrigation-only specialists than we do in the West. * Since this interview, Farner has moved on to a job in the private sector.

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Special Feature

Pest of the Month: Jumping Worm Disease of the Month: Dutch Elm Disease

by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Jumping Worm

First found in Illinois in 2015, jumping worms, an invasive species of earthworm, has been confirmed in 25 counties across the state, and observations suggest eggs can overwinter in warmer areas of Illinois. Native to East Asia, they have been sold as bait for fishermen. Adult jumping worms are about four to eight inches long. The body is dark gray or brown, with a milky white or light gray band of tissue (the clitellum). The clitellum is smooth, opposed to raised as in other worm species. When disturbed, jumping worms wriggle and thrash vigorously. These Asian worms are cause for concern as they are voracious eaters of organic matter to the point their castings give the top layers of soil a grainy consistency like dry coffee grounds. Their activity changes soil structure and can affect plant growth.

Treatment:

Jumping worms can be found in the top three to four inches of soil and in layers of mulch or leaves. The goal is to prevent the further spread of these invasive worms and their eggs. Clean equipment between sites, do not carry mulch or soil from known affected properties to other sites, and do not share divisions of plants from yards with suspected infestations. If soil is infested, fertilization and mulching may help reduce the adverse effects of the worms.

Additional resources:

University of Illinois Extension Service https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php 217-333-0519 52

Disease of the Month: Dutch Elm Disease Scouting and Testing

Dutch elm disease (DED) is still out and about on elm trees. June is a good time to scout elm trees for yellowing leaves in the canopy. Often a single branch will turn yellow seemingly overnight before spreading to neighboring branches. Positive identification requires laboratory culturing. Contact the University of Illinois Plant Clinic before you send the Elm streaking sample for current fees (usually reasonable) and plan on about a week of lab time.

Preparing a Sample:

One of the typical ID characteristics of DED is vascular discoloration or streaking of the sapwood. Peel back the bark of a symptomatic branch to check for brown streaks in the otherwise tan outer sapwood. Verticillium wilt and dothiorella wilt can also cause this streaking in elm but are not as prevalent. Each of these fungi has distinct structures that can be identified in laboratory cultures. Cut several eight- to ten-inch-long sections from wilting, but living, branches that show definite streaking in the sapwood. The fresh wood sections should be about finger thickness and can be sent in plastic or foil to the Plant Clinic for testing. Chilling the wood should not be necessary with Dutch elm suspected samples.

The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/ 630-719-2424 The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information Service: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ plantinfoservice 847-835-0972

New Member Profile Snapshot

LandCare USA, LLC 580 Old Skokie Road Park City, IL 60085 (847) 886-0901 www.landcare.com

by Meta Levin

Since July of 2019 LandCare USA, LLC, has

Work for the industrial sector has not been impacted. In fact, says Carter, “industrial real estate had one of its best been owned by its employees, as well as small investment years.” HOA spending also was good. Hospitals have been group of friends, headed by Mike Bogan, CEO. busier than ever. Over the 25 years before that, the national company grew Carter has a long history in the green industry, working by buying other companies, targeting the best in each market, for Brickman for most of his career. In fact, he was an ILCA says Neil Carter, executive vice president. In October 2020, member for 20 years while with Brickman, spending some the company re-entered the Midwest market. time volunteering as a member of the regulatory affairs comSixty-five percent of LandCare’s work is landscape manmittee. “It’s a great organization,” he says. “I’m anxious to agement and its clientele span the commercial, office, industriget plugged back in.” al, healthcare, hospitality and HOA sectors. It’s no secret that A family man, Carter loves being outdoors. His daughthe hospitality industry took a beating in 2020. LandCare has ter does performance dog training. One son is an industrial concentrated on helping these customers maintain their curb designer with Milwaukee Tool and the other works for appeal, while making their dollars go farther. Gordon Food. He has been married for 38 years and his wife, To do that, they have worked to extend seasonal color rotaamong other things, is a beekeeper. tions, doing two, instead of three changes per year, as well Carter owes his career to Greg Pierceall, now professor as selecting plant material that will prolong the season, says emeritus of landscape architecture from Purdue University. Carter. They are finding the plants that they need, but have An agricultural economics major at Purdue, Carter, who learned that growers are not speculating as much in 2021 as grew up in central Indiana and whose family owned several they have in the past. agriculture related businesses, was looking at some drawings Large office buildings are in similar situations. “Our clienin the horticulture department, when Pierceall came out of tele is looking at ways to use its office space efficiently,” says his office and began talking with him. “He influenced me Carter. “They are trying to find ways to make their money go most to get into the green industry,” he says. farther and to be proactive.” During the pandemic, those who Carter used a lot of electives to study landscape archicould, began working from home. Eventually, businesses contecture, horticulture and turf management. Then, one day, sidered the fact that many of their employees might continue Pierceall called him and told him that he had an appointment this practice, saving them money, but leaving some office with a representative from Brickman. The same thing hapspace vacant. pened with another national landscape contracting firm. He LandCare is using lessons learned from their hospitality went with Brickman. customers in working with large business property. Even their Pierceall and Carter stayed friends. “I can’t thank him snow and ice business has been affected. With fewer people enough,” says Carter. going to the office to work, LandCare often doesn’t have to plow 100 percent of the parking lots. That is not the case for hospitals or industrial clients. Landscape management varies from location to location across the country. LandCare also does landscape design/ build, irrigation and water management, as well as snow and ice management. The Landscape Contractor 54 June 2021

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The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Lawn Care Technician / Sprayer

IRRIGATION TECHNICIAN

Certified Arborist / Sales

Sebert Landscaping Company is seeking to hire a full time, motivated team player who likes to work outdoors and who can provide our customers with exceptional service. Qualified applicant should be able to work with minimal supervision and will be responsible for providing lawn care services to residential and commercial customers. These services include fertilization, weed/insect control, aeration and seeding. Elk Grove IL, Bartlett, IL, Roscoe, IL, and Bolingbrook IL.

As an Irrigation Service Technician, your day-to-day responsibilities will be the startup, winterization, repair, and maintenance of commercial and residential irrigation systems. After a training period, you will primarily work alone and will be required to stock your parts, perform assigned jobs, update “as-builts”, track time and materials with the provided software and develop recommendations for systems improvements with our customers.

Experienced Certified Arborist wanted for sales management position in Chicago North Shore Territory Prestigious, 50 yr, Chicago North Shore full-service Tree & Landscaping Company seeking to employ a Certified Arborist for a Sales Management position. Contact Robert Kinnucan, President by email rkinnucan@ aol.com

To send your resume, email Stephanie at sfigueroa@seber.com.

To send your resume email Stephanie at sfigueroa@serbert.com.

LANDSCAPE SUPERVISOR (EG) As a supervisor at Sebert Landscaping, this position is an essential part of our growing company. As a supervisor will lead a team of field laborers to ensure they provide quality lawn care services. By developing this team through effective coaching and continuous feedback, the supervisor will help continue the growth of our company. To know more about this position, email your resume to Stephanie at sfigueroa@sebert. com.

Tree Climbers & Plant Health Care Technicians WE ARE HIRING Work outside and be active! Full time, year round careers with benefits. Tree climbers, CDL drivers and plant health care technicians. We train and assist with acquiring credentials and professional development. Experience preferred, not required. Competitive wages, overtime opportunities and benefits include health, dental, vision, paid vacation, 401k, referral program, and more. Fun work environment and people to learn from, join our team and help promote safe and professional arboriculture! Apply Online at https://kramertree.com/ careers/ or email Paul Filary pfilary@kramertree.com

Moore Landscapes is hiring a Landscape Designer Moore Landscapes is looking for a Landscape Designer with strong horticulture knowledge and AutoCAD skills to support our commercial landscape maintenance and enhancement teams. This position is for a person who enjoys designing a wide variety of landscape enhancements, seasonal color programs, and design/build projects. This position frequently interacts with clients, collaborates with account executives, and assists crews with design layouts during installations. If this position sounds like an important part of our operation, it is! Visit www.MooreLandscapes.com for a full job description (on the Careers page) and info about our company. To apply, visit Indeed, Moore’s online application or email rshockley@moorelandscapes.com

Residential Maintenance Account Manager Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Landscape Designer/Project Director Management Associate Call Maria for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers The Landscape Contractor June 2021

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

ILCA Members!! Looking for a career opportunity or have an opening within your company you need to fill? Do you have a business or property to sell?

Post an ad in our classified section! Classified listings are posted online for 30 days from the date of submittal and run in the next issue of The Landscape Contractor magazine. We also offer the opportunity to share your posting with our industry list of over 10,000 contacts!

Pricing: $12.00/line with a 10 line minimum. Feature your ad in our monthly email for $50.00 *Features are available with Classified Posting only

Non-profit postings are available. Contact ILCA for details. Questions? Email Alycia Nagy at anagy@ilca.net

Submission Note: ads submitted prior to the 15th of each month, will be posted online within 72 hours and run in the very next issue of the magazine. Ads submitted after the 15th of the month will post online and run in the following month's issue of the magazine

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Design/Sales

Mechanic Wanted

Experience with paver patios a plus You will meet with clients, make a plan/ design/quote/ on site manage your work. Pay negotiable/ depends on experience To apply, call 815-475-7229 or email michelle4seasons@yahoo.com Account Manager Woodlawns Landscape Company, a vibrant leader in the landscape industry since 1997 seeks an experienced individual to join our growing team as an Account Manager working in the city and surrounding markets. We are a dynamic, out-of-the-box, fast paced company seeking a highly motivated individual to share in our commitment to provide long-term landscape solutions. We are looking for a true professional who is confident, competitive, proactive and a self-starter. Finding, building and maintaining new and existing relationships, superior communications skills, experience in creating competitive proposals, the ability to multitask and a thorough knowledge of plant materials are the skill sets required for this position. Woodlawns currently services high profile accounts, including retail, commercial, industrial, multi-family and hospitality. This is a salaried position with a competitive wage based on experience with a full range of benefits including PTO, Health Insurance and 401k. Check out our Facebook and Instagram (WoodlawnsLandscape_Company) profiles. Visit our website (Woodlawnslandscape. com). Most important of all though is contact us.

Mechanic wanted: Mowers, trucks, snowplows Full time, benefits, vacation. info@suburbanlandscaping.net or Call: 708-799-6228 A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design is Hiring a Landscape Designer A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design in Mundelein, IL is hiring a Landscape Designer. This position produces professional landscape designs for commercial and residential clients with the ultimate goal to get projects into the installation/construction phase in a timely manner. Qualifications: BA Degree in Landscape Architecture and 1-3 year experience preferred. Email resume to dustin@amwoodland.com Production Coordinator - Residential Maintenance Chalet has been steadfast for 104 years as a family-owned, people-centric company. Our staff have great vision and strong values. If you’d like to start or continue your career down a path with endless horizons - email our Human Resources Manager at SandyV@ ChaletNursery.com to begin conversations about becoming our next Production Coordinator for our Residential Maintenance clients.

Please email your resume to Katrina. Kindle@woodlawnslandscape.com

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

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

HELP WANTED CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES February 2019 issue ads: January 3, 2019 March 2019 issue ads: February 15, 2019 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

Successful suppliers know— industry leaders read this magazine.

is the Midwest’s premier monthly magazine for the landscape, nursery and green industry. Professionls’ Choice Award Goes to Chalet

• Sales and marketing statistics show that the single best way to reach buyers is through highly-targeted specialty magazines • This award-winning magazine is frequently hailed as the best magazine of its kind. Put your message in this flattering environment.

Day In — Night Out

• The Landscape Contractor has an affordable advertising program for every budget.

Judges’Award Goes to Kane Brothers

For immediate attention CALL Debbie at

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Advertisers 1st Choice Equipment ..............................................50 Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................48 Breezy Hill Nursery ...............................................14 Cardno ....................................................................48 Ditch Witch Midwest ..............................................60 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4 Fairview Evergreen Nurseries ..................................49 Goodmark Nurseries ..............................................51 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. .........................................46 Homer Industries ...................................................53 James Martin Associates .........................................56 JKS Ventures ............................................................49 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................45 Longshadow Planters .............................................15 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6

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

Where’s My Rustoleum? By Nina A. Koziol

Outdoor paints for resin, metal and wood can add a splash of color to a client’s trellises, arbor, patio furniture and elements in a children’s garden. “Don’t be shy about using color,” says Mark Dwyer, owner of Landscape Prescriptions by MD. When he was director of horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisc., these 10-foot-tall pyramids were painted a different color every year. Blue, purple, orange, pink—you name it. They play up the changing palette of annuals. Right: Marigolds, celosia, black sweet potato vines and Tithonia provide eyepopping color in the heat of summer. “We used the obelisks to highlight different plantings. Offer verticality in residential gardens, in containers, and in commercial gardens. Trellis panels, obelisks, arbors and pedestals for planters bring the vertical element into a space.”

Mariani Plants ........................................................41 McGinty Bros. .......................................................16 Midwest Groundcovers ............................................2 Midwest Trading ......................................................47 Montale Gardens ......................................................19 RWC Insurance ........................................................49 Spring Meadow Nursery ..........................................17 Straughn Farm ........................................................55 The Landscape Contractor magazine ........................52 The Mulch Center ..................................................13 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

Not the easiest color to use, chartreuse works well here with pink-flowered annuals and yellow-green celosias. For a monochrome setting, pair chartreuse elements with bright green hostas, sedums, sweet potato vine, Japanese forest grass and gold-leaved heuchera. The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Above, Hot pink obelisks play up the petunias, snapdragons, flamingo-feather celosia and ‘Black Stockings’ fountain grass. On a smaller scale, a metal obelisk can be painted and placed in a large container or in a narrow border. 61

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Lilacia Park, Lombard

150 S. Park Avenue, Lombard, IL lombardparks.com/lilacia-park/ Open year-round dawn to dusk Admission: free

by Heather Prince

In the middle

of downtown Lombard, a beautiful park blossoms each spring. Lilacia Park is filled with 700 lilac shrubs and about 35,000 tulips that put on a magnificent fragrant floral display in May. More than 200 cultivars of lilac are represented, from antique heirlooms to the newest hybrids. The eight and a half acres of park have been lovingly maintained since 1927 when they were gifted to the city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. The parkland originally was part of the estate of Colonel William Plum and his wife Helen. Colonel Plum settled in Lombard in 1869 after the Civil War and the couple filled the grounds of their home with lilacs after traveling to the celebrated gardens of famous lilac breeder Victor Lemoine in France. The Plums brought back two lilac cuttings, a Syringa vulgaris “Mme Casimir Périer,” a double white and a Syringa vulgaris “Michel Buchner,” a double purple. These formed the beginning of a love affair with lilacs as Colonel and Mrs. Plum developed a vast collection. When Helen died in 1924, the Colonel lost interest in the flowers. He offered the property for sale but was told it was such a beloved part of Lombard, that the collection should remain intact. Upon his death in 1927, Colonel Plum willed his estate to the city as a public park and his home as the public library in memory of Helen. Jens Jensen agreed to design the Lombard Community Park, now known as Lilacia Park.

You can find many elements of Jensen’s aesthetic when you visit today. Roughly wedge-shaped the park welcomes you with winding brick paver paths that lead to intimate seating areas, a grotto, a fountain pool, a council circle, butterfly garden and more. Greenhouses provide annuals for the city and offer a plant sale. An allée of artfully pruned Red Jade crabapple shades a generous lawn panel leading to the pool with its fountain spray hugged with stacked limestone beneath a concrete stage. The council ring also overlooks the pond and invites conversation. An oak meadow anchors the northwest corner and drifts of daffodils and tulips are planted beneath mature species of native trees. Jensen chose sweeping beds of tulips as they bloom about the same time as lilacs for a doubly saturated spring floral display. Lilacia Park invites visitors in with its accessible paths that loop through the themed gardens for butterflies and hummingbirds, but also groves of mature trees, and of course the lilacs. It is human-scaled and you’ll find residents strolling through, picnicking, families exploring, and perhaps an open air art class. The park is also home to festivals, holiday lights, movies, concerts, and other special events throughout the year. Lombard’s Lilac Time is celebrated the first two weeks of May with events from tastings to tours, concerts to coronations and parades. Experience the heady fragrance of hundreds of lilacs in the spring but return again and again as this gem of a park unfolds through the seasons.

The Landscape Contractor June 2021

Town Hall

VINTAGE, STREETSCAPE CHARM THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME

Modeled after historic North American clay street pavers, Town Hall is a popular choice for driveways, patios, walkways and more, in either traditional or permeable applications. It’s detailed surface texture is created using Reala™ Technology, with Ultima™ Concrete Technology for superior durability with up to four times the strength of conventional poured concrete. Whether it’s the main paver in your project, or used as an accent band within other pavers, walls or vertical features, Town Hall makes a bold statement. Contact 1-800-UNILOCK to connect with your local Territory Manager or visit Unilock.com for more design inspiration.

Exclusive to Unilock

The Landscape Contractor magazine JUN.21 DIGITAL EDITION

Articles inside

Elementos sólidos de paisajismo Dos

From Where I Stand

The Field Museum’s Rice Nature Center

Hidden Landscape Gems

Romancing the Stone Part 2

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

Classified Ads

Diseases and Pests