The Landscape Contractor magazine JUN.22 Digital Edition by Association Publishing Partners

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CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Working Out-of-State — Things to Know Working Out-of-State? 10 Here’s what to know Notes from Chanticleer 18 Using vegetables as ornamental plants iPix Photo Winners 2022 All the winners in all categories

The Pros at Home 38 Tim Johnson & Kristie Webber

EN ESPAÑOL

¿Por qué necesita un permiso? Working Out-of-State?

More Great Woody Plants Plant panel wraps up exhaustive interview

Diseases and Pests 54 Star-of-Bethlehem and Four-lined plant bug Member Profile 56 Blue Sky Irrigation, Inc. Inspiration Alley 61 How about a Face Lift? Hidden Landscape Gems Period Garden Park

On the cover... Chicago Specialty Gardens received the Gold Award for

Residential Construction with this project titled Fulton Market Panorama.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

44 3

CONTENTS

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

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee 1, 8-9, Bill Thomas 18-23 Tim Johnson Kristie Webber 38-43 Julie Janoski, Jim Matusik, Jeff Kramer, Mike Cook 44-43 Sky Irrigations 56

Calendar 4 5 7 56 61

Nina Koziol Heather Prince

SAVE THE DATES JUNE June 16, 2022 Design Tour

61 54, 62

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

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

Volume 63, Number 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 PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products

ILCA Staff

Magazine Staff

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

Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net

Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

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

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

Meta Levin

at dotynu rseries.co m to recei ve our

Feature Writer

meta.levin@comcast.net Nina Koziol

dotynurseries.com

Feature Writer

n.koziol@att.net

Heather Prince

ILCA

princeht@sbcglobal.net

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

Patrice Peltier

Feature Writer

Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

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

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From Where I Stand — Do you ever feel like you are working harder than you did

15 years ago? In spite of technological changes, automation, and efficiencies the work days still drag and the weeks feel longer and longer. Society is innovating all around you while you feel stuck in the mud. Other industries integrate systems, artificial intelligence, analytics, and technology to either compress or maximize their workdays. Yet, here you stand, convinced not much has changed at all. What if I told you, if you work in landscape construction, that nagging feeling is true? In May, I attended a seminar by Robert Dietz, Ph.D. who is the chief economist for the National Association of Homebuilders. Dr. Dietz shared his forecast for the housing market and the general economy based on past and current trends. One of Dr. Dietz’s slides stuck with me. It showed the labor productivity for various industries over the past 55 years. The productivity in non-farm businesses during that stretch has increased 150%. Construction productivity over the same time frame has decreased by 10%. That is a 160% swing between construction and all other trades. So, how do economists measure something as ambiguous as “productivity?” Productivity is defined as the ratio between the units of work and the hours of work of performed. So, in landscape maintenance, it would be the number of square feet of properties maintained divided by the number of hours it takes to service those properties. In landscape construction, there are handful of variables to determine the units of work from the installed material to the size/cost of the job to the square footage of certain improvements. Every road still leads back to a ratio and that ratio has barely moved in construction for 50 years. How is that possible? We now have cell phones and compact utility loaders and computers. We have complex job-costing and tracking software, GPS, and robots. The answer to big questions are usually big answers. Economists agree that the primary reason is the one that birthed the professional landscape industry — urban sprawl. As cities expanded to the suburbs, construction changed dramatically. No longer did massive construction companies build massive skyscrapers and apartment buildings. Construction firms spread out far and wide, nestled into communities, and worked on single-family homes and landscapes. These were smaller, more nimble companies with no ties to unions or guilds. Anyone in landscaping can tell you that working with singlefamily clients is a challenge. Everything is custom. There are hundreds of competitors in your service area. Budgets ebb and flow. There are delays. Crews are smaller. Time-lines get stretched. Local permitting and regulations are a handful. Urban sprawl meant that construction companies became too darn small and projects became too darn customized. Only 5% of builders work for companies that employ over 10,000 people. In landscaping, that number is zero. A “large” landscape business will employ 100-400 people. Now, let’s contrast that to manufacturing and business services. 23% of manufacturing employees work for companies with 10,000 or more employees. 25% of those in business services work for organizations 10,000+. Bigger is not better, but bigger does usually mean the investment in systems, automation, and people designed to increase productivity. Other industries have a trickle-down effect. Amazon, McDonalds, General Motors, WalMart, Apple, etc. implement effi-

ciencies aimed at improving productivity. These are companies worth billions of dollars with thousands of employees. Those improvements are then modified and customized to fit smaller employers and the innovations and productivity that comes with them infiltrates the entire market. Construction doesn’t get to enjoy these globalized improvements to efficiency because the global leaders aren’t big enough to invest billions into innovation. So the answer is really simple, just increase the size of your business to 10,000 employees and the rest will take care of itself. Ok, so if that is not possible, how does a landscape business increase productivity while maintaining its current size of operations? After reading more articles and white papers on this subject than I can count, increasing productivity boils down to four factors: 1. Grow without growing It has been interesting watching the larger companies within the ILCA membership pursue business management platforms in the last decade. I know at least a dozen companies currently implementing or coalescing behind a single platform. Most landscape companies have to shoehorn maintenance, construction, and snow management into the same system. Some pulled data from existing platforms and others pulled numbers from Excel spreadsheets and legal pads. The benefits of these platforms such as Go LMN, Aspire, SynkedUp, WorkWave, Stack, etc. is that they not only turn the inexact gut-feel of productivity into exact numbers, but they allow for benchmarking with other companies across the country. In short, if you can’t hire 10,000 employees, make it feel like you have 10,000 employees by sharing internal data with other companies like yours on a level playing field. Many of these systems provide reports on sales, gross margins, job costs, etc. The good news is that all this information is true...it has to be. Ask anyone about “their year” and numbers tend to get puffed up. Either the owner does not know or wants to add a nice layer of polish before spitting numbers out in public. Business management platforms aren’t using fudged numbers meant to impress colleagues. These platforms use the actual numbers required to make these systems hum. So if owners don’t know their gross margins, their business management platforms do.

Products of our Productivity

2. Champion project management Let me state, for the record, there is nothing wrong with managing from your gut. Understanding numbers is worthless if management is indecisive. Gut-feel managers often excel at processing information quickly and making hard and fast decisions on the intelligence they are soaking up. Rather than use a software platform, they use the computer between their ears. With that said, project management is the golden key to increasing productivity. Most likely, the person (or persons) involved with project management should be process-oriented - meaning, if the process flows, success will follow. The only alternative is if senior management is process-oriented. If that is the case, the project manager should be resultsoriented to counterbalance the bean counting at the top. Either way, someone has to watch the indicators while the other caretakes the process. A good Project Manager should be championed and his or her job function should be clearly explained to the rest of the organization - this person is here to increase productivity and lower costs while trying not to

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

From Where I Stand — make everyone nuts. Project Managers should review all systems, prioritize changes, and communicate those changes in a way that does not alienate others. If the owner is results-driven, most likely he or she should determine if the changes actually result in P&L improvements and employee retention. The results-driven owner is there to make sure the message of the project managers are received and to stave off a full-scale mutiny. 3. Know your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) It used to be that KPIs were sacred and shared across all businesses. Now, every consultant seems to add a new “key” until you are jingling and jangling around like a prison warden. Call me old school, but sales volume, gross margins, net profit, and customer satisfaction/retention are still the leading indicators. Landscaping is incredibly dependent on the individualized job, so a more granular per-job outlook on KPIs is prudent. The most overlooked KPI in construction is the Crew Labor Ratio. In all construction trades, most notably landscaping, labor is the biggest hit to the balance sheet. With productivity rates holding steady and no technological cavalry on the horizon, understanding how crews earn money is vital. Crew Labor Ratios are determined by subtracting billable time (time you can attach a margin to) to unbillable time (shop time, training, drive time, etc.). This number is divided by total sales. So, for example, if a company bills 12,000 hours per year and makes $1 million dollars, the Crew Labor Ratio is $83.33. Now, for the second step. Bucket those sales and hours into how the crew spends time onsite. Softscape hours are quite different from hardscape hours. Understanding these specific Crew Labor Ratios should influence the design-sales process. Should a client be talked into a smaller hardscape space and more softscaping based on the Crew Labor Ratio? Absolutely.

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4. Retain skilled workers Lastly, the labor force across all construction trades tends to be transient and under skilled. This is exacerbated in landscaping because the labor force exits for four months. A central reason for a decline in construction productivity are all the new faces a company has to deploy each year. The onboarding and shuffling of crews takes time, costs money, and is completely unbillable. The retention of skilled workers has a direct impact on productivity and profitability. This involves identifying the Alpha Dogs at the crew level who are responsible for creating the job site culture. Often times, these are the older more seasoned crew leaders. These employees have to be trained, well compensated, and recognized along with their crews when they experience success. It is vital to discipline them privately and applaud them publically. The Alphas are likely responsible for the retention of dozens of employees. They are the keepers of the skills and define how jobs get done. When they leave, they are taking others with them. Identifying and retaining your Alphas is your goal this year and every year moving forward. In 50 years, other industries have increased productivity by 150%. Landscape professionals are still working as many hours and doing less profitable work. Standing pat for five decades may be enough to keep the lights on, but the negative impact on human capital is tremendous. The simple fact is, landscaping lacks the monolithic industry leaders that will revolutionize productivity - all of the construction industry does. If the construction industry wants to make this year a little more efficient, profitable, and less exhausting than previous, it has to look inward for motivation and outward for tested tools. The entire construction industry may not become more productive over night, but you can. Sincerely, Scott Grams, Executive Director May 20, 2022

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

President’s Message — My fellow ILCA Members –

I am profoundly grateful for having been given the opportunity to serve as your President, to work for the membership and prepare the association for the future that lies ahead. These past two years have been a time of dramatic uncertainty and unpredictability and have brought new threats to our great industry. A global pandemic, record inflation and fuel prices, supply chain disruption, logistics and labor shortages, and still, you have continued to rise to these challenges. Your efforts and support have made the association stronger and the perception of our industry significantly more professional. This past year has been challenging, fulfilling, and allowed me to grow as a professional and an individual. Serving as President has been no small task. I came into this thinking this would be easy, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The moment I became President, I felt an enormous weight of expectation on my shoulders. With roughly 850 members watching my every move, I didn’t want to let anyone down or make the wrong decision. I have always understood that you cannot make everyone happy, but it takes on a whole new meaning when some decisions impact not just the membership, but Scott McAdam Jr. the entire industry. As President, I no longer represented McAdam Landscaping, but became an advocate for the ILCA and the membership. Our responsibility as a board has been, and always will be, to make the best possible decisions to provide the most benefit to our members and for the long-term viability of the association. The board has worked diligently to improve the ILCA and the benefit it provides to the members, and I cannot thank them enough for their efforts and making me look good. You’re only as good as the company you keep, and the ILCA board is some damn good company. And last, but not least, I’d like to thank my father, Scott. He has always set an example for, and stressed the importance of, being involved in something greater than yourself. Through his ILCA presidencies, involvement in legislative advocacy, and volunteer work with Rotary International, it was never about him, but about the impact he could have on others. I’m truly honored to have served the association and I hope to have made a positive impact on the association and for the membership. Time flies when you’re having fun.

President

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

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

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

Directors

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

Sincerely, Scott McAdam Jr.

Mis compañeros miembros de ILCA –

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

www.ilca.net

Me siento profundamente agradecido por la oportunidad que se me ha dado de servir como su Presidente, trabajar para la membresía y preparar a la asociación para el futuro que se avecina. Estos últimos dos años han sido tiempos de incertidumbre e imprevisibilidad dramáticas y han traído nuevas amenazas a nuestra industria. Una pandemia global, cifras récord de inflación y precios del combustible, interrupciones en la cadena de suministro, problemas de logística y escasez de mano de obra y, aun así, ustedes han continuado haciendo frente a estos desafíos. Sus esfuerzos y apoyo han fortalecido a la organización y hecho la percepción de nuestra industria significativamente más profesional. Los últimos dos años han sido desafiantes, gratificantes y me han permitido crecer como profesional y como persona. Servir como Presidente no ha sido un trabajo pequeño. Asumí el cargo pensando que sería fácil, pero no podía estar más equivocado. El momento en que asumí la Presidencia, sentí un peso enorme de expectativas sobre mis hombros. Con aproximadamente 850 miembros observando todos mis movimientos, no quería decepcionar a nadie ni tomar decisiones equivocadas. Siempre he sabido que no se puede complacer a todo el mundo, pero esto adquiere un nuevo significado cuando algunas decisiones impactan no solo a la membresía, sino a toda la industria. Como Presidente, ya no represento a McAdam Landscaping, pero me convertí en defensor de ILCA y la membresía. Nuestra responsabilidad como presidente ha sido, y siempre lo será, tomar las mejores decisiones posibles para producir los mayores beneficios a nuestros miembros y la viabilidad a largo plazo de la asociación. La junta ha trabajado diligentemente para mejorar a ILCA y el beneficio que proporciona a sus miembros y no puedo agradecerles lo suficiente por sus esfuerzos y hacerme lucir bien. Uno es tan bueno como la compañía que tiene y la junta de ILCA es una estupenda compañía. Y, por último, pero no menos importante, deseo agradecer a mi padre, Scott. Siempre ha servido de ejemplo y acentuado la importancia de involucrarse en algo más grande que uno mismo. Sus presidencias en ILCA, su participación en defensas legislativas y su trabajo voluntario con Rotary International, nunca fueron sobre él, sino sobre el impacto que podía tener en otros. Es un verdadero honor para mí haber servido a la asociación y espero haber tenido un impacto positivo en la asociación y la membresía. El tiempo vuela cuando uno se divierte.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Topiarius • Chicago City Soiree

Knowing their 2,043 square foot terrace rooftop in

Chicago could be an amazing outdoor space, our clients had begun investing in upgrades before hiring us. But they quickly realized that their original vision wasn’t satisfactory. Upon engagement with us, we excitedly conceptualized how their wide open, unprotected space could fulfill their dreams to live beautifully outdoors. For this couple, the ease of entertaining was key with space for dinner parties as their highest priority. This meant a dedicated space for their large dining table and multiple spaces for people to gather in - all enhanced by ambient lighting. Our clients were also concerned about privacy from a neighboring building that looked directly onto their space which was addressed through plants as screening and the pergola. The noise of the mechanicals needed to be damped. This gave us an opportunity to define separate areas so that we could play with

different materials and level changes through decking. Along with privacy, the sun exposure made the space very hot on summer afternoons and they wanted to find a way to create shade that would withstand the punishing winds off the lake. While the custom panels are fixed in place, their design allows for dappled sun and wind movement. With the addition of heaters anchored on the pergola and a fire feature, the couple has a space for extended seasonal use. And, of course, they wanted plantings that would soften the space and invite you outside. By using/transplanting some of the trees and shrubs they had, and adding other shrubs, perennials, green roof trays, and containers for annual displays, an urban garden oasis was created. Their outdoor terrace went from a hodge podge commercial looking space to a sophisticated, welcoming, relaxing space that makes entertaining a piece of cake! Cheers!

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Special Feature — Are you considering expanding your market beyond your own state line? The lure of expansion can lead to trouble. Here are some great tips worth considering.

Working Out-of-State? Here’s What to Know

by Meta L. Levin

There is more to working across state lines than

jumping in a truck and driving up the road. Laws, taxes and business requirements vary from state to state. Just because you can do one thing in Illinois, it doesn’t mean that it is the same in Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan or any other nearby state. “Taxes are one of the big issues,” says Ed Furner, Premier Service Director for Mariani Landscape. “Each state has its own tax burden.” Mariani does a significant amount of outof-state work, particularly in Wisconsin and increasingly in Michigan, in large part because many of their Illinois clients have vacation homes in those two states. In fact, they have so much business in Wisconsin that five landscape crews are based at Mariani’s company-owned nursery in Kenosha. “It saves on travel time,” says Furner. Schmechtig Landscapes, which also does a lot of business in Wisconsin, bought an existing landscape business in the state. “Most of our clients are from Illinois and have summer homes in Wisconsin)” says owner Mike Schmechtig. A few are from other states. “We wanted to be local, so we could take care of our clients.” Schmechtig’s headquarters, however, remains in Illinois.

Taxes and other state regulated financial affairs Who would think that the online home décor company, Wayfair would be connected to how landscape contractors do business? But it is, says Nahrain Mikhael, CPA, a tax partner with Northbrook-based Liptschultz, Levin & Gray LLC. In the 2018 Supreme Court decision, South Dakota v. Wayfair, the court expanded the retailer’s obligations to collect sales tax on out-of-state purchases. This changed the physical presence or nexus rule. “If the sales are above $100,000 in the state, the landscape contractor has established economic nexus for sales,” says Mikhael. Some states, like Wisconsin, charge sales tax on services. Illinois does not. So if you plan to do work for a client in another state, “do your due diligence.” The state’s website can provide a lot of information. Contact your CPA, who can tap into resources, such as CCH, Inc., which provides tax and business law information. It might be worth the cost for a large landscape contractor who will be a specialty firm that will do a nexus study.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

(continued on page 12)

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Special Feature — (continued from page 10) doing many large jobs in another state to hire Does the state in which you are performing the work have a reciprocal agreement with Illinois regarding taxes? Some states have reciprocal agreements with neighboring states. For instance, Wisconsin is a reciprocal state with Illinois, but Indiana is not. So in Indiana, you must pay taxes where the work is being performed. Michigan, Iowa and Kentucky also have agreements with Illinois.

Domicile?

Then there is the whole issue of where are you domiciled. So, for instance, if an Illinois landscape contractor does so much work in Indiana that the owner decides to rent a storage area to keep equipment near the job sites, Indiana considers that liable to the state’s personal property tax. Under those circumstances, Michigan also collects the personal property taxes. Domicile in this case is considered a legal term for where the company considers home, i.e., Illinois. For instance, Mariani Landscapes is domiciled in Illinois – Lake Bluff, IL, to be exact. So, says Furner, the payroll comes through Illinois. “States are becoming more aggressive on how they come after companies for taxes,” says Mikhael. When working in another state, it is important to keep track of the customer, where the service is performed and where items are shipped, says Mikhael. “Once you start going out to other states, you open the door to nexus,” she says. “Most states have jumped on the Wayfair bandwagon.” If a landscape contractor is generating revenue that exceeds the Wayfair threshold, then Mikhael says that contractor might consider registering and filing in that state. Be cognizant of state laws. For instance, if you send an employee to New York for even one day, withholding New York State taxes may be required,

although there are exceptions.

Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance is the law in Illinois and in most other states, although the terms of that insurance requirement vary. In fact, Texas is the only state that does not require employers to carry it, although some states do have a state insurance fund in lieu of workers compensation insurance. “If you have one employee, even if only a part time employee, in Illinois you must carry workers’ compensation insurance,” says Debbie McGuire, an account executive for Crum-Halsted Insurance and Risk Management. “There is a substantial fine for employers that do not carry it.” By substantial, she means on the order of $500 a day with a minimum of $10,000.

If, however, the employee is the owner, partner or officer of the company, the requirement can be excluded. Because workers compensation is governed by each state, laws and rates are not the same. For instance, if a company headquarters is domiciled in Wisconsin, but employees cross into

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Illinois to work, the contractor must carry workers compensation in Illinois. It is exactly the opposite in Illinois. Each state has its own laws, McGuire points out. When an employee crosses the state line from Illinois to Wisconsin and gets hurt, he or she can decide in which of the two states to file for workers compensation. The key is to tell your insurance agent if you are going to be crossing state lines to work in another state. “The biggest problem is if the insurance company doesn’t know something has changed,” says McGuire. She warned that if you do work in another state without the proper workers’ compensation insurance coverage and an employee is injured, your insurance company may or may not cover it, but may also refuse to renew your insurance coverage. There also is the issue of general liability and insurance on trucks and other equipment. Usually that is determined by where the company is domiciled. “You have to tell your insurance company if you are going to work in another state, because now there is exposure in another state,” says McGuire. Working Across State Lines The biggest issues are those that are affecting everyone: labor and supply chain, but there are many others. Travel time can be an issue, depending on how the landscape contractor handles it. Mariani has crews based out of Mariani Nursery in Kenosha and Schmechtig Landscapes bought a smaller landscape company in Wisconsin to serve their clients there. Mariani also has a branch in Westmont and runs crews that are going to southern Michigan out of that facility. “Southern Michigan has become a market in which we are doing a lot of work as some of our premier clients are building second homes there,” says Furner. (continued on page 14)

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Special Feature (continued from page 12) “They want the same quality that they get in their homes here.” Lodging and per diem costs can not only become an issue, but can add significantly to the price of the project. “Travel times and per diem that cost more than the actual project,” says Furner. If the travel time is within an hour to an hour to an hour and a half, usually Mariani sends a crew and does not lodge them overnight. “Travel time is big challenge,” says Chad Swanson, Mariani’s Director of Customer Care. But the necessity of lodging a crew for multiple days has other issues. Some employees are reluctant to spend days away from their families for a variety of reasons and Furner takes that into consideration when putting together a crew. Multiple trips are sometimes necessary because because they try to source plants locally. Some states do not allow different types of plants to be trucked across state lines.

While Iowa allows landscape contractors to bring plants in from Illinois, there are other issues, says Jamie Lewis, president of Heritage Landscape Design, Inc. in Moline, IL. Because Moline is part of the Quad Cities, a complex

of cities on the Illinois-Iowa border, Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, are considered a part of their market. Their business is split about 50-50 on each side of the state line. “Iowa has different rules for taxing new construction and plants going to landscaping in an established house,” she says. Plantings going into gardens around an existing home are not taxed. If it’s new construction, however, the state taxes materials and labor. In Illinois, Heritage pays tax on the cost to the company of new plants. Lewis often goes to the state for written opinions when there is a question about taxation. “Iowa is really good about that,” she says. Different states also have different licensing and guidelines for those who apply herbicides and pesticides. Those who work in Wisconsin, even though they are licensed in Illinois to perform the work, must also take the test and be (continued on page 16)

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The Landscape Contractor June 2022

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Special Feature (continued from page 14) licensed in Wisconsin, says Swanson. There also are different regulations covering disposing of landscape waste. Typically, the contractor will find a local site to take care of this. “For instance, in Lake Geneva, we found a local garden center that is a licensed compost facility and paid them to dump our waste,” he says. There are differences in the way Heritage lists costs on the invoice. “It’s trickier,” she says. If Heritage does a government contract in Illinois, more often than not they must be unionized or pay prevailing wage. There is, however, no union contract in the Quad Cities. Iowa does require that they pay prevailing wage. “Unions are strong in Illinois, but they are easy to work with,” she says. Heritage has occasionally done projects in Peoria and Bloomington, IL, far enough away that they have had to deal with lodging and paying for meals. In

the case of major, long-term projects far enough away for crews to have to stay, they often will hire local crews and send a project manager to the site. In those instances, they will switch out project managers so that one is not away from home for extended periods.

Regulations

If you are going to dig, you need to know where underground utilities lie. In Illinois, that means contacting JULIE. Wisconsin has the Diggers Hotline. Their requirements are different, as well. JULIE will take the address of the property on which the work will be done. Wisconsin requires the longitude and latitude. Swanson also recommends becoming part of the community if you will be doing significant work in the area.. Join local organizations. For instance, Mariani joined the Geneva Lake Conservancy and offered its services. Labor issues can complicate work-

ing across state lines, as well. If you are using employees who are in the United States under the H2B program, they are not allowed to cross state lines. “If we are short, we can’t randomly assign them to a crew,” he says. Then, there is the issue of trucks and permitting. Any trucks larger than one ton will require a trip permit, not to mention construction-type trucks and large dump trucks will require commercial drivers’ licenses and the necessity to stop at state weigh stations. The best thing to do is research, research, research before going into another state. It can, however, be the right thing to do.

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Sustainable Landscapes —

Notes from Chanticleer:

Using Vegetables as iLandscape Ornamental Plantings P

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

by Heather Prince

Chanticleer, a pleasure garden, is

one of the country’s premier public gardens. Located in Wayne, Pennsylvania, it is the 50-acre former home of the Rosengarten family, of which 35 acres are devoted to beautiful garden spaces. According to Chanticleer, it is “a garden of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home.” Widely considered to be one of the most romantic and innovative gardens in the United States, it frequently sets the trends for landscape design. We were forrtunate to have Executive Director and Head Gardener, Bill Thomas as one of the speakers at the 2022 iLandscape. Thomas has been involved with Chanticleer for the past 19 years. We had a wonderful conversation about gardens and landscapes and have developed a three-part series around a few of the design ideas employed by Chanticleer that are at the forefront of landscaping today.

Leaning into vegetables

Vegetable gardens have perhaps always been a priority for gardeners — a space to grow your own food and feed yourself and your family. They come in many shapes and forms from a pot of herbs on a balcony to a small communal plot to a massive Victory-style garden and everything in between. In many cases, vegetables and herbs are a gateway to falling in love with gardens and gardening. With the massive uncertainties of these pandemic years, more people than ever have turned to growing a bit of food and found a passion for plants. One trend that has bubbled to the surface is incorporating edible plants into ornamental landscapes instead of fencing them off in their own little corner. Although Chanticleer has incorporated edible plants into their designs for nearly 20 years, “We expanded it during the pandemic,” reported Thomas. “During 2020, we made almost

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

all of our ornamental beds over into edible crops because we were closed until mid-June.” In the early days of the pandemic, shifting and evolving restrictions on work and which businesses were considered essential affected even public gardens like Chanticleer. “It was unclear if staff could be working or not,” commented Thomas. “If you were growing vegetables, you could definitely work. So we cancelled our ornamental plant orders. We already had vegetable seeds on hand, and we bought more seeds immediately. We decided we would plant the terraces by the Chanticleer House and the entrance where we normally do some edible crops mixed in with others. We went almost 100% edible.” The staff jumped on the chance to stay working and create interesting and appealing vegetable and herb displays. Plus the gardens were extraordinarily productive. Thomas reported, “That year we had lots and lots of food, more food than we’d ever had. We developed a relationship with Wayne Food Pantry, our local food pantry. They were overwhelmed with the number of people wanting food in 2020. When we had more food than they could handle, there is a larger food pantry in a nearby county and they took anything else we had.”

The vegetable aesthetic

How do you create interesting and aesthetically pleasing designs with vegetables? Once you start to look at the foliage and flowers, you may be surprised at how beautiful edible plants can be. “We use them in our designs as

we would use other foliage plants,” observed Thomas. “So we might do a chartreuse lettuce in wedges in circular beds alternating with other plants like Iceland poppies, and some bulbs, as well as some mustards and purpleleaved lettuces or purple-leaved beets. Carrots or dill have a really fine foliage and give a delicate effect. We use many of the sages. A lot of the herbs are very cold tolerant, and the beautiful sages have a bluish-gray leaf or a yellowish-gray leaf.” Wayne, Pennsylvania is between USDA Zone 6 and 7; it flirts with late-season frosts in early spring. Cole crops like lettuce, kale, and cabbage shrug off a frost unlike tender tropical foliage plants and many herbs and cole crops are beautiful not only in the spring, but keep looking good well into fall. “In the spring, we can get frosts into mid-May, just like the Chicago area,” observed Thomas. “It doesn’t happen often, but it can. So we need plants that can tolerate frost and so many early vegetables do that well. All of these crops handle it including cabbages, kales, Chinese cabbages, Bok chois, lettuces, radishes, beets, and definitely Swiss chard. One of the things I’m amazed at with Swiss chard is that we can plant that in the spring and it’s still looking good at Thanksgiving.” With colorful petioles and broad, dramatic leaves, Swiss chard can substitute for less-durable foliage plants in bed designs and containers. “There aren’t too many plants that can be that long in their effectiveness,” said Thomas. (continued on page 20)

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

19 19

Spring Events 2022 — (continued from page 19) Although we usually pick our lettuces, mustards, and spinach before warm weather arrives and they begin to bolt, in an ornamental design, the flowers can be quite charming. “One thing about mustards is that when it gets warmer, they’ll start blooming and the flower buds are tasty as well as being pretty,” reported Thomas. “The flowers are a real attractive yellow. And that’s true with a lot of the cole crops too. If we have kale overwinter, we’ll usually get it to bloom in the spring. It tastes a lot like broccoli and has beautiful flowers.”

Keeping them in line

Incorporating vegetables and herbs is not without its challenges. As mentioned, many will bolt and become leggy and bitter once the hot temperatures of summer arrive. “Going into the summer months, some of those spring vegetables are more heat-tolerant than others, which allows us to gradually change over our summer displays so we don’t have big beds of soil for guests to look at,” commented Thomas. “We’ll usually use the plant as long as we can, so lettuce often won’t be really great eating by the time we take it out.” One of the staff members originally from Taiwan, has taught the rest the joys of eating lettuce stalks as they are traditionally chopped up for salads or sautéed in Asia.

“We’ve started doing that now and it’s delicious. So now when I buy lettuce and there’s the stalk at the bottom, I chop that up and throw it in the salad. My friends were initially surprised, but have become used to it by now. It tastes like lettuce, just a little more crunchy.” Keepin’ the critters at bay There’s also pest pressure and, of course, critters. Chanticleer uses deer fencing at the perimeter of the entire property, so deer are not an issue. However, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks run freely through the site. Although they are controlled by predators to a certain degree, the staff incorporates dried blood into their edible plantings to discourage them. Cabbage looper caterpillars are also a continual challenge. “Anything that’s going to be eaten or potentially eaten, we grow it organically,” stated Thomas. For cabbage looper moths, weekly applications of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) are used to control them and the staff have developed some maintenance strategies. “Loose-leaf lettuces you can go in (continued on page 22)

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Spring Events 2022 — (continued from page 20) and pick some leaves or pick a plant or two and keep the display looking good. For those that form heads, if you plant them close enough together you can thin them as they start producing heads. If you’ve got other plants coming on as you pick, you can add those plants to fill in. That’s where dill and fennel can be really useful as fillers.” Turn over a new leaf This year, consider adding a little edible something to client designs or your home garden. After all, “I have always felt as a home gardener that you want to have something you can eat almost any day that you’re out gardening,” chuckled Thomas. “It’s really nice to pop something in your mouth when you’re gardening. It gives you an extra bonus for being out there weeding. It keeps your spirits up.”

Edible Plants in Containers Container gardening has continued to be a hot trend in gardening and a lucrative addition to the bottom line. As urban and suburban gardeners seek outdoor spaces for relaxation and gardening, containers are spilling out onto balconies, windowsills, and rooftops. Many of our vegetables and herbs from ferny dill to the corrugated leaves of cabbages add interesting or elegant textures to container designs. One design element Chanticleer employed in their 2020 pandemic gardens were a series of trellis arches anchored in large containers. They trained tomatoes up and over the arches, creating a leafy bower filled with tasty snacks. It also allowed you to run your hands through the fragrant foliage and appreciate the cheerful yellow flowers of the plants. “Those tomato arches were wonderful, so I’m sure they will be repeated but just in a different situation — a different interpretation,” reported Thomas. “I’m not sure what the cultivar was, but they were a little larger than a cherry tomato and very sweet. Every day as I walked around, somehow, I’d get a couple in my mouth and they were a real pleasure.” Some of the leafy crops are incredibly durable from spring into fall, among them Swiss chard with its thick broad leaves and colorful stems. “We had a container of one of the colored petioled Swiss chards,” remembered Thomas. “And boy, it was beautiful in the spring. It looked

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

good all summer and I picked it for Thanksgiving dinner.” Not only is Swiss chard a lovely plant, but many of the cabbages also offer fascinating textures. Plus being in a container allows you and your clients to stop and notice the beauty of the plants every day. “We had some Savoy cabbages whose leaves are wrinkly or like corduroy,” commented Thomas. “The leaves were quite beautiful even before it formed heads. And then as it headed up, it was just exquisite. Some of those containers we had up on balustrades at waist level. You could touch them. You could get an easy photograph of them. We planted them in the spring and finally harvested them in autumn. They looked great all summer long.” Herbs in a container are not only beautiful and delicious for cooking, but fragrant as well. Planted in a pot, they are accessible and easy to run your fingers through to release their scent. “One container we did was a shallow bowl of basil,” reported Thomas. “It was probably two feet off the ground. Every time I walked by, I could wave my hands through the leaves and get the fragrance of basil. And it was thickly planted so it was easy to pick regularly and not ruin the display.” Try adding some herbs and veggies to container displays this year for gorgeous foliage, but also a tasty treat and rich fragrance.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Winner of the Black & White Category: Tina Turner

2nd place in the Flower Category: Bryan Attermeier 2nd place in the Black & White Category: Vallari Talapatra

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

iLandscape

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

2nd place in the Pet Category: Michael Quagliano Winner of the Pet Category: Angela Davis

Winner of the Flower Category: Mary DiCarlo

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Winner of the Sunset Cate

Structure Category: Steve Wikner

2nd place in the Structure Category: John Algozzini

2nd place in the Sunset Category: Vallari Talapatra

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

iLandscape

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

egory: Michael Quagliano

Winner of the Tree Category: Linda Kiscellus

2nd place in the Tree Category: Tina Turner

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Winner of the State/National Park Category: Rob Schwarz

2nd place in the State/National Park Category: Kristen Kinsella

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

iLandscape

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Winner of the Water Category: Vallari Talapatra

2nd place in the Water Category: Savanna Daniels

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29 29

2nd place in the Wildllfe Category: To Winner of the Public Garden Category: Amy Taylor

2nd place in the Public Garden Category: Tina Turner

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

2nd place in Winter Category: Kathlee

ony Wasemann

en Edwards

Winner of the Wildlife Category: Amanda Arnold

Winner of the Winter Category: Kristina Jauch

The Landscape Contractor 31 June 2022

Winner of the Wild Card Category: Savanna Daniels

2nd place in the Wild Card Category: Rob Schwarz

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

iLandscape

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

Vallari Talapatra won the Judges Grand Prize with this water photo.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

¿Piensa usted ampliar su mercado más allá de su propia línea estatal? El atractivo de l traído problemas a un contratista. Estos son algunos consejos útiles que vale la pena

¿Trabaja fuera del estado? Esto es lo que debe saber

por Meta L. Levin

Trabajar a través de las fronteras

estatales implica más que montarse en un camión y conducir por la carretera. Las leyes, los impuestos y los requisitos comerciales varían de un estado a otro. Solo porque pueda hacer una cosa en Illinois, no significa que es igual en Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan o cualquier otro estado cercano. “Los impuestos son un elemento importante”, dice Ed Furner, Director de Servicios de Alto Nivel de Mariani Landscape. “Cada estado tiene su propia carga impositiva”. Mariani realiza una cantidad considerable de trabajos fuera del estado, especialmente en Wisconsin y cada vez más en Michigan, en gran parte debido a que muchos de sus clientes en Illinois tienen casas para vacaciones en esos dos estados. De hecho, Mariani realiza tantos trabajos en Wisconsin que cinco equipos de trabajadores de paisajismo tienen su base de operaciones en un vivero propiedad de la compañía en Kenosha. “Ahorra tiempo de desplazamiento”, afirma Furner. Schmechtig Landscapes, que también realiza muchos trabajos en Wisconsin, compró una empresa de paisajismo en el estado. “La mayoría de nuestros clientes son de Illinois y tienen casas veraniegas en Wisconsin”, afirma el dueño, Mike Schmechtig. Algunos son de otros estados. “Queremos estar en la localidad 34

para poder atender a nuestros clientes”. No obstante, las oficinas principales de Schmechtig permanecen en Illinois. Impuestos y otros asuntos financieros regulados a nivel estatal ¿Quién pensaría que la compañía de

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

decoraciones del hogar en línea, Wayfair, estaría conectada con cómo los contratistas realizan sus operaciones? Pero lo está, afirma Nahrain Mikhael, CPA, un socio fiscal con Liptschultz, Levin & Gray LLC, con base de operaciones en Northbrook. En la decisión de la Corte Suprema de 2018, South Dakota v. Wayfair, la corte amplió las obligaciones de los minoristas para recolectar impuestos de ventas por compras hechas fuera del estado. Esto cambió la presencia física o regla del nexo económico. “Si las ventas sobrepasan los $100,000 en el estado, el contratista de paisajismo ha establecido nexos económicos para ventas”, afirma Mikhael. Algunos estados, como Wisconsin, cobran impuestos de venta por servicios. Illinois no lo hace. Por consiguiente, si planea realizar trabajos para un cliente en otro estado, “haga su diligencia debida”. El sitio web del estado puede proporcionar mucha información. Comuníquese con su CPA (contador público certificado), el cual podrá hacer uso de recursos disponibles, como CCH, Inc., que ofrece información sobre leyes tributarias y comerciales. Podría justificar el costo para un contratista de paisajismo que estuviera realizando muchos trabajos importantes en otro estado contratar una firma especializada para que realice un estudio de nexos.

la expansión ha considerar.

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

¿Tiene el estado en el que está realizando el trabajo un acuerdo de reciprocidad con Illinois sobre impuestos? Algunos estados tienen acuerdos de reciprocidad con estados vecinos. Por ejemplo, Wisconsin es un estado recíproco con Illinois, pero Indiana no lo es. Por consiguiente, en Indiana, usted debe pagar impuestos en el lugar donde se realiza el trabajo. Michigan, Iowa y Kentucky tienen también acuerdos con Illinois.

¿Domicilio?

Luego está el asunto de dónde tiene usted su domicilio. Por ejemplo, si un contratista de paisajismo de Illinois realiza tantos trabajos en Indiana que el dueño decide alquilar un área de almacenamiento para mantener equipos cerca del sitio de trabajo, Indiana considera eso sujeto a impuestos de propiedad personal del estado. En esas circunstancias, Michigan también cobra impuestos de propiedad personal. Domicilio en este caso se considera un término legal para el lugar que la compañía considera su domicilio, es decir, Illinois. Por ejemplo, Mariani Landscapes tiene su domicilio social en Illinois – Lake Bluff, IL, para ser exactos. Por consiguiente, dice Furner, la nómina viene a través de Illinois. “Los estados se está n volviendo más agresivos en la forma de gravar a las compañías”, afirma Mikhael. Cuando trabaja en otro estado, es importante llevar un control de los clientes, dónde se provee el servicio y dónde se envían los artículos, dice Mikhael. “Una vez que comienza a trabajar

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

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

TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR. en otros estados, abre la puerta a los nexos”, dice. “La mayoría de los estados se han subido al carro de Wayfair”. Si un contratista de paisajismo está generando ingresos que sobrepasan el umbral de Wayfair, entonces, dice Mikhael, el contratista deberá pensar en registrarse y presentar los documentos requeridos en el estado. Debe conocer bien las leyes estatales. Por ejemplo, si envía a un empleado a Nueva York, aunque sea por un día, podría exigirse retener impuestos de Nueva York, aunque hay excepciones.

Seguro

El seguro de accidentes de trabajo es la ley en Illinois y en la mayoría de los demás estados, aunque varían los términos de los requisitos de ese seguro. De hecho, Texas es el único estado que no exige que los empleadores tengan ese seguro, aunque algunos estados tienen un fondo de seguro estatal en lugar del seguro de accidentes de trabajo. “Si tiene un empleado, aunque fuera un empleado a tiempo parcial, en Illinois debe tener un seguro de accidentes de trabajo”, dice

Debbie McGuire, ejecutiva de cuentas para Crum-Halsted Insurance and Risk Management. “Hay una multa elevada para empleadores que no lo tienen”. Por elevada, ella quiere decir una multa de aproximadamente $500 por día con un mínimo de $10,000. No obstante, si el empleado es dueño, socio o ejecutivo de la compañía, se puede excluir el requisito. Debido a que el seguro de accidentes de trabajo se rige por las normas de cada estado, las leyes y las tarifas aplicables no son las mismas. Por ejemplo, si la oficina principal de una compañía tiene su domicilio en Wisconsin, pero empleados cruzan a Illinois para trabajar, el contratista debe tener seguro de accidentes de trabajo in Illinois. En Illinois es exactamente lo opuesto. Cada estado tiene sus propias leyes, señala McGuire. Cuando un empleado cruza la línea estatal de Illinois a Wisconsin y resulta lesionado, él o ella puede decidir en qué estado demandar los beneficios del seguro de accidentes de trabajo. La clave es informar a su agente de seguro si va a cruzar las líneas estatales para trabajar

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

en otro estado. “El mayor problema es cuando la compañía de seguros no sabe que algo ha cambiado”, afirma McGuire. Ella advierte que, si usted trabaja en otro estado sin tener la cobertura del seguro de accidentes de trabajo y un empleado sufre una lesión, su compañía de seguros podría o no cubrirla, pero también podría negarse a renovar su cobertura de seguro. También está el asunto de la responsabilidad general y el seguro de camiones y otros equipos. Usualmente, eso se determina en base al lugar donde esté domiciliada la compañía. “Usted debe informar a su compañía de seguros si va a trabajar en otro estado, porque ahora hay exposición en otro estado”, dice McGuire. Trabajando a través de las líneas estatales Los principales problemas son los que están afectando a todos: mano de obra y cadena de suministro, pero hay muchos otros. El tiempo de desplazamiento puede ser un problema, dependiendo de cómo el contratista de paisajismo lo gestione. Mariani tiene equipos de trabajo fuera del Vivero Mariani en Kenosha y Schmechtig Landscapes compró una compañía de paisajismo más pequeña en Wisconsin para atender a sus clientes ahí. Mariani tiene también una sucursal en Westmont y equipos de trabajo que se dirigen a la región sur de Michigan fuera de las instalaciones. “La región sur de Michigan se ha convertido en un mercado en el cual estamos realizando muchos trabajos debido a que algunos de nuestros clientes de alto nivel están construyendo segundas casas ahí”, dice Furner. “Desean la misma calidad que tienen en sus casas aquí”. Los gastos de alojamiento, comida e incidentales no solo pueden convertirse en un problema, sino también aumentar significativamente el precio del proyecto. “Tiempos de desplazamiento y gastos de alojamiento y manutención que cuestan más que el mismo proyecto”, dice Furner. Si el tiempo de desplazamiento es de menos de una hora a una hora o una hora y media, usualmente Mariani envía un equipo de trabajo sin alojamiento durante la noche. “El tiempo de desplazamiento es un gran desafío”, afirma Chad Swanson, Director de Atención al Cliente de Mariani. Pero la necesidad de alojar a los miembros de un equipo de trabajo por muchos días 36

presenta otros problemas. Algunos empleados son reacios a pasar días fuera de sus hogares por diferentes motivos y Furner tiene eso en cuenta cuando reúne un equipo de trabajo. Algunas veces, son necesarios varios viajes porque tratan de obtener las plantas localmente. Algunos estados no permiten que diferentes tipos de plantas sean transportadas en camión a través de las líneas estatales. Si bien Iowa permite a los contratistas de paisajismo introducir plantas desde Illinois, hay otros problemas, dice Jamie Lewis, presidente de Heritage Landscape Design, Inc. en Moline, IL. Debido a que Moline es parte de las Quad Cities, un complejo de ciudades en la frontera Illinois-Iowa, Davenport y Bettendorf, Iowa, son consideradas parte de su mercado. Sus negocios se dividen cerca de 50-50 a cada lado de la línea estatal. “Iowa tiene normas diferentes para imponer impuestos a nuevas construcciones y plantas para paisajismo en una casa establecida”, dice. No se cobran impuestos por las plantas dirigidas a jardines alrededor de una casa existente. No obstante, si se trata de una nueva construcción, el estado cobra impuestos sobre materiales y mano de obra. En Illinois, Heritage paga impuestos sobre el costo a la compañía por plantas nuevas. Lewis con frecuencia va al estado para obtener opiniones por escrito cuando hay una pregunta sobre imposiciones tributarias. “Iowa es realmente buena para eso”, dice. Diferentes estados tienen también diferentes requisitos de licencia y directrices para los que aplican herbicidas y pesticidas. Los que trabajan en Wisconsin, aunque tengan licencia de Illinois para realizar el trabajo, deben también hacer la prueba para obtener una licencia en Wisconsin, dice Swanson. También hay diferentes regulaciones para eliminar los residuos de jardinería. Usualmente, el contratista encontrará un sitio local para esto. “Por ejemplo, en Lake Geneva, encontramos un centro de jardinería local que es una instalación de compostaje con licencia y les pagamos para que vertieran nuestros residuos”, dice. Hay diferencias en la forma en que Heritage lista los costos en la factura. “Es complicado”, dice. Si Heritage realiza un trabajo con contrato con el gobierno en Illinois, con frecuencia los trabajadores deben estar sindicalizados o se deben pagar los salarios prevalecientes. No obstante, no hay contratos sindicales en las Quad cities. Iowa sí exige que se paguen los The Landscape Contractor June 2022

salarios prevalecientes. “Los sindicatos son fuertes en Illinois, pero es fácil trabajar con ellos”, asegura. Heritage ocasionalmente ha realizado proyectos en Peoria y Bloomington, IL, lo suficientemente lejos para lidiar con alojamiento y pago de comidas. En el caso de proyectos grandes a largo plazo lo suficientemente lejos para que los equipos de trabajo tengan que permanecer varios días, con frecuencia contratan equipos de trabajo locales y envían un gerente de proyecto al sitio. En tales casos, cambian a los gerentes de proyectos para que ninguno permanezco lejos de casa por períodos largos.

Regulaciones

Si va a excavar, necesita saber dónde están los cables y tuberías subterráneos de servicios públicos. En Illinois, eso significa contactar a JULIE. Wisconsin tiene la Diggers Hotline (Línea directa para excavadores). Sus requisitos también son diferentes. JULIE tomará la dirección de la propiedad donde se realizará el trabajo. Wisconsin exige la longitud y la latitud. Swanson recomienda también convertirse en parte de la comunidad si realizará trabajos significativos en el área. Únase a organizaciones locales. Por ejemplo, Mariani se incorporó a la Geneva Lake Conservancy y ofreció sus servicios. Los problemas de mano de obra también pueden complicar el trabajo a través de las líneas estatales. Si está utilizando empleados que están en los Estados Unidos bajo el programa H2B, no se permite a estos empleados cruzar las líneas estatales. “Si hay falta de personal, no podemos asignarlos aleatoriamente a un equipo de trabajo”, dice. Luego están los asuntos relacionados con camiones y obtención de permisos. Los camiones que pesan más de una tonelada requerirán de un permiso de desplazamiento, ya no digamos los camiones de obras, y los camiones de basura grandes deberán detenerse en las estaciones de pesaje del estado y sus conductores deberán tener una licencia de conductor comercial. Los mejor es investigar, investigar, investigar antes de ir a otro estado. También puede ser lo más correcto.

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The Landscape Contractor 37 June 2022

Focus — The Pros at Home

ILCA Visits Tim Johnson and by Nina Koziol

On a quiet tree-lined street in Highland

Park sits an iconic Midwestern four-square built in 1894. Poised on a 3/4-acre lot, the house and garden are set apart from others on the block by the selection of plants: pagoda dogwood, a columnar Regal Prince oak, a dawn redwood, hemlocks and viburnums as well as drifts of native perennials along the foundation. “He’s really good at picking more unusual shrubs,” Kristie Webber says of her husband, Tim Johnson. The couple married in 1991, and they both work at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Beginnings

Webber and Johnson have known each other since shortly after college. They met at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. When the Garden hired Johnson in 1985, the couple had been writing letters and talking by phone. Johnson sent Webber a job posting for a then-new position at Chicago Botanic Garden — Coordinator of Continuing Education. She also worked at Chicago’s Field Museum as division head of adult and family programs, before re-joining the Garden’s staff in 2001. She has served as the Garden’s

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Kristie Webber at Home Director of Interpretive Programs and has a lifelong passion for all things nature and gardening-related. Johnson is the Garden’s Senior Director of Horticulture. He’s a long-time contributor to The Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald where his articles on plants and gardening enlighten both homeowners and landscapers.

Inspiration

Johnson’s interest in gardening began in grade school, when he had a large collection of indoor plants. He also planted flowers around the family home in Nebraska and helped his grandfather maintain two large vegetable gardens each summer. “In sixth grade I got into houseplants and then I started mowing lawns,” he said. “I used my dad’s mower and that was before I could drive so I had to push the mower everywhere.” By junior high, he was into sports. “I was all into training and competing year-round. I mowed my parent’s lawn, weeded and edged the beds — I did it because I liked it.” While in college, Johnson pursued computer science but soon realized it wasn’t his thing. “I saw horticulture and that looked interesting so I shifted my major.” Webber started gardening at a young age as well, growing beans and buying “penny packs” of mail-order seeds.“A neighbor had a huge vegetable garden and I hung out with Mr. Carlton [an avid gardener] all the time. I was really young when I tried growing beans.” Her parents and uncle encouraged her gardening efforts. She has a BS in horticulture from Virginia Tech and a masters in education from the University of Illinois. Dr. Diane Relf, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech, is one of her many mentors. Relf had a distinguished career as a Professor and Extension Specialist and was a founding member of what is now the American Horticultural Therapy Association. “She was a pioneer and my advisor. I did an internship in horticulture therapy at a Cooperative Extension office, but I also liked the Extension part.”

Their Garden

While Johnson focuses on the ornamental part of the landscape, Webber is all about the vegetables — growing, harvesting, and serving fresh, as well as canning and freezing. (continued on page 40) The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Focus — The The Pros at Home (continued from page 39) After living in a small house, she was thrilled when they moved to a bigger house and year in Highland Park. “I couldn’t do vegetables at the other house, and oh my gosh, now I had sun.” Webber has three vegetable gardens and several pots of herbs on the deck. “When I think about my garden, it’s an outlet and a respite,” she said. During the growing season, she spends about 30 minutes a day tending edibles. The couple’s dachshunds — Archie and Pippa — often get to the raspberries before they do. There’s never an herbicide used anywhere in the edible gardens. Webber amends the vegetable beds with compost and grows a cover crop to replenish soil fertility. “I still have Jim Crockett’s Victory Garden book [from the 1980s], more for sentimental reasons,” she says with a chuckle. “It mentions lots of chemicals. There’s so much we didn’t learn in school [about alternative methods]. I spray nothing.” She is an organic gardener, composting and hand weeding. Many of the tomatoes she grows are heirlooms started from seed that she saves each year. “I love keeping a garden journal and I’m a proud card-carrying member of the Seed Saver’s Exchange. There’s a whole world of seeds that makes me crazy in a good way.” Pearly Pink, Riesentraube and

Sunrise Bumble Bee are just a few of the unusual heirloom and open-pollinated tomato plants she raises. “I was inspired by Craig Lehoullier.” He’s a tomato guru, author of “Epic Tomatoes,” (www.craiglehoullier.com). She also grows garlic and heirloom fingering potatoes as well, saying, “It’s very gratifying.” Low(er) Maintenance In the beginning, the couple removed some weedy maples and buckthorn. Now, the property is primarily low maintenance with mixed shrub and herbaceous borders. The over-riding theme is keeping things beautiful but simple. “I’m not a typical gardener and I’ll push the limit a little bit,” Johnson said. “If a plant keeps failing, I don’t have time to fuss with it.” Instead of mulch, a mixed planting of hostas creates a colorful quilt under a large oak. “There are 10 to 12 types and it looks good all summer,” he said. “I let them be — they push up through the leaf litter in spring.” He’s particularly drawn to blue foliage. “I use Hadspen Blue hosta and Hakonechoa ‘All Gold’, which is more reliable than Hakonechloa aureola. It might be boring, but I don’t care — I like it. I just want to enjoy my own space. Some people do big fancy gardens but I’m not out to prove anything.” (continued on page 42)

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Focus — The Pros at Home (continued from page 10) The previous owner installed an irrigation system for the lawn, but the couple never use it. “I’m not against it,” Johnson said, “but I don’t see any need to water.” He mows the grass,,, keeping it at about three inches tall or so. The lawn gets cut one last time in December to chop up the leaves. “The thought of blowing them, moving them onto a tarp — I just can’t do that.” When he’s not working or training for a half-marathon, he does landscape design (Tim Johnson Landscaping, Inc.).

“There’s been a tremendous boom in homeowners wanting garden improvements and plants,” he said. “I like more of a natural look. It’s possible to have a decent garden without spending a lot of time on it.” Issues & Opportunities There have been challenges. One year, Johnson wanted more evergreens and planted Japanese yews (Taxus cuspidata). “They all burned but recovered. I knew I was asking for it —the rootballs were frozen. They got taller and they’re all fine now. It

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seems much warmer than even 10 years ago.” Deer browsing put the brakes on tulips and the biggest challenge, Johnson said, is lesser celandine, a weed that has taken hold in the lawn. “We have huge signature oak trees — two in the back and one giant tree in front is in a photo from 1906,” Webber said. “It was a dirt road at the time the photo was taken,” Johnson added. As a result, the amount of shade has increased so Johnson built another bed in the middle of the lawn where sunlight hits. Ironically, Webber and Johnson have never shopped for plants together. “She may see a plant and send me a photo or a label of it. Usually, it’s when I’m out shopping that I pick them up,” he said. The Great Outdoors During the summer, Johnson rides his bike 30 miles a week, building up to 60-mile rides. He’s ridden the Apple Cider Century ride (100 miles) in Michigan. “I ride some mornings and at the gym at night. You have to stay with it.” To say they are adventurous is an understatement. Webber has explored South America and enjoys travel, sometimes solo. When it comes to dressing for outdoor work, especially in winter, Johnson says, “Anything designed to work well for the outdoor sports person should work well

for the gardener.” He’s not kidding. He likes to hit the ski slopes via helicopter, which sounds rather terrifying to the novice skier. The helicopter drops him and others on a steep mountainside in British Columbia, and they are on their own for hours. “It’s super fun,” said Johnson, who has skied for 28 years. “You’re in the back country skiing all day long.” He dresses depending on the level of activity. “I’m big on layering so you can adjust. It’s much better to have multiple layers than one thick coat.” The Future Johnson predicts that if the interest in gardening continues, “Gardens will be more elaborate with more plants and there will be more sensitivity to the environment — they’ll be more environmentally friendly. People are looking to bring the inside lifestyle outside. And color is still a big interest — I’ve been hearing about that for as long as I can remember.” His biggest take-away from decades in horticulture? “The foremost thing is to get the right plant for the site. Get that right and you’re good to go.”

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More Insights from The Spring Plant Panel

More Great Woody Plants Nina A. Koziol In last month’s issue, we featured “Why Plant Ho-Hum Trees?” This month we go back to our panel to provide some insight on other underused woodies. Julie Janoski, plant clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Jim Matusik, owner of the Tree Connection, a wholesale nursery stock distribution company in Rochester, Michigan, Jeff Kramer, V.P. and ISA Certified Arborist at Kramer Tree Specialists in West Chicago, and Mike Cook of Cedar Path Nurseries in Barrington and Lockport, IL, weigh in.

Panicle hydrangeas have been hot for more

than a decade. Their giant flower heads, like upside down ice cream cones, come in shades from cream and pale green to vivid pinks and deep wine in late summer. It’s no wonder they are wildly popular. They bloom on new wood and they make great cut flowers for your clients. “People don’t often think about making a large shrub into a tree,” Janoski said, but panicle hydrangeas trained to a single stem have become increasingly popular.

“I’m having much more success with tree-form hydrangeas,” Cook said. “I’m doing that one balled-and-burlap because the sales people want them like that. You have to know how and when to culturally care for them. I find them much more successful by siting them where there’s reduced wind and afternoon sun.” Standard-form hydrangeas can be used as specimens, placed in a mixed border or underplanted with perennials and annuals. Given a very large container and a protected site in winter, they can be potted up, especially the shrubby types. Although Janoski notes that no specific borer attacks hydrangea, “They’ll use the hydrangea stems because the pith is light. Bees and other things may use them as egglaying sites.” So just be on the lookout especially if the plants become stressed by drought this summer. “They are beautiful and they are easy care and bloom a long time,” she said. (continued on page 46)

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

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More Insights from The Spring Plant Panel (continued from page 44) The new Great Wall Pekin lilac (Syringa pekinensis ‘WFH2’) is getting lots of buzz but may be a bit hard to find. “It’s so new that all of the sales reps are telling me about it,” Kramer said. “Everyone is talking about how good it is in form and structure.” At 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide, the tree features showy plumes of fragrant white flowers from late spring to early summer. Fall color is gold and the peeling coppery-bronze ›bark is extremely showy, adding significant winter interest. Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a northeastern Asian species first introduced into North America in the 1860s for its ornamental features—primarily its fiery fall color, which homeowners love. However, it’s been listed for years as a “species of concern” in Illinois, and Minnesota added burning bush to its noxious weed list requiring nurseries and growers to phase the plant out by 2023. There are plenty of good alternatives with nice fall color. And, they are often under-used: oak-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenia), black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), spice bush (Lindera benzoin), bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) and Royal Purple smokebush (Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’), the smokebush can be cut back in sprig to create a bushier, more colorful plant.

Syringa pekinensis ‘WFH2’ Great Wall Pekin lilac

Aronia arbutifolia

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(continued on page 48) Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ Purple Smokebush 46

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

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More Insights from The Spring Plant Panel (continued from page 46) Another burning bush alternative is Englishtown, a dwarf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Englishtown’) that is one of Matusik’s favorites. “It’s a very nice, small tree at 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. A nice fall plant.” Englishtown maple grows in a dense upright form and holds its color into the heat of summer, making it good for tight spots. The fall color is a vivid red. Hardy to one 5, Englishtown prefers well-drained soil and partial shade.

Kramer likes native paw paws (Asimina triloba) for their tropical look and resistance to insects and disease. “I don’t treat them for anything at this point and nowadays what aren’t we treating?” Easily grown in average, medium-to-wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, paw paw has large, elliptical, medium green leaves up to 12 inches long. Fall color can be a bright yellow. In the spring, small purple flowers give way to edible, oblong, yellowish-green fruits that mature in early autumn. Although paw paw will grow in full shade, it becomes leggy.

When it comes to native trees, Janoski really likes pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). “It has a beautiful form with a multi-tiered shape. It’s not a fast-growing tree and tolerates quite a bit of shade, but needs a bit of wind protection in the winter.” She notes that this small tree is not widely used and that’s what can set one project apart from another. “It does like a bit of moisture, but moist, well-drained soil and it needs to be well-mulched, but it’s a really lovely one.” In its natural habitat, pagoda dogwood is an understory, edgeof-the-forest woody. (continued on page 50) 48

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

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The Landscape Contractor June 2022

More Insights from The Spring Plant Panel (continued from page 48) Kramer likes the native American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) also known as musclewood for its smooth bark. “It’s similar to American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). American hornbeam doesn’t get huge — about 25 feet. It’s a nice size and what’s unique is that they are deciduous but can be used year ’round as a privacy plant. They hold onto their leaves through the winter.” Resources: www.mortonarb.org www.thetreeconnection.com http://www.cedarpath.net https://kramertree.com

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New Members — CONTRACTORS Basic Irrigation Services Donn J Kizior 12024 S Aero Dr. Plainfield, IL 60585 Email: basicirrigation@comcast.net Phone: 815-609-9102 Charles Williams Vegetation Management, LLC Charles Williams 5380 W. Gardner Rd. Verona, IL 60479 Email: kurt@canopykurt.com Phone: 815-514-7849 Corn Crib Nursery 6924 Route 150 Coal Valley, IL 61240 Email: derek@corncribnursery.com Phone: 309-799-3745 www.corncribnursery.com Established in 1972, Corn Crib has become one of the oldest and largest landscaping and garden center companies in the Quad City Area. With more than 25 acres and 13 greenhouses we locally grow most of our stock of trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetables and annual flowers at our Coal Valley location. Our garden center store has everything you need from fertilizers to gifts and gift cards. Our landscape services include design, consultation and construction for residential and commercial projects. Elite Landscape Services Michael Kissel 14N300 Factly Rd Sycamore, IL 60178 Email: elitelandscape85@gmail.com Phone: 847-344-4977 Elitelandscapeservicesil.com Established in 1985, Elite Landscape Services has dedicated itself to providing the best Landscape and Hardscape Design, Installation and Lawn Maintenance for every budget. We are a family owned and operated landscape company that understands that details matter. If you’re looking for a new landscape company that you can trust to get the job done and be transparent throughout the whole process, then look no further. Give us a call today! 52

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Mendez Landscaping & Brick Pavers, Inc. Gabriel Mendez 2805 Raycraft Rd. Woodstock, IL 60098 Email: info@mendezlandscaping.net Phone: 815-245-3046 www.mendezlandscaping.net We are a family owned company that specializes in Landscaping, Hardscaping and Tree services that have been serving all of Woodstock and all it’s surrounding areas, since 2006. Prairie View Landscaping Peter Martin 501 E. Bell St. Bloomington, IL 61701 Email: petermartin@pv-landscaping.com Phone: 309-212-0205 pv-landscaping.com Tezak’s Pro Lawn Care Tony 7 S Margaret Street Joliet, IL 60436 Email: service@tezaksprolawncare.com Phone: 815-483-4473 www.tezaksprolawncare.com Tezak’s Pro Lawn Care provides the Joliet area lawn maintenance and landscape enhancements. Our goal is to provide exceptional and unique landscape services to our customers built on excellent customer service. The Bravos Landscape Jose Bravo 2621 30th St Zion, IL 60099 Email: joseb@thebravoslandscape.com Phone: 224-260-6034 https://thebravoslandscape.business.site The Bravo’s Landscape Inc. is a full service landscaping company. With nearly 20 years of experience we strive to meet your needs in a professional & helpful manner. Making your dream of a vibrant, living landscape is our passion. We will work personally with you to come up with a landscape design and plan that will not only enhance your property but make it that much more beautiful, as it should be. Our team will work with you to solve any issues on your property, providing a wide variety

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

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE/ DESIGN FIRMS Rooted Outdoor Living LLC Dawn Barr Oswego, IL 60543 Email: info@rootedoutdoorliving.com Phone: 630-881-8013 www.rootedoutdoorliving.com I have been designing and installing in the landscape industry for over 15 years. I started my own landscape design/build firm in order to better serve homeowners one-on-one and facilitate the process from initial meeting to project completion and beyond. I strive to create current, elegant, and sustainable landscapes, and love to encourage people to get outdoors! My service area is the western suburbs of Chicago. SUPPLIERS Sod Solutions Elizabeth Broucqsault P.O. Box 460 Mount Pleasant, SC 29465 Email: beth@sodsolutions.com Phone: 843-670-5088 www.sodsolutions.com Sod Solutions has been researching, developing and releasing to the market new turfgrass varieties for almost three decades. Our new professionally focused arm of the company, Sod Solutions Pro takes our industry knowledge and puts it to use, facilitating large-scale turfgrass projects from beginning to end. Our team of turfgrass and technology experts delivers innovative solutions through improved turfgrass brands, farm management software and cutting-edge fertilizer technology.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Special Feature

Weed of the Month: : Star-of-Bethlehem Pest of the Month: Four-lined Plant Bug

by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Four-lined Plant Bug

Weed of the Month: Star-of-Bethlehem

Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is a perennial bulb with thin grass-like foliage and starry white flowers. An aggressive spreader, they often appear in lawns or become so thick in beds that they out-compete desired plants. The flowers are usually branched open clusters of bright, waxy, white blossoms with 6 petals and a characteristic green stripe on the underside. They bloom April through June and are about 8 to 12 inches high. The leaves resemble crocus Rhizosphaera infection foliage but are far denser in growth. Seed pods are formed after flowering and then plants die back to the bulbs until the next year. Numerous bulblets spring from the parent plants.

Treatment:

You can hand-dig the bulbs for removal but avoid tilling an area with Star-of-Bethlehem as it helps spread the bulbs throughout the site. In lawns, herbicide options include sulfentrazone, carfentrazone, or 2,4-D (either alone or in a 3-way product). Plan on at least two consecutive years of treatment to eradicate. These postemergent herbicides must be applied to the leaves and since the leaves wither in early summer, proper timing is important. In landscape beds, spot treatment using glyphosate shows marginal results, so hand-digging is your best option. Vigilant weed control is the best way to eradicate Star-of-Bethlehem.

Additional resources:

University of Illinois Extension Service https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php 217-333-0519 54

Clients may call alarmed by an unusual pattern of damage resembling lines or clusters of round dots on leaves of plants in the mint and aster family, among others. Four-lined plant bugs (Poecilocapsus lineatus) have been out and about. These tiny insects are named for the four black lines that run down the leathery part of the adults’ wings. The lines of the adult bug can be bright green to bright yellow. The body of the nymphal stage can be bright red and develops the four lines as it matures. As a true bug, their piercing sucking mouthparts allow them to feed on plant fluids, producing dark round sunken spots on the leaves after feeding. Poecilocapsus lineatus The characteristic spots may be clear then form a depression as the plant bug sucks out the chlorophyll. Eggs overwinter in the stems of favored plants, with one generation produced each year. The tiny adults tend to hide in leaf axils, making damage the most reliable tool for diagnosis.

Treatment:

There are no fungicides that effectively control this disease. The best chance of tree survival is to prune diseased branches as soon as suspected fungus is confirmed. Cut back all diseased branches to the nearest living laterals or to the trunk. Avoid injuring bark and clean pruning tools between cuts to reduce fungus spread. Do not prune when affected trees are wet, as spores exude from cankers onto the surface of the bark. Trees under stress are more likely to become infected, so keep trees mulched, fertilize lightly in spring, and water in dry periods, especially going into winter.

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 2022

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

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BlueSky Irrigation, Inc. PO Box 896 Cary, IL 60013 (847) 829-4040 www.blueskyinc.org

by Meta Levin

BlueSky Irrigation, Inc. in Cary, IL is truly

a family business. Officially owned by Susan Bozeman, but including her husband John, and their two sons Grey and Greer, BlueSky Irrigation began about five years ago when the opportunity came to go out on their own. John Bozeman had worked in the irrigation industry for 30 years, most recently in sales and project management for a large irrigation firm. When it changed hands, he approached his wife with the idea of starting their own company. For the first year, Bozeman did most of the work. “I managed to sell and design, then I brought in associates from my previous job to install the new projects,” he says. By 2019 his older son, Grey who had been helping part time, came on board full time. He handles service, maintenance and repair, as well as some new installation. The following year, just in time for the pandemic, the younger son, Greer, joined the company. Business boomed and now, says Bozeman, “I could use four to six more employees. Our business has doubled every year.” Bozeman likes a challenge and that is what he found when a company approached him about doing dust control on or around construction sites. This has required some creative thinking, says Bozeman. They serve six sites in the Chicago area where trucks are coming and going to dump and pick up raw materials. Using what they know about irrigation systems, the Bozemans have used a combination of pumping and spraying systems, spray bars, running lines up conveyer belts and other tools to control the dust. “A company out of Bartlett needed something like this and couldn’t find anyone to do it,” Bozeman says. “It was kind of fun.” Bozeman got his willingness to jump in and try something new, as well as his work ethic, from his parents, who owned a construction company in southern California, specializing in pools. He worked there while growing up. His wife, who he met in college, was from the Midwest. 56

Although they began married life in California, Bozeman’s father-in-law, an independent businessman, sent him a business plan for a water purification business. It made sense, so they and their then young sons, headed to the Midwest. The company lasted a few years before Bozeman felt he needed to do something else. He answered an advertisement for an irrigation contractor, was hired and it clicked. He’s been in the irrigation business ever since. Previously, the family would visit Bozeman’s parents in California during the cold weather. With the advent of winter in January 2022, however, he and his wife are in the office, wrapping up the 2021 season and getting service contracts out to customers. “I used to work hard for other people,” he says. “A 16-hour day is not so bad if you can look up and say this is what we do for ourselves.” The four Bozemans have found that they work well together. “When we are on site, we enjoy working together,” he says. “We’re really blessed that the kids have taken to it and enjoy it.” Even when not working, the family spends time together. They take annual camping trips and enjoy playing golf. Bozeman was introduced to ILCA during his previous jobs. He often attended the shows and other events, but BlueSky Irrigation finally joined in the fall 2021. “It’s been great,” he says. “I’m big on networking with different landscape contractors and I enjoy meeting the vendors.” Family members are also taking advantage of the training and classes. “I want to be a part of awareness and doing things correctly,” he says.

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

Classified Ads HELP WANTED Commercial Landscape Estimator Responsibilities: • Reading plans and specifications to determine scope of work • Perform accurate material, equipment and labor take-offs • Solicit sub & supplier pricing and estimate volume of work • Prepare timely estimates and meet bid deadlines • Review contract documents upon award • Communications with clients, project architects, subcontractors, etc. • Project billing and cost evaluation Qualifications: • Excellent communications, computer and math skills Email resume and cover letter to accounting@allied-landscaping.com Landscape Project Manager We seek an experienced Landscape Project Manager to join us at our third generation, family-owned company. In this role, you will take a construction project from scheduling to completion, with a lot of communication, teamwork, and pro-active problem solving in between. Experience in landscape construction, site and crew supervision, and managing subcontractors is a must. This full-time, year-round position offers a robust benefits and compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability

HELP WANTED insurances, FSA, paid time off, holidays, and 401(k) with match. If you’re a people person who’s great at thinking on your feet, multi-tasking, and seeing details and the big picture, consider joining our team! Please email AlexM@chaletnursery.com and include your resume if you have one. Account Manager We are looking for a motivated individual who has experience as an account manager in the green industry, or an individual who has been working in the green industry who is looking to learn to become an account manager. Applicants for training must meet the following requirements: Must live in the south or southwest suburbs, have a valid drivers license, and have a minimum of five years in the green industry. Applicants should also be able to do basic math, use a map, and have basic computer skills. This position is a salaried position, yearround, with full benefits in a company vehicle.

HELP WANTED Turf Care Manager / Director of Operations Greenwise has the following full-time positions available: Turf Care Manager The Turf Care Manager is an energetic operations leader responsible for improving the infrastructure, processes, and systems throughout the division. The Turf Care Manager is accountable for all aspects of Turf Care operations and is a key member of the Operations team, reporting directly to the Director of Operations. Director of Operations The Director of Operations is responsible for supervising Managers of each division, including: Organic Turf Care Manager, Maintenance Manager, Construction Manager, Snow Manager and Yard Manager. This is a full-time role, year-round. This includes participation in our snow removal services between November and March. Please visit to our website: https://www. iamgreenwise.com/career-opportunities/ for a complete list of tasks and responsibilities.

Email info@suburbanlandscaping.net to apply

Residential Maintenance Account Manager Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Landscape Designer/Project Director Management Associate Call Maria for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers 58

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Landscape Designer

Purchasing Assistant

Purchasing Manager and Landscape Maintenance Supervisor

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

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

Human Resources Recruiting Specialist This position is responsible for supporting all hiring activities, from advertising open roles to interviewing candidates and closing hires. The Recruitment Specialist responsibilities include connecting with potential candidates online and offline, screening applications and supporting hiring managers. This position is responsible for hiring qualified people while maintaining a positive candidate experience. Scan the QR code below to apply.

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

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES June 2022 issue ads: May 15, 2022 July 2022 issue ads: June 15, 2022

Purchasing Manager We are looking for an experienced purchasing manager. Quality control, cost –effective budgeting, plant and landscape construction material knowledge are necessary. Responsibilities will include all price cataloging, establishing vendor relationships, ordering all materials, managing all material delivery, and maintaining a running inventory on stock items. Qualifications: 2 years of industry related experience, highly organized and detailoriented. Salary commensurate with experience, 401K, health insurance and vacation pay. Landscape Maintenance Supervisor Our maintenance division is expanding and we need a gregarious, detail oriented, professional individual that possesses integrity and a keen eye for potential projects. Responsibilities will include weekly property assessments, crew evaluations, and daily communication with Maintenance director. Maintaining and organizing client accounts in Excel also required. Minimum qualifications: 2 years experience in a landscape related field, knowledge of turf and plant health, and/or a horticulture related education. Salary commensurate with experience, health insurance contribution, vacation pay, and a company phone. Please send all resumes to Mark King mking@kingslandcaping.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

King’s Landscape Design is an award winning, family owned, landscape Design / Build Company. We offer exceptional, comprehensive services for residential and commercial clients, ranging from full service maintenance programs to architectural design and construction. King’s Landscape Design has been a staple in the southwestern suburbs since 1959. We are growing and need outstanding individuals that want to join our core team.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Classified Ads Groundskeeper - Full Time, Year Round Aramark seeks an experienced full-time, year round, groundskeeper to join our team working at Community School District 128 which includes Libertyville H.S. and Vernon Hills H.S. Must have operating experience with ride-on equipment including small tractor with attachments. Ball field maintenance a plus. Includes vacation, PTO, holidays, and medical benefits. Starting $18.00, negotiable based on experience. To apply go to: https://careers.aramark.com/ job/?red=351331 Hoerr Schaudt is Hiring for our Chicago Fieldworks Team! Come join us! We are hiring the following positions: Landscape Construction Project Manager, Senior Planting Designer and Planting Designer. We also have an amazing management opportunity in sales, purchasing and logistics for our Summerfield Trading Company. Please see our website for details about each position: https:// hoerrschaudt.com/about/careers/

Lead Landscape Architect/Designer Chalet is looking for an experienced Lead Landscape Architect to join our award-winning Design team at our third generation, family-owned company in North Chicago, IL (near Gurnee). In this role, you will work closely with our other designers in creating high-end residential landscape designs of various scopes and styles for our clients. A degree in Landscape Architecture and experience with AutoCAD, juggling and managing multiple projects, and translating client needs into design are a must. If you’re a passionate and creative team player please consider joining us! Please email your resume to AlexM@chaletnursery.com and reference this ad. Moore Landscapes is hiring a Construction Project Manager If you are looking for an excellent opportunity to work on beautiful commercial landscapes with a great team, we would

love to meet you. Moore Landscapes is hiring a Construction Project Manager to work directly with general contractors, owners, and construction management companies and to direct crew leaders to produce Moore’s construction projects safely, on time, within budget, and according to customer specifications and Moore standards. The Project Manager will also procure materials and supervise Moore’s crews and subcontractors. For a complete job description and qualifications, visit https://www.moorelandscapes.com/joinour-team.php Email Barry Clements at bclements@moorelandscapes.com or apply online through Moore’s website, Indeed, or LinkedIn Account Executive opportunity with Moore Landscapes’ City Branch Moore Landscapes is seeking a highly motivated Account Executive to join our Downtown Commercial Maintenance team and manage some of downtown Chicago’s most iconic and high-profile landscapes. We believe in a respectful culture of collaboration, high energy, open communication, being helpful, and having fun while we do it. For a complete job description visit: https:// www.moorelandscapes.com/join-our-team. php For confidential consideration, contact Mike Beltz at (224) 577-7172. Send resume and cover letter to Mike Beltz at mbeltz@moorelandscapes.com. You may also apply online on our website and through LinkedIn or Indeed. CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES July 2022 issue ads: June15, 2022 August 2022 issue ads: July 15, 2022 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851 x1

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Advertisers 1st Choice Equipment ...............................................16 Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................49

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.

Breezy Hill Nursery ................................................51

How about a face lift?

Cardno .....................................................................43

By Nina A. Koziol

Cassidy Tire .............................................................17 Compost Supply ......................................................42 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4

If a house is like a fine painting then the landscape is the frame. It’s there to enhance, not overwhelm or distract from the architecture. You might think evergreens piled on a foundation are a 1960s thing, but the trend can be traced to the 1920s. Wouldn’t you like to redo these gems?

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries ..................................49 Goodmark Nurseries ................................................57

Please no. An elegant house calls for better plants, better placement.

Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................14 Homer Industries ...................................................15 James Martin Associates .........................................58 Joe Cotton Ford .......................................................53 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................47 JKS Ventures ............................................................49 Longshadow Planters ............................................13 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6

In 1924, Hill Nursery in Dundee shows how evergreens can be used right up against the house. What kid wouldn’t want to trick-or-treat at this house?

Just because you HAVE a hedge trimmer…well, you get the idea. No!

Mariani Plants .........................................................35 McGinty Bros. .......................................................52 Midwest Groundcovers ...........................................11 Midwest Trading .......................................................2 Spring Meadow Nursery .........................................45 The Mulch Center ....................................................41 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Period Garden Park by Heather Prince

Under the shadow of the capitol building lies a

unique small park tucked away in downtown Madison, WI, at the corner of Gorham and Pinckney Streets. Period Garden Park is maintained by a cadre of volunteers and is a terrific example of a small urban green space preserved with love and dedication. In 1975, the City of Madison took ownership of this parcel after a proposed development threatened to block the view of the neighboring landmarked 1854 Keyes House and ruin the historic character of the neighborhood. A combination of private contributions and state and city funding made the purchase possible. Once the front lawn of the Keyes House, the now-parking lot was transformed into a public park and designed to resemble the type of garden found in the Victorian era. The brick walkways and carved sandstone steps are typical examples of gardens in Madison of that era. The wrought iron fence dates to the period and was moved to the park from Forest Hill Cemetery. Over the years funding has waxed and waned, until 2007 when it went through a deep refresh fueled by volunteers. Today, step through a pair of huge mature yews and into a garden of yesteryear. Informal shrub plantings screen the gardens from the street, creating a private oasis. Birds fly overhead and splash in the fountain and birdbaths. Thousands of spring bulbs carpet the beds. There are plenty of handy wrought iron benches where you can sit

110 East Gorham St., Madison, WI http://www.periodgardenpark.org Admission: free Hours: daily 4:00 am to 10:00 pm and soak in the layered plantings. Seasonal flowers fill a variety of urns and planters scattered along the paths. A magnificent weeping mulberry, originally planted in 1977, graces the path and creates its own shadowy garden room and site of many a prom and wedding picture. The brick paths swoop in toward a tall three-tiered fountain set in a round base where it splashes into stones. Installed in 2008, the fountain is surrounded by colorful annual seasonal flowers. A low trimmed boxwood hedge anchors the fountain and is filled with a collection of roses. The paths sweep around the corner of this L-shaped site and wander uphill to the back corner where a female statue stands watch over a patch of hellebore. The end of the rear garden is paved in flagstones and is often a site of events in the cool shade of tall trees. Planting beds are filled with hosta, ferns, lungwort, lamium, and Annabelle hydrangea for a lush green and white effect. In spring, carpets of scilla, clumps of bright daffodils, and sweeps of blooming forsythia start off the season. Volunteers plant waves of annuals before hundreds of perennials steal the show. This is a wonderful small park that showcases a balance between formal hardscape and informal perennial design. Antique and vintage planters allow you to almost step back in time while you stop and enjoy the luscious perfume of roses. Stroll up the historic sandstone steps the next time you find yourself in Madison.

The Landscape Contractor June 2022

50 years

of Partnership

“ The personal relationships

and genuine partnership we have with our Unilock Authorized Contractors remains uniquely Unilock.”

~ Ed Bryant, Unilock Founder

From the very beginning, our founder Ed Bryant recognized the role that installers had to play in building this industry. In 1987, he launched the Unilock Authorized Contractor program, creating a mutually beneﬁcial partnership with the very best installers. At the time it was a groundbreaking idea. In recent years, competitors have launched copycats, but no one has yet to capture the true spirit of this program. Learn more about what a true partnership looks like, by connecting with your local Territory Manager at 1-800-UNILOCK or UNILOCK.com. We look forward to paving it forward with you.

The Landscape Contractor magazine JUN.22 Digital Edition

Articles inside

Diseases and Pests

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

Notes from Chanticleer

The Pros at Home

From Where I Stand

Por qué necesita un permiso?

Hidden Landscape Gems