The Landscape Contractor magazine MAY.20 Digital Edition

We’re Here

To Supply Your Business

ONE STEP

Have you tried One Step? It can be used as a soil amendment, conditioner or mulch to prepare landscape beds.

Want to learn more about One Step?

Contact Joe Hobson at 630-487-7146 to learn how you can get superior performance while saving on labor.

SPOT SEEDING TURF REPAIR Spot Seeding Turf Repair greatly minimizes your time performing turf repair damage from snow removal, utility work, contractor damage and pet damage.

• • • •

Can be used in most applications and eliminates use of straw blankets Formulated to minimize movement / erosion Available in bulk or bags Easy to use – spread seed and add a light layer of Spot Seeding Turf Repair

ONLINE ORDERING

Designed to bring value to our customers, our new website offers online ordering and so much more. Log in and see for yourself how www.midwest-trading.com is building solutions for our customers with a data driven Customer Portal.

CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM: P: 630-365-1990 | F: 630-365-3818 mtsales@midwest-trading.com midwest-trading.com

Greenhouse & nursery Mix

enGineered soils

landscape Mulches soil aMendMents

horticultural supplies coMpost

structural soil

May 2020

CONTENTS

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Weathering the Weather Tree Biomedics: Wind, Storm, Ice How trees cope

8 10

Trees and Climate Change 18

A conversation with Dr. Christine Rollinson

Magnificent Magnolias 22 Revisiting an heirloom favorite

Contractors’ Choice Award Profile Chalet — A Winnetka Retreat

10

30

EN ESPAÑOL

Conocimientos prácticos de irrigación 38 Irrigation Know How

Small Space Makeover 42 A Mid-Century Modern approach

Irrigation Update 48 Irrigation Know How — Larry Cammarata

Doing Business in Challenging Times Solve labor issues: Grow Leaders

22

52

Diseases & Pests 57 Dothistroma and Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Hidden Landscape Gems 62 Farnsworth House

On the cover... Chalet won the Contractors’ Choice Award at the ILCA Awards night celebration in January for this Residential Landscape Construction project titled A Winnetka Retreat.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

30

42 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

ILCA Calendar

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

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee The Morton Arboretum

Chalet Farnsworth House

Calendar 4 5 7 58 61

JUNE June 25, 2020 ILCA Design Tour

AUGUST

1, 8-9 10-16, 18-21 30-37 62

August 27, 2020 Turf Education Day

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

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

SEPTEMBER

Volume 61, Number 5. 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.

September 10, 2020 Golf Outing

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632

OCTOBER

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

October 20, 2020 The Impact Conference

sign up

v

at dotynu rseries.co m to recei ve our

Meta Levin

Feature Writer

meta.levin@comcast.net Nina Koziol Feature Writer

n.koziol@att.net

v

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

dotynurseries.com

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

P 630 365 9063 F 630 365 9081

45W121 Beith Road Maple Park, IL 60151

Follow—

@ILCAlandscape

4

email ne wsle t ter

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

facebook.com/illinoislandscapecontractorsassociation

From Where I Stand — Soooooo, what’s everyone been up to?

I ended my last column apocryphally saying that when I wrote my next column, the world would be different, we all would be. The night I banged that out on my keyboard, the President had declared a National Emergency, all flights were suspended from Europe, and to make matters worse, Tom Hanks was diagnosed with COVID-19. Two days later, schools across Illinois would be shuttered. The following Friday, the Governor would issue his first Stay-at-Home order.

It’s hard to believe that was only 35 days ago.

It feels like a lifetime. Days move so slowly in the COVID-19 universe, if you can even determine what day it is at all.

The good news is that society didn’t descend into a post-apocalyptic horror show. Sure, the first weekend toilet paper became the coin of the realm and people bulk purchased as if their families were going to subsist on coffee and chili for the next three months. For the most part, people have been kind to one another. We have reached out to old friends. We have refrained from arguing about life’s trivialities. We have been inspired by acts of kindness and sacrifice. We have refocused on what is important, and it is not, what we used to think was important.

We have spent time with our families and learned to love life’s simple pleasures again: reading a book, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, watching old movies, playing board games, and trying and failing to bake our own bread.

We’ve stood on driveways and talked to neighbors. We’ve Zoomed with our families on holidays and birthdays. We’ve screamed at our kids’ E-learning assignments for not printing or formatting.

We’ve always understood the value of doctors and nurses, but we never appreciated their courage. We’ve learned the value of grocery store clerks, Amazon pickers and packers, postmen, and pizza delivery guys. We learned the term essential businesses and it wasn’t the people with fancy degrees or big salaries. Essential businesses are the men and women who keep America working: the construction crews, the exterminators, the janitors, the IT guys, and, yes, the landscapers.

I won’t lie to you, it was touch and go that very first weekend.

Oak Park was actually the canary in the coal mine and issued a StayAt-Home order about five days before the State did. The community was well-intentioned and borrowed a page from the Bay Area, which led the country on sheltering in place. A term that used to be reserved for nuclear attacks and tornadoes would now just become, well, life.

Board member Scott McAdam, a handful of Oak Park members, and I spent the evening after Oak Park’s announcement banging out a letter to the Mayor to make our case why landscape services should be considered essential during this time. That exercise proved prescient because the entire State of Illinois would issue an order on Friday, March 20, and it did not include the word landscaper anywhere in the document.

The ILCA Board met the morning of Saturday, March 21, to discuss the language of the Executive Order. It seemed to open the door to landscape professionals working, but was not clear in any sense. The Board knew we didn’t have the authority or standing to issue something definitive. The Board, as all great Boards do, talked through the entire issue and created a path forward that had consen-

sus. We would ask the Governor for clarification of our interpretation that landscape professionals did fall under Section 12 of the Executive Order. I spent the entire Saturday and Sunday emailing back and forth with the Governor’s staff. On top of dealing with a statewide pandemic, procuring medical equipment that would save lives, they had to determine which businesses could work and make money and which would be shut down.

Too often, in a hyper-partisan world, we forget the central role of government — protect the way of life of its citizens. I have been amazed at the state and local governmental officials from hundreds of villages and municipalities and dozens of governmental agencies. These public servants are saving lives and livelihoods and don’t get enough credit for the speed and efficiency of their work. Those in the Governor’s office were fair and they listened. They gave us a few fleeting moments of their time and they deemed landscape professionals essential. We truly were moved from one column to the other, and it saved spring in the landscape industry and maybe hundreds if not thousands of jobs and landscape companies.

I can’t credit my counterparts at each of the state’s green industry associations enough. Kellie Schmidt of the IGIA and April Toney and Jake Miesbauer of the IAA were simply fantastic. We parsed out who was doing what, spoke almost every day, and used our resources and connections. This was not a time for association partisanship or territorial disputes. I was proud to call these people my friends and colleagues.

Right before I hit “send” on my final email to the Governor’s office, the email that would offer my last, best case for why landscape services are essential, I took my dog for a walk to clear my head. It was late afternoon on Sunday. A light snow was falling.

I ran across a tree care crew taking down a 40 foot tall, diseased maple. I snapped a picture. It was the last piece of evidence I included. I got a response from the senior policy director. She told me to sit tight and they’d have a decision in the morning.

I woke the next morning at 4am. At 7am, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity deemed landscape services as essential and our members were told to go to work and stay safe.

At that moment, we entered phase two. Just how are you supposed to run a landscape businesses in the middle of a pandemic?

ILCA staff met that Monday morning, as we do every Monday.

We talked about throwing away the old model and brainstormed how we can deliver value to our members when they are battling the invisible enemies of COVID-19, fear, anxiety, and economic uncertainty. We figured the best way forward was to emulate the very governmental bodies we had come to trust and respect. Tell the truth, be transparent, help people wade through the clutter, and you know you are doing a good job when you have too many solutions for too few problems.

We have used social media during this time to get information out to members quickly and efficiently. I had so many members tell me, “Well, I’m not much of a Facebook guy.” My response, “Well, become a Facebook guy.” We decided to issue a daily COVID-19 bulletin which, we expected to go down to a semi-weekly or weekly email. Yeah, that hasn’t happened. New information has to be

Essential Services

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

5

From Where I Stand — shared every day. I am longing for the day when I can say, “Hmm, no COVID news today!”

I also decided to use Facebook Live just as other elected officials use press conferences. It’s not necessary, but it brings me calm. It’s usually the last thing I do each day and let’s me take a breath. I just miss that feeling of connection to our members and those Facebook Live segments are the closest I can get. The hard part is remembering to put on a clean shirt!

The ILCA Board has been amazing giving us direction, providing resources, and trusting ILCA staff and our committees to make decisions on the fly. Their trust in our efforts have helped staff stay the course and pivot to turning ILCA from an event-driven organization to a member-services organization in one month. They pushed for better consumer resources to tell our story. They illuminated the HR and safety concerns their companies were wrestling as they attempted to get back to business when business was anything but usual.

Yet, I most appreciated their caution and their ethics. The Board knew that ILCA was being asked to provide a leadership role for 5,000 landscape companies. People looked to us and we could not be reckless or craven. All on the Board and within the ILCA staff said we need to be able to look ourselves in the mirror when this is all over and we need to be able to hug and shake hands with as many of our industry friends as possible. We need to get information to our members to keep their team’s safe — physically, emotionally, and economically.

With all that being said, I have been most impressed by our members. I’ve remarked before that landscape contractors have this bizarre quirk where they care, deeply, about their competitors.

They care enough to share information, best practices, wisdom, and guidance. The ILCA is a reflection of that. My heart swells when I read the comments in the closed Facebook group or the emails people send. ILCA members are assuming the awesome responsibility of being safe, sanitary, and protecting the public’s health — a job no landscaper ever signed up for.

Our members send their employees back to their families every night. Many change in the garage or shower the moment they walk in the door. We are blessed to be able to work, but we are far more blessed to have healthy loved ones and families during a time when not everyone is so lucky.

I’ve received a lot of emails, texts, and phone calls thanking the ILCA for being a light during these dark times. I could say “It’s all in a day’s work.” That’s a lie. I never expected work to involve this. The reason ILCA is working so hard is because of all the people we care so deeply about in this industry. We will gather again.

We will raise glasses and exchange handshakes. We will remember the crazy times of COVID-19 and the face masks and the toilet paper and the Zoom happy hours and the moment we realized that even during our darkest, scariest hour — we were never alone.

Thank you members of the Illinois professional landscape community. Let’s take it one day, one week, one month, at a time.

Regards,

A L L TO G E T H E R B E T T E R 6

Scott Grams Executive Director, ILCA April 20, 2020

The Landscape Contractor W W W. M A R I A N I P L A N T S .COM

866-627-4264

May 2020

President’s Message — Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s hope there isn’t a train coming from the opposite direction!

We are living through an unprecedent global crisis and our 22 trillion-dollar economy has dramatically slowed down due to the presence of COVID-19. The economic indications have shown alarming signs. To date nearly 17 million people who have filed for unemployment. The Federal government passed a law to support small businesses and taxpayers in record time, amounting to $2.3 trillion. Tremendous times call for tremendous measures.

On the other hand, and fortuitously, landscape services and construction have been deemed ESSENTIAL to the economy and by executive orders we are given permission to continue projects. Taking precautionary measures is now the new norm.

With the adversities that we face, we should be immensely thankful to the heroes in the healthcare, first-responder, and food industries who have been key to making life more manageable in this craziness. They minimize the public’s risks and show the best in humanity. Recognition is also due to our leaders for their support and guidance. Thank you to all.

Last but not least: A lesson to take away from this global crisis is that our environment has benefitted from the lack of contaminants emitted these last weeks. Pollution is a serious cancer, and we have to change as a whole if we want an improved world for future generations.

ILCA management will continue supporting and informing our membership as best we can.

I ask you all to participate and promote the 2020 Census, it is very important and there is still time to do it. In addition, keep taking precautionary measures in your businesses, homes, and with yourselves.

As I said before, “Mind the trains! Work diligently, confidently, and with lots of caution.”

President

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

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

Immediate Past President Tom Lupfer Lupfer Landscaping (708) 352-2765 tom@lupferlandscaping.com

Directors

Eric Adams Russo Power Equipment (847) 233-7811 eadams@russopower.com

Best Regards,

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

José M. Garcia, President of ILCA

Allan Jeziorski Hartman Landscape (708) 403-8433 allanj@hartmanlandscape.net

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

Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net

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

www.ilca.net

Finalmente... ¡Luz al final del túnel..l ¡Esperamos no sea otro tren en sentido contrario!

Sucediò lo inesperado... estamos viviendo una crisis mundial sin precedente, nuestra economía de 22 trillones se desaceleró dramáticamente con el COVID-19 y los indicadores económicos mostraron señales alarmantes; a la fecha casi 17 millones de trabajadores acudieron a la oficina de desempleo, el gobierno federal aprobó una ley de apoyo a pequeñas empresas y contribuyentes en tiempo record, por $2.3 trillones de dólares. ¡A grandes males, grandes remedios!

Por otro lado —y por fortuna, Paisajismo y Construcción fueron clasificados como esenciales para la economía y por orden ejecutiva tenemos luz verde para continuar activos.

Con las respectivas precauciones que ahora son parte de una “Normalidad” nueva.

De cualquier manera y aún con las adversidades que enfrentamos debemos agradecer a los héroes de la salud, el orden y alimentación que contribuyen a hacer más llevadera esta locura, aminorando riesgos para todos y mostrando lo mejor del ser humano. ¡Gracias a todos ellos!

También a nuestros dirigentes por su apoyo y guía. Por último pero no menos importante: el aprendizaje a tomar de la naturaleza: Nuestro Medio Ambiente se vió beneficiado con más oxígeno y menos contaminación, o sea: tenemos que cambiar si queremos un mundo mejor para futuras generaciones.

En la dirección de ILCA hacemos lo que está a nuestro alcance para seguir apoyando e informando a nuestros miembros. Les pido su participación y promoción en el Censo 2020, es muy importante para todos y aún hay tiempo para hacerlo. Además, seguir extremando precauciones en sus empresas, familias y con ustedes mismos.

Y como dije antes, ¡Cuidado con el Tren..! Salgamos a trabajar con Optimismo, Fe, Confianza, Esperanza, Amor, Actitud, y Seguridad... ¡con mucha Precaución!

Saludos cordiales,

José M. Garcia Presidente de ILCA The Landscape Contractor May 2020

7

Mariani Landscapes • Lake Bluff Mediterranean Retreat

The Art Deco past of this historic 1920s resi-

dence in Illinois was carefully revived. The landscape architect worked closely with the architect, interior designer and client on this restoration to add new spaces, details, materials and views.

New French doors were added to improve the flow and encourage indoor-outdoor connections and views. Original clay-tile roofing was seamlessly restored, while architectural detailing was meticulously recreated, achieving aesthetic continuity between old and new. New stone and gravel terraces with clay-brick detailing blend seamlessly with the architecture.

The landscape architect worked hard to create seasonal interest in the planting palette. The large lawn was enhanced by a border

of native and seasonal plants. Significant trees around the property — including Cornelian cherry, American elm, sugar maple and white pine – were preserved, while evergreens and Norway spruce were added for additional privacy.

Drainage was a challenge on this project, as the home is just outside of a flood zone. The team had to think carefully about grading and set up an elaborate underground drainage system to make sure the lawn and landscape drain well.

The client desired a casual, yet elegant, space for spending time with family and entertaining friends. A large patio, featuring an outdoor kitchen, dining area and plenty of seating, was created and a fire pit was included to extend the season. The end result is a beautiful space for family and friends to relax and enjoy.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

9

Focus — Weathering the Weather with Trees

Tree Biomechanics: Wind, Storms, Ice —

How Trees Cope

by Heather Prince

How have trees evolved to handle weather?

strong, weather-resistant structure. “When high winds blow, tree branches usually move out of sync with each other; they What strategies have these long-lived resilient plants develdon’t act in concert. It’s more of a dynamoped to survive storms, floods, ice, snow, ic response rather than a static response and anything else that gets thrown their like snow or ice slowly accumulating. So, way? We talked to Dr. Jason Miesbauer wind is a dynamic load and when those PhD, the Arboriculture Scientist at The wind gusts blow on the tree, that energy Morton Arboretum about the ways can be dissipated by branches moving out trees have evolved and the lessons we of concert with one another or out of tune. can learn. Miesbauer’s area of focus is It’s what is called a ‘detuned system.’ We “broadly tree biomechanics — what are use the term damping to describe a tree’s the forces that act on trees, how do trees ability to come back to rest after a force respond to them, and how can we help acts upon it, like a big wind. If a tree’s trees to better deal with these forces to structure is unbalanced, it’s more likely prevent trees from being catastrophically Dr. Jason Miesbauer PhD, Arboriculture that you get this single-motion sway that damaged during storms.” can cause trees to uproot or snap at the Knowing how trees behave when a wind Scientist at The Morton Arboretum (continued on page 12) force acts upon them is key to maintaining a

Miesbauer and Marvin Lo, research assistant, measuring trunk circumference as part of ongoing research.

10

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Longwood 30 Planter Tub, LS 9588 Tulsa Botanic Garden, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

19.5” high, 34” diameter, 24” diameter base

L O N G S H A D OW

®

. COM

Hand Crafted in Southern Illinois by Classic Garden Ornaments, Ltd.®

Focus — Weathering the Weather with Trees

When large limbs are removed later in life, a tree can struggle to heal or close the pruning wound.

(continued from page 10) trunk more readily. At least that’s what we think and what we have observed. It’s one of the areas where we need a lot more research,” observed Miesbauer.

Ice is a different story. Tree branches aren’t necessarily actively moving. “Ice slowly accumulates on the branch, just like it does on power lines. We’ve looked at how much ice a branch can hold before it breaks. Some studies show it’s something like 30 times its own weight in ice. It seems like a very large amount, but trees can handle it,” reported Miesbauer. Snow acts differently. “That’s less the case with snow because it doesn’t adhere to itself very well. With snow loads, you just get that wet heavy snow. But again, similarly, if the wet heavy snow is clinging to branches, and wind blows, it’s kind of the dynamic loading on top of the static loading that leads to more damage.”

With climate change driving increasingly extreme weather, trees have more challenges. We discussed some of the ways people can ensure that these valuable landscape plants have the best chance at surviving these events. As you and your clients assess their trees, when it comes to storms, large shade trees have the most forces acting upon them. “Wind speed increases as you get farther from the ground. The crowns of large trees are often above the roof line of buildings. If you think about a suburban neighborhood or a strip mall situation, large shade trees will be above a lot of those

Over 600 acres of nature at its finest.

Our plants are grown and acclimated in the Midwestern soil and climate, so you get an expansive variety that is hardy and resilient.

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

Over 500 Varieties of locally grown plants.

Over 600 Acres

of field & container production.

Main Office & Sales Yard 7200 S. Madison • Willowbrook, IL 60527 630-323-1411

Over 10 Acres of holding yard.

Little Rock Farm 2353 Creek Road • Plano, IL 60545 630-552-8314

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

12

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Growing Nature’s Best HinsdaleNurseries.com

structures acting as windbreaks. So you have stronger wind forces and the trees are more exposed when they are tall, mature shade trees. Oftentimes, smaller ornamental trees that don’t get particularly large at maturity are more sheltered. Trees like crabapple or redbud, that are smaller, are never going to experience those really strong forces because there’s just not enough tree there,” observed Miesbauer. “Think of a long branch as a really long lever arm. If you have a shorter branch, you have a smaller lever arm for those forces to act on. When I talk about catastrophic wind damage, I’m talking about large shade trees.”

One of the biggest questions is pruning. Are there ways to prune trees to give them better structure to survive storm events? “I tell people first and foremost it’s best to always start when the trees are young,” recommends Miesbauer. “At planting, if we can get the tree off on the right foot it solves a lot of problems down the road. We can take care of any small structural defects when the tree is young and continue a proper structural pruning maintenance routine periodically as the tree moves from being newly planted through its growth cycle into maturity. By the time it reaches maturity, it should have a strong structure that makes it less susceptible to (continued on page 14)

A young Accolade elm demonstrates it growth habit and need for training when young. and need for training when young.

www.1stChoiceEquipment.com 630-510-6050 Affiliated With: Ditch Witch Midwest and Rentals Plus

1555 Atlantic Drive

West Chicago, IL 60185

1stChoiceEquipment.com

630-510-6050

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

13

Focus — Weathering the Weather with Trees (continued from page 13) the tree we were discussing. I pointed out that on a nearby being damaged in storms. Oftentimes, unresolved problems elm tree, the first branch started higher than they were at the don’t manifest themselves until the tree is mature or the probtime. Everything below it was temporary. Then we had an ‘I lem is very recognizable. All of a sudden we see a large crack get it,’ moment. Showing examples helps a lot.” forming in a tree or we see awkward structure in the crown Now we’ve established the importance of pruning or trainof trees where it will take a lot heavier a hand to prune it or ing trees when young, how often should we do it? “I think we’ll need to install a structural support to help that tree deal pruning trees every three to five years is a realistic prunwith strong storm events. So, pruning the trees properly when ing cycle for the first 30 or so years of a tree’s life. It will young, is the first and foremost thing we can do.” With most make a huge difference,” stated Miesbauer. He continued, species of large shade trees, we also want to train for a cen“If you have branches on young trees that are competing for tral leader to provide strong structure. “It’s very important to dominance with the leader, you select where the main lead train it to have a strong central leader, so it doesn’t have cois on the tree, then you look at the branches competing for dominant stems, which are when two main stems are roughly dominance. You want to reduce them back to subordinate the same size. That is generally recognized as a structural them, a process called subordination or reduction pruning. weakness in the crown of the tree,” recommends Miesbauer.

You want to make sure they are cut back enough so that “Even species that we don’t typically think of as having a their growth becomes suppressed. That will also allow the central leader, like elms or honeylocusts, can be pruned in interior branches higher up in the canopy room to grow out. this manner when young.

Sometimes people worry You want that main trunk that you’re going to leave to extend high up in the a hole in the crown and canopy and you want the it will look unsightly. lateral branches to be subTypically on young ordinated because when healthy trees, when you you think about mature cut those lower branches trees, the lowest branches back, those interior of those trees are going to branches will then fill be removed anyway.” back in pretty quickly.”

This can be a diffiThis need for a regular cult concept to visualize, maintenance cycle also especially when a tree is allows you to build it into young. That newly planted client contracts. A wellmaple or oak does need crafted pruning plan not all its leaves to power its only keeps trees healthy, growth the first few years. it also gives you a solid However, if you start line item on your mainteto observe mature trees nance plans. in our landscape, you’ll The consequences of soon notice that most of good pruning were readtheir branches are above ily apparent in November the clearance of people, of 2019 when we expecars, or trucks. Those low rienced a particularly branches don’t move up heavy wet snow with ice the trunk. Someone has right after Halloween. pruned them. Miesbauer This was a good test agrees, “I’ve had people case. “We saw several say to me ‘Well Jake, elms limbs broken on trees don’t naturally grow this that had been pruned way, they shouldn’t have properly,” reported this growing pattern’. I Miesbauer. “However, simply point to a mature when those branches elm tree within eyesight broke and the branch had and ask where does the to be removed, a lot of first branch on that tree them were fairly small start? I was talking to some (continued on page 16) The original Accolade elm at The Morton Arboretum arborists, who were up in shows how proper pruning creates a strong structure.

14

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Focus — Weathering the Weather with Trees (continued from page 14) because they had been slowly subordinated over time. When we cut that broken branch off, it wasn’t leaving that large of a pruning cut on the trunk.

Proper pruning ahead of time, even when those branches do fail, it’s often not as catastrophic or as detrimental to the tree because it’s been trained with that in mind.”

When trees experience catastrophic damage to large limbs, it’s significantly harder for a tree to respond. “When they try to seal a big wound, it’s very difficult and it takes a lot of resources that the tree would otherwise allocate elsewhere.

It is also a place for infection and decay fungi to enter and large wounds on the tree often lead to large decay pockets,”

commented Miesbauer.

Miesbauer recommends consulting an ISA-certified arborist if problems are spotted “If you do see structural defects such as cracking, especially along the trunk or in large branches, consult a certified arborist to inspect it further. Ask about any cavities, which people can be overly concerned about. As far as pruning mature trees, it’s recommended that pruning be done out at the edge of the canopy. Usually, just a small amount of crown area reduction can make a big difference.”

Miesbauer had a last piece of advice: “Plant properly. A moderate amount of care as a tree is growing up will pay large dividends as that tree matures.”

This mature white oak planted in a park setting does not demonstrate a central leader.

16

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

We’ve Got You Covered

Jose Rosas oversees production of our Premium Pint Groundcovers which is a collection of over 85 unique, hardy, and durable plants. We have a ground cover for every situation!

Place Your Order At MidwestGroundcovers.com Today!

ContaCt

our

SaleS team:

P: 847-742-1790 | F: 847-742-2655 MGSALES@MIDWESTGROUNDCOVERS.COM WWW.MIDWESTGROUNDCOVERS.COM GroundCoverS & vineS native PlantS PerennialS ornamental GraSSeS deCiduouS ShrubS roSeS ConiferS & broadleaf everGreenS

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

17

Focus — Weathering the Weather —

Trees and Climate

A Conversation with Dr. Christine

by Heather Prince

As we attempt to weather the fickle

winds of climate change, how do we strategize tree care and selection? We sat down with Christine Rollinson, PhD, Forest Ecologist at The Morton Arboretum to follow up on her inspiring presentation at iLandscape 2020 about climate change and trees.

In the face of the challenge of uncertain climate patterns, what trees should we plant? “It’s probably the question we get asked the most,” commented Rollinson. “We don’t make specific recommendations for a variety of reasons. Trees live a long time, so most trees are adapted to deal with an incredible amount of climate variability. Plus, because it’s not the same pattern every year, it’s hard to say what’s going to do well or what’s going to do poorly. Climate is only one of many factors that should go into your plant choices. The fact that it’s going to get warmer, doesn’t override the fact that say, there’s a power line overhead, or you’re planting in an extremely shady spot. Those considerations don’t go away. The other thing is that now weather is highly unpredictable and it is going to become even more unpredictable in many ways.” Because of the vast array of unknowns, Rollinson recommends, “We really want a diversity of trees.

If you want to know what to plant in your yard, look around at what you neighbors have and plant something different.

The right tree to plant is something that will increase the diversity so that we spread out the risk. Like your financial portfolio, you don’t want to put all your eggs into the dot. com basket from the 90s because eventually any boom will bust. So, we want to spread that risk around.”

A remarkable tolerance, but

The 2018-2019 winter saw intense cold and that damaged some trees, but not all. Because they can’t go anywhere and have potentially extremely long lifespans, most trees can survive an extreme event. “Most trees can handle getting hit once or twice, maybe one or two years in a row, maybe a bit more. But, as long as weather continues to be hot one year, cold the next, if we have many different trees, it’s highly 18

unlikely that the same tree is going to be hit all the time and in everybody’s yard. It’s not just climate. The big question mark is what is going to happen to our trees in the future is the pest and pathogens part. That is probably the most unpredictable thing right now. We know trees can deal with a lot of weather stress, but it’s when we get the emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease, gypsy moth, and all these species-specific pests moving in. Many of which are expanding their range because overall, winters are getting warmer. It goes back to that diversity. There are all these complex interactions that make us very hesitant to recommend a particular tree,” commented Rollinson.

As you work with clients on tree choices, Rollinson observed, “I think one thing we can do is to help people to understand why they like a particular tree. Do they like the Autumn Blaze maple because of the great fall color? That helps us direct it and say if you want something about that size with great fall color, let’s look at an alternative. What do you love about your winged euonymus? You like its size and color? How about we look at sumac instead, which also has a great color. I think if we can get people to think about what they like about a plant, we can do some gentle course corrections.”

Post planting attention

Once you’ve got a tree different from the neighbors’ selected and planted, what’s next? How do we care for existing trees in the landscape? If storms are becoming more extreme, how do we prevent storm damage? The answer is proper pruning. “Pruning is critical because most trees evolved around other trees, in competition. They had to grow straight and tall to try and get light. When we take trees out of that highly competitive context, because there’s no brain in the tree telling it ‘you want to grow up, so you are nice and strong,’ when you grow it out in the open, most of these trees are like ‘oh, there’s light everywhere, I’m going to go get all that wonderful light.’ This tendency ends up making the tree really structurally vulnerable,” observed Rollinson. Because

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Change:

Rollinson

the leaves can access light at every angle, branch growth follows. In some trees, like elms for example, you’ll find robust growth in all directions because there isn’t any light competition to limit it. Plus, a tree in an open landscape may have plenty of water and nutrients, so it can put on exponential growth without consequence.

As caretakers, it’s vitally important to encourage strong structure in trees when young. “When you think about holding buckets of water, it’s a lot easier on your spine, if you’re holding them right above your head. Consider the people who carry heavy loads on their head, it’s all centralized. If you think about carrying those same buckets out on the side, it’s a lot of extra stress and your muscles aren’t really set up for it. And so, pruning is important so that we get that load bearing in a structurally sound manner,” agreed Rollinson.

Timing is key. “You can’t wait until the tree is mature because it’s really a bit too late. Trees in a single year don’t put on a big branch, they add tissue little by little. What we want to do is make gradual course corrections to that tree over time. If you wait too long, then we can end up topping the tree where it’s cut back hard at the top. Topping is bad because it creates a weird growth form, it’s not structurally sound, and you’re removing a lot of twigs that support leaves and photosynthesis generation. When we prune a young tree, we’re taking off just a little bit of the branches to help promote that central leader. If we do that early, it’s small little course corrections, as opposed to having to amputate a whole limb.” How you prune is also important. “It’s not just pruning for overall form, but making those actual pruning cuts well, so that when the tree does start branching back again, it’s a healthy juncture and will help overcome any initial vulnerability. It’s making those cuts right, so they heal quickly, and we don’t end up with lots of weird right angles in those healing joints. Kind of like you want to make sure your bone is set properly after you break it, you want make sure it’s a good cut that’s going to heal properly and have a nice strong juncture.” (continued on page 20) The Landscape Contractor May 2020

19

Focus — Weathering the Weather —

Labor and time saving jobsite solutions Contact us for a demo or rental

LOCATIONS Central Office

18405 115th Avenue Orland Park, IL 60467 Phone: 708-349-8430 Fax: 708-349-4230

West Branch

420 Nolen Drive South Elgin, IL 60177 Phone: 630-883-3320 Fax: 847-695-9105

North Branch 26354 N US Highway 12 Wauconda, IL 60084 Phone: 847-469-0120 Fax: 847-526-8054

HOURS

Orland Park & South Elgin Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Mar - Nov) 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Dec - Feb) 7:30 AM - NOON Sat (Mar - Nov)

Wauconda

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Mon - Fri CLOSED Sat

CONTACT US!

www.martinimplement.com rentals@martinimplement.com

20

(continued from page 19) In the midst of the barrage of advice, it can be challenging for clients to discern what is really necessary. We asked Rollinson what she felt was the most important thing people can do for their trees. “My answer is pay attention to them. Be aware what’s going on, but don’t freak out the first time a leaf changes color.

When it starts to become a trend, or starts to become widespread, when we’re paying attention to it, then we can realize what’s going on. It’s kind of like knowing when to go the doctor. You don’t call the doctor every time you have a headache. You call a doctor when you have a headache for a month and nothing you do makes it go away.” This becomes especially important with pests and diseases. “Will you catch it before it becomes too late?

By paying attention, you know what’s normal for your tree and trees in your area. By understanding what’s happening with your tree and around it, it will help determine what might be wrong with it. If your tree is the one sad tree on the block, we’ll start looking for unique stressors. Did it get hit with a string trimmer?

Did you do some construction, and now water is pooling around the base? The goal is to try and not overreact but notice things when it’s still early enough to act.”

One of the key factors to pay attention to with trees is water.

A newly planted tree has different water needs than a mature one. Drought stress has been shown to affect tree health for years after the event. “When it goes from super saturated to overly dry, plants don’t go back to holding water the same way. It really requires kind of gentle watering, especially when it’s dry. The

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

— soil particles are stuck together and if you don’t water gently, the water is going to just run off instead of being absorbed into the ground. In many instances, it’s not the amount of water applied, it’s the pattern of water. In big storms and deluges, there’s a reason our streets flood. It’s all coming down too quickly and the ground can’t absorb it. If we’re experiencing drought, make sure to gradually apply water and get the soil back to that point where it can hold that water,” commented Rollinson.

As we navigate the challenges of climate change and shifting weather patterns, there are opportunities to work with clients. “Think ahead is always the most important thing. Think for the long term and try to get your client to think for the long term as well. From a business perspective, it’s about developing lasting relationships with your client.

You don’t dig a whole, stick the tree in, and let it go. It’s a living being. You don’t buy the dog, give it a big bag of dog food and say ‘OK, you’re good.

Check on you next year.’ It’s this kind of constant relationship between the tree, the owner, and the arborist or landscaper. It’s right tree, right place, as well as that long-term maintenance monitoring.

Random things happen, but if we can catch it early, we can help improve that tree. There’s usually much more we can do before it gets to ‘Oh, my tree didn’t leaf out the past two years, can you save it?’. If we can catch it before that point, then everyone wins.”

As you’re navigating our new normal with your team and clients, remember that trees are resilient. If we can start the care and monitoring process with planting, both the tree and the owner will reap great benefits. “We’re not asking people to do things fundamentally different, we’re just providing a new perspective that they can use to help frame what they do and how to build or enhance their services,” remarked Rollinson.

Poplar Grove, IL 21283 IL Route 76 Poplar Grove, IL 61065 Clinton, WI 11228 East County Road X Clinton, WI 53525

Lorem Salem, WI 7530 288th Avenue Salem, WI 53168

1-262-537-3326

ipsum

wholesale@breezyhillnursery.com

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

21

Spring 2020 —

Magnificent Magnolias Revisiting an Heirloom Favorite

by Heather Prince

A classic herald of spring, magnolias are

a romantic heirloom favorite tree for many of us. We talked to Matt Lobdell, Curator of Living Collections at The Morton Arboretum and vice-president of the Magnolia Society International about how to grow magnolias and cultivars that thrive in the Midwest.

An ancient plant that pre-dates the evolution of bees, magnolias are easy-going trees in general. Their large showy flowers with stiff leathery tepals are believed to have been pollinated by beetles. The ideal site for most magnolias is well-drained with slightly acidic soils, but they are exceptionally adaptable and include some wet-tolerant species.

They flower best in full sun, but will tolerate light shade.

Magnolias, like most trees, will exhibit more pests and diseases when they are stressed, but are low maintenance for the most part. Magnolia scale is prevalent in our area, but

Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ 22

treatable, especially if caught early. “After flowering, prune for crossing branches, but they don’t need too much. Most magnolias tend to be grafted, so you want to be careful of the graft union. Understock takeover can be common, especially with the rare ones,” recommended Lobdell. “Make sure you have an understanding of the mature size of the plant. We see this with the yellows. They’re great, but they can get very very large and some of them don’t have the neatest habit as they get older. Make sure it has ample space. Magnolias don’t do a whole lot after May, so maybe not make it the dominant tree in the landscape. Make sure your clients have realistic expectations of the flowering period.”

One of the biggest challenges in magnolia cultivation in the Midwest has been enjoying their spectacular flower show without the newly opened buds or blossoms freezing in (continued on page 26)

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

DOUBLE PLAY DOOZIE

®

Spiraea japonica

This is a groundbreaking non-invasive

AVAILABLE FROM THESE SUPPLIERS:

spirea. Its lack of seed makes it a

Alsip Home & Nursery St. John, IN • 219-365-0882

perpetual bloomer, putting all of its

Cedar Path Nurseries Lockport, IL • 847-768-9800

energy into creating wave after wave of red-pink flowers from early summer

Foundation Nursery Momence, IL • 815-954-6455

through frost. No deadheading required!

Kaknes Landscaping Supply Naperville, IL • 630-416-1002

• Superior color

Lurvey Landscape Supply www.lurveys.com

• Sterile • Compact

Midwest Groundcovers St. Charles, IL • 847-742-1790

• Quick to produce

5'

DOUBLE PLAY DOOZIE® ‘Spiraea japonica ‘NCSX2’, pp30,953; cbraf USDA Zone 3-8, Full sun, Part sun 2-3' Tall and Wide

Siteone Landscape Supply siteone.com

www.provenwinners-shrubs.com 800-633-8859

Stoneleaf Nursery Eureka, IL • 309-261-7008

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

23

Spring 2020 — (continued from page 22) our fickle late spring weather. Breeders have been developing later blooming varieties and ones with larger flowers to maximize their showiest feature. “To have successful spring blooming magnolias in this region, you want to get them flowering as late as possible because that tends to avoid the spring frost risk. Magnolia × soulangeana tends to get hit the hardest because it starts flowering in late April when we get cold nights and have late frosts,” commented Lobdell.

There are two species native to the U.S. that exhibit some unique characteristics we don’t normally associate with magnolia. Magnolia virginiana or sweet bay magnolia thrives in part shade with moist to wet soils and has fragrant white flowers in June. It needs a protected spot to survive zone 5 winters and is often multi-stemmed. Magnolia acuminata or cucumber tree is a large tree, sometimes reaching 70 feet, and featuring greenish-yellow flowers. Plant breeders have been developing crosses and cultivars with it to develop selections with yellow flowers and later blooming habits.

Other species and crosses that are commonly available are Magnolia x soulangeana or saucer magnolia. This is the traditional favorite with pink and white tepals. Magnolia stellata or star magnolia blooms first with thin, strappy white or light pink tepals that resemble a powder puff or star. Magnolia x loebneri is another early spring bloomer that can be white or pink that gets larger than star magnolias.

Despite their commonness in the Midwestern landscape, magnolias worldwide are a plant of concern. “Roughly half of the species of magnolia worldwide are in danger. Even if they are common landscape plants, they are a species of concern, especially the tropical ones. In some cases, they are becoming threatened or going extinct as soon as they are discovered,” cautioned Lobdell. “I highly recommend the trees overall, even in the light of climate change. A lot of them have a good range of hardiness, and they do seem pretty adaptable, so they have a place in the landscape moving forward.”

Although there are more than 1,000 recognized cultivars of magnolia, Lobdell suggested some favorites that are readily available.

24

Magnolia × soulangeana ‘Alexandrina’

Height: 20 to 30 feet Width: 20 to 30 feet Habit: large, loosely pyramidal, multi-stemmed tree Flower color and habit: Large medium pink flowers with white interiors in the classic cup-like shape.

Flower timing: April, about two weeks later than straight M. x soulangeana

Notes: “Alexandrina is a good one. There are at least two forms you can find in the U.S. The more common one is a pyramidal form with a paler flower and you can see one right outside the Visitor Center at The Morton Arboretum. There’s also a dark form that’s more rare and that’s what Europeans think of when you say ‘Alexandrina’. The M. x soulangeanas are still probably one of the best selections and it’s hard to find anything that’s more floriferous,” recommended Lobdell.

The hybrid was named after Étienne Soulange-Bodin, the Director of the French Royal Institute, who made the cross in the early 1800s after retiring from his diplomatic career under Napoleon.

Magnolia ‘Galaxy’

Height: 20 to 25 feet Width: 12 to 15 feet Flower color and habit: Large rose pink to purplish with white interior in a saucer shape Flower timing: late April Notes: ‘Galaxy’ is a hybrid magnolia cross “from the U.S. National Arboretum breeding program that was introduced in 1980,” commented Lobdell. It has a more upright, pyramidal habit and may get a coppery bronze fall color. It’s a good choice for clients who seek a classic saucer magnolia, but with a tighter shape for a smaller property.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Little Girl series of magnolia Height: 8 to 10 feet up to 15 feet Width: 8 to 10 feet Flower color and habit: shades of rose to deep purplish-pink Flower timing: mid to late April with occasional summer rebloom Notes: The Little Girl series includes named cultivars, ‘Ann’, ‘Betty’, ‘Jane’, ‘Judy’, ‘Pinkie’, ‘Randy’, ‘Ricki’ and ‘Susan’. They are shrubby in their habit and densely twigged. “The magnolias in this series are all very hardy. The goal was smaller, more landscape size, and later flowering trees. I like ‘Ann’ a little bit more because of the darker flowers and fewer tepals. ‘Betty’ gets bigger with paler and floppier tepals. Of all of them, ‘Betty’ and ‘Ann’ stand out the most, for me. They’re nice plants if you have a smaller area and late flowering, so they tend to be after the frosts,” recommended Lobdell. (continued from page 26)

Magnolia ‘Ann’

Magnolia ‘Betty’ The Landscape Contractor May 2020

25

Spring 2020 —

(continued from page 25) Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Yellow Bird’ Height: 30 to 40 feet up to 50 feet Width: 20 to 25 feet Flower color and habit: ‘Elizabeth’ features pale butter yellow flowers; ‘Yellow Bird’ has mid-yellow blossoms Flower timing: mid to late April Notes: The yellow magnolias have been developed from crosses with M. acuminata, which tends to make them fastgrowing and large in scale. “With ‘Elizabeth’ you get large, creamy yellow flowers, but it grows really large. I also like ‘Yellow Bird’ that we have in the Groundcover Garden. It flowers after it leafs out and has nice bright yellow blossoms,” reported Lobdell.

Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’

26

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ and ‘Sunsation’ Height: 18 to 20 feet up to 30 feet Width: 15 to 20 feet Flower color and habit: ‘Butterflies’ features upright yellow flowers that resist fading.

‘Sunsation’ has large creamy yellow flowers with a blush of pink at the base.

Flower timing: late April into May Notes: Both of these yellow blooming magnolias are smaller in scale than others and bloom much later, often in May. ‘Butterflies’ tends to be upright and pyramidal. Both are usually found singlestemmed. “Sunsation is a hybrid for hardier flowers that bloomed later and it gives you get a daybreak effect where you have a mix of pink or peach and yellow,” observed Lobdell. (continued on page 28)

Magnolia ‘Sunsation’

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ The Landscape Contractor May 2020

27

Spring 2020 — (continued from page 27) Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ and ‘Merrill’ Height: 25 to 30 feet Width: 20 to 25 feet Flower color and habit: Narrow, strappy tepals give a pom-pom effect. ‘Leonard Messel’ features purple buds that open into pink tepals with white interiors.

‘Merrill’ blooms pure white.

Flower timing: early to mid-April Notes: The Loebner magnolias were hybrids developed by German horticulturist Max Loebner in the early 1900s.

These are multi-stemmed trees that can be fast growing in the right site. The flowers are pleasantly fragrant and abundant. “’Leonard Messel’ is a nice one. It doesn’t get too big and it’s very durable and pretty. It’s one of the better pink ones,” commented Lobdell.

Magnolia ‘Merrill’

Magnolia virginiana ‘Glauca’ and ‘Jim Wilson’ or Moonglow® Height: 10 to 20 feet Width: 10 to 20 feet Flower color and habit: Globe-shaped lemon-scented white flowers often tucked into foliage.

Flower timing: late May into June Notes: One of the few magnolias that tolerate shade and moist to swampy soils. You’ll find them as multi-stemmed specimens that have an oval to rounded habit. ‘Glauca’ leaves have brighter white undersides. Moonglow® was developed to be hardier for northern climates with more evergreen foliage and larger flowers.

Magnolia ‘Glauca’ 28

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

demand performance.

demand monroe.

2 locations

to serve you Monroe, wi Joliet, IL

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR WORK-READY TRUCKS & A LIST OF STOCKING DEALERS

www.monroetruck.com

he Landscape Contractor May 2020

29

ILCA Honors —

A Winnetka Retreat

by Heather Prince

When the property behind them became avail-

able, this Winnetka couple took the opportunity to upgrade their residence and create a private retreat. The winner of the Contractor’s Choice Award at iLandscape 2020, this French Provincial home’s romantic formal landscape was designed and built by Chalet, a North Shore company with over 100 years in service. It has truly become a lush respite and lovely entertaining space.

Purchased in 2015, the stately home already featured a sweeping entry drive, but the backyard was a vast expanse of lawn with only a thriving Techny arborvitae hedge bordering it. Already longstanding clients of Chalet, the clients worked with Nate Robinson, RLA, Chalet’s Creative Director and Landscape Architect to transform and connect the two properties over the course of about five months. A graduate of the University of Illinois’ landscape architecture program,

30

Robinson joined Chalet in 2003 and has been immersing himself in the North Shore communities and landscape demands unique to the area. He relishes working with clients to fit the needs of each family while creating unique spaces with stunning visual impact. “After purchasing the new home, the clients quickly realized that their previous house would make an ideal guest house, but they needed a comprehensive plant to connect the two,” observed Robinson. The property was a blank canvas, and “the rear elevation had small bluestone patios at each entryway that didn’t connect and were at different levels. The stoops and steps were failing. It was very disjointed. The clients wanted a way to move seamlessly around an entertaining space that could accommodate large parties or intimate gatherings. We unified the area with sweeping bluestone terraces anchored by large beds in scale to the home.

They love to grill and eat outdoors,” reported Robinson. “We

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

designed it to be a very flexible space so people can gather together or break away into small groups, whatever the occasion.” The seat walls framing the bluestone patio areas were clad in whitewashed clay bricks and capped in limestone coping to mimic the stone of the home. “We installed smart lighting and audio speakers in the walls as well as added these elements throughout the planting areas. It’s all controlled by an app on the owners’ phone, so they can set the mood with the tap of a finger.”

The established healthy arborvitae hedge provided privacy, but it also disconnected the two properties. Robinson and his team at Chalet were up to the challenge. “We brought in a tree spade and transplanted a whole section of 12-foot tall arborvitae to open the view between the two homes. I’m very proud that we managed to relocate each tree successfully, nursed them through the transplant shock, and they are thriving,” commented Robinson.

As the team worked to rehabilitate the patchy and failing rear lawn, they discovered their biggest challenge. When the home was built, the builder had used the back yard as a staging area. “We found all kinds of construction debris from pieces of plywood, chunks of concrete, asphalt, bricks, pieces of stone. It was also so compacted that the clay soil was like concrete,” Robinson remembered. “We elected to strip it

away and replace it fresh topsoil down to between 10 and 12 inches. It ended up being 200 cubic yards of soil. This had the added benefit of improving the drainage significantly.”

Although they didn’t experience major drainage issues, Robinson chose to ensure any water moved appropriately through the property. When they renovated the lawn, they also added French drains to ease any stormwater issues. “The whole yard pitches north to south. We ensured that the drain tiles moved water into a bioswale that connects the rear of the property to the front. Stormwater flows into the bioswale where it gets filtered before moving into the stormwater system at the street,” indicated Robinson. The sprawling terrace is elevated and “we plumbed the terrace as well and included drain tile underneath, so any water is directed into the bioswale system.”

As you step out onto the terrace, you have several choices of comfortable seating among the groupings of wrought iron patio furnishings. Fresh flowers tumble from planters and containers dotted throughout the space. The clients beloved dogs may greet you. “The plantings had to be very dogfriendly,” commented Robinson. “Their dogs are like family.

We included a small drinking fountain, so they always have fresh water. There’s also an outdoor washing station for (continued on page 32)

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

31

A Winnetka Residence — Plant list for Winnetka Residence

32

Hyrdangea ‘Limelight’

Salvia ‘May Night’

Hydrangea ‘Quickfire’

Salvia ‘Blue Hill’

Boxwood ‘Green Velvet’

Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’

Viburnum ‘Blackhaw’

Catmint ‘Kit Kat’

Azalea ‘Compact Poukhanense’

Calamint

Feather Reed Grass

Creeping Jenny

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’

Salvia ‘Wesuwe’

Yew ‘Everlow’

Stachys ‘Hummelo’

Boxwood ‘Green Mountain’

Liatris ‘kobold’

Lilac ‘Miss Kim’

Allium ‘Summer Beauty’

River Birch

Coneflower ‘Pixie Meadowbrite’ Astilbe ‘Visions in Pink’

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

33

A Winnetka Residence —

(continued from page 31) muddy paws or in case of run-ins with a skunk.” You’ll notice wrought iron accents elegantly placed throughout the design to mimic the Juliet balconies on the French-inspired home. Black urns add subtle focal points and an open wrought iron fence and gate connect the two properties but also keep the dogs in bounds.

Shaded by two maple trees, dual beds curve away from the shallow steps leading you from the terrace into the lawn.

The beds are filled with Poukhanense azalea for a riot of hot pink blossoms in spring and mahogany fall color. Offset with Everlow yew for winter interest, Robinson used large swathes of long blooming perennials for low-maintenance color. “The clients didn’t want roses in the back yard because of the dogs. They also shied away from strong colors like reds and yellows. We used a lot of pastels

34

to keep a serene, romantic feeling. The goal was a beautiful restful space loaded with flowers but pet-friendly,” commented Robinson.

A curvaceous bluestone path leads you off the terrace and around the lawn, outlining the lush plantings that connect the two properties. Formal trimmed boxwood provides a backdrop to billowy amsonia, upright feather reed grass, garden phlox, allium ‘Summer Beauty’ and the bold summer color of hydrangea.

Limelight and Quickfire hydrangeas provide abundant summer flowers in the sunny edges, while classic Annabelles light up the shade. The creamy bark of clumps of river birch is picked out against the dark backdrop of the Techny arborvitae hedges and adds a crisp note in winter as well as softening and anchoring the curving walkway. Tucked into a corner of the home is a secret

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

private terrace contained by custom wrought iron railings. A bistro set invites you to settle in for a morning cup of coffee. A pair of columnar spruce provide winter interest and screen from the larger entertaining space. A froth of hydrangea offers a romantic summer view.

While Robinson’s design primarily focused on the backyard retreat, the front elevation also needed attention.

A new heated walkway ensured easy snow removal in winter months and enhanced the existing drive. A pair of black urns frame the front door. “The owners wanted to enhance their privacy but also provide perennial color,” indicated Robinson. The team installed a boxwood hedge for evergreen screening from the busy street. In between the hedge and the road, a welcoming new perennial bed was created. “We wanted plants that were hardy, salt tolerant, low

maintenance and offered nonstop color.”

Splashes of salvia ‘May Night’, ‘Blue Hill’ and ‘Wesuwe’ punctuate the softer shades of geranium and calamint. ‘Pixie Meadowbright’ coneflower attract pollinators and people with their bright pink flowers from summer through fall. The strappy shiny foliage of allium ‘Summer Beauty’ is woven through and their powder pink flowers enjoyed for weeks.

The clients are delighted with their new outdoor living spaces. “It really came together, and we’ve worked hard to establish the plants, so they have instant gratification,” said Robinson. “It was really rewarding to be able to incorporate these rich plantings in a scale appropriate to the formal residence.”

The Landscape Contractor 35 May 2020

36

A Winnetka Residence —

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

So the World Builds Better

•

Since 1934

Supplying All Your Landscape Needs DELIVERY AVAILABLE • • • • • • • • • •

Outcroppings and Boulders Concrete & Clay Pavers Retaining Walls Ponds and Low Voltage Lighting Seeds & Fertilizers Mulch & Decorative Stone Limestone Sills & Counter Tops Bluestone - Nominal & Dimensional Building Stone Masonry Products

®

1300 Route 31 • South Elgin, IL 60177 (Corner of Route 31 & McLean Blvd.)

847-888-6133 • www.foxriverstone.com

Conocimientos prácticos de irrigación

saber cómo no usar un sistema de irrigación Comprender el continuo planta, suelo agua

by Meta Levin

La clave de una irrigación eficaz, es comprender el continu-

P

R

E

M

I

E

R

iLandscape

mente echaba agua sobre todo. “Dije al dueño de la propiedad que cuando remodelara el ter0 2 Landscape 0 The i llinois + wi2 sconsin C T Show reno ajardinado, me permitiera trabajar con el O N N E T contratista de irrigación para una mejor colocación oplanta – suelo – agua. Si los asistentes al taller de y desarrollo del producto para este sitio”, afirma. “Siempre que irrigación de iLandscape: “Conocimientos prácticos de irrigación – saber cómo no usar un sistema de irrigación”, se fuer- haya una modificación en el terreno, debe haber una modificación en la irrigación”. on sin haberse llevado nada más, Larry Cammarata, director Al diseñar un jardín, es importante que el arquitecto o el y fundador de Certified Consultants, desea que se graben eso diseñador de paisajismo tenga en cuenta el tipo del suelo, así en la memoria. como el microclima, la exposición a la luz del sol, las plantas y “Nuestra industria debe darse cuenta de que el suelo es el las necesidades de agua. “Tiene que diseñarlo de forma que todo elemento vital del paisajismo”, afirma, señalando la imporcoordine”, dice. tancia de la debida selección de las plantas, el suelo correcto Funciona de esta manera. Cuando se riega el suelo mediante para esas plantas, la cantidad adecuada de exposición a la luz un sistema de irrigación, el agua tiende a permanecer sobre el del sol y la cantidad adecuada de agua. suelo, porque los rociadores usualmente riegan el agua más rápiEs esencial para los arquitectos y diseñadores de paisadamente que la capacidad de absorción del suelo. No obstante, jismo tener en cuenta el tipo de suelo, la exposición a la luz cuando llueve, el agua se filtra más rápidamente en un grado u del sol y la irrigación – en otras palabras, el continuo plantasuelo-agua – al decidir qué plantas poner en el suelo y dónde. otro en el suelo. Por consiguiente, la lluvia tiende a introducirse abajo, donde las raíces pueden aprovecharla. “La irrigación no “Todos deben entender el agua y cómo se entrecruza con las es la salvadora del paisaje”, asegura. “Más no es mejor”. No plantas y los suelos”, dice Cammarata, quien cuenta con más obstante, la Irrigación es una herramienta en la gestión del agua de 41 años de experiencia en diseño, gestión e instalación de en horticultura “cuando se usa debidamente en el continuo plantapaisajes, así como sistemas de gestión de aguas basados en la suelo-agua”. agricultura.

Los sistemas de irrigación tienen estrictamente el propósito de Por ejemplo, señala un trabajo de consultoría que realizó reabastecer el perfil del suelo con agua que se ha perdido a través en la región sur de Indiana. Fue contratado para examinar la de la evaporación y la transpiración, pero que no ha sido repuesta biología del suelo, pero cuando llegó, vio que si bien el área por la lluvia. ajardinada estaba un 80 por ciento a la sombra, las plantas Un entorno de suelo sano es 25 por ciento aire, 25 por ciento requerían de plena luz solar. El sistema de irrigación única38

TM

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

agua y 50 por ciento suelo, minerales y nutrientes. “Todo lo beneficioso transpira oxígeno y lo que no, no es aeróbico y no es beneficioso” asegura Cammarata.

Qué cantidad de agua y a qué profundidad está disponible al suelo y las raíces es un factor del tipo de suelo, así como el microclima en el cual se encuentran las plantas. La tensión de humedad del suelo es la cantidad de succión que se necesita para mover el agua por el suelo, distribuirla uniformemente y ponerla a disposición de las plantas. “Hay buena tensión de suelo cuando los equilibrios de aireagua-suelo se mantienen y monitorean adecuadamente” dice.

La capacidad de campo es la cantidad de agua que el suelo retiene después de que cualquier exceso se haya escurrido y la percolación hacia abajo se haya detenido. “Encuentro que la mejor y más alta tensión de suelo ocurre cuando se mantienen los suelos con su contenido de humedad en el extremo más bajo de la capacidad de campo, pero no al punto de marchitamiento”, continúa Cammarata.

Si el suelo está en el extremo más alto de la capacidad de campo, no puede aceptar más agua porque se está acercando a los niveles de saturación, en otras palabras, el espacio de aire se ha agotado. “No hay niveles de oxígeno beneficiosos ahí para ayudar a los elementos biológicos a hacer su trabajo”, asegura Cammarata.

Los contratistas de irrigación y paisajismo deben tener esto en cuenta al diseñar un sistema de irrigación. “Diseñar con detectores de humedad fijados para medir los niveles reales de aire y agua en el suelo, para que los sistemas

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

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.

se enciendan únicamente cuando sea necesario”, dice. “Esto ha demostrado ser un estupendo instrumento para mantener el continuo suelo-planta-agua bien equilibrado” Todos los contratistas de paisajismo e irrigación deben conocer el suelo. “Únicamente se debe suministrar agua cuando se necesite”.

Y eso significa también tener en cuenta los microclimas. Esto puede variar según las diferentes áreas en cada propiedad, conteniendo o liberando contenido de humedad de diferentes mane-

ras en el mismo sitio.

Son importantes y afectan la cantidad de agua que se necesita en cualquier terreno ajardinado. De nuevo, Cammarata señala el terreno ajardinado del que fue consultor en la región sur de Indiana, gran parte del cual se encontraba en el lado este del edificio. “Al mediodía, no recibía luz del sol”, afirma.

Por otra parte, hay bermas en muchas propiedades en las cuales la parte superior recibe la plena luz del sol durante todo el día, mientras otras partes no la

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

39

P

R

E

M

I

E

R

iLandscape

reciben. Algunas áreas de estacionamiento mente, la irrigación puede incluso ayudar reciben plena luz del sol, así como reflejos de a los urbanizadores a ganar puntos para la luz del sol de los automóviles y las ventanas The i llinois + wi2sconsin certificación LEED. 0 2 Landscape 0 C T Show O de los automóviles, sin hablar del daño por la “Cuando las herramientas de gestión horN N E T sal durante la temporada de nieve. ticultural se diseñan, instalan y gestionan adecSi usted tiene un edificio de vidrio, todo el lado oeste uadamente y se les da el debido mantenimiento, proveerán tendrá luz del sol que se refleja de los cristales sobre las la cantidad correcta de agua a los jardines de nuestros cliplantas y el suelo. “El reflejo puede ocasionar una diferencia entes únicamente cuando es necesario, únicamente en las de 30 a 40 grados de temperatura de otras partes del terreno, cantidades necesarias y únicamente en los momentos en incrementando así la demanda de agua de manera diferente que se necesita”, afirma Cammarata. Él considera que las que en otras áreas expuestas en el mismo sitio”, asegura mayoría de las compañías de irrigación, así como otras en la Cammarata. industria, no comprenden los suelos, las plantas y los microO consideremos el caso de una piscina reflectante en la climas, lo que hace difícil diseñar, gestionar y dar mantenpropiedad. El agua podrá mantenerse caliente durante todo el imiento a parques y jardines y sistemas de irrigación que invierno, calentando la tierra en la orilla, durante el invierno sean los más eficaces, aunque tengan los mejores equipos. y el verano. Esto afecta las necesidades de irrigación. “El Aunque tenga uno de los llamados controles suelo a su alrededor nunca permanece en estado aletargado “Inteligentes”, si el sistema de suministro de agua en los en el invierno y nunca se congela”, asegura. jardines no corresponde al elemento inteligente, entonces el Por ejemplo, la irrigación a lo largo de los bordes de jardín sufre. Si no se entienden los requisitos de planta-suelas aceras se debe hacer en zonas diferentes a las áreas con lo-agua, ningún producto será el héroe que resuelva todo. césped. Debido a la sal, las áreas que reciben mucha sal Por consiguiente, es importante crear “hidrozonas” o grudurante el invierno tienen estructuras de tierra diferentes que pos de válvulas para tipos específicos de plantas, en base a las áreas que no la reciben. sus requisitos de agua. Los sistemas de irrigación apropiados Hay otros factores que afectan el suelo y la cantidad de están reponiendo el perfil de los suelos, no regando plantas. irrigación que se necesita. Cammarata fue contratado para Al final, Cammarata está tratando de animar la industria mirar problemas en un anfiteatro donde se presentaban de la irrigación a tomar en serio el triángulo planta-sueloconciertos semanales, algunos atrayendo un público muy agua. numeroso. Podría haber hasta 5,000 personas saltando sobre el césped. “Tuve que rediseñar todo”, dice. Esto significó no solo modificar los diseños de jardines, sino también, los suelos, la irrigación y las prácticas de gestión.

Se tuvo que cambiar la irrigación para que el área no estuviera tan húmeda, para que el suelo no se compactara, lo que nos lleva a la saturación de agua. Cammarata trabajó para modificar la estructura del suelo con el propósito de promover un mejor drenaje.

Los sistemas de irrigación se deben diseñar considerando los tipos de suelo, los microclimas y las plantas como parte de un conjunto general, no tres unidades separadas.

“Todo lo que hago tiene el propósito de mantener el equilibrio adecuado en el suelo, comprender el uso de las plantas y los requisitos de agua en cada terreno ajardinado. “Esto tiende a satisfacer o sobrepasar todas las leyes o reglamentos en los lugares donde nos contratan como consultores. Trato de mantenerme adelante de la curva”. Realizada correctaTM

40

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Para que crezca su negocio, unase a...

Servicios y Beneficios • Certificaciones • Seminarios

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

El Paso al Professionalismo.

Llame al 630-472-2851

Para mas informacion sobre como inscribirse miembro.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

41

Special Series ­— Small Space Makeover

A Mid-Century Modern Makeover

by Nina A. Koziol

The Project: Create a relaxing oasis of mostly native plants to match the architecture of a midcentury modern ranch house. The family has had the property since 1952. Family members from around the Midwest visit several times a year, often converge at for their traditional Swedish Christmas party. The clients wanted more outdoor space, with vegetables, a cherry tree, and drainage solutions and a turf-free rear yard with a new patio.

The Site: A 1,340 square-foot wedge-shaped corner lot in a well-canopied subdivision in Highland Park. A remnant creek bordered the property. Water issues resulted in crawlspace flooding and ‘yard pools.’ Privacy from corner street intersection was also a priority.

In our ongoing series on small space land-

scape makeovers, we look at a mid-century ranch house with a landscape in desperate need of curb appeal and usable space.

Knockdowns. You can’t miss them in cities and suburbs.

Small houses built after World War II replaced by towering McMansions that were made to look like French country houses or Italian villas, crammed onto narrow lots. “People are buying property and knocking down these smaller houses,” says landscape architect Deirdre Toner of D.T. Design, LLC, in Old Mill Creek, Illinois. However, not every one wants or can afford an enormous house. And, some houses are simply too special to the owners to sell and move on.

42

The Challenge: Open up the space; create a shade-tolerant, native ground cover mix; eliminate invasive celandine poppy creeping in from neighboring yards, and create a new drainage system.

The client requested existing native plant collection blend into the new design.

The Inspiration: With several artists in the family, a patriarchal painting of a Swedish ‘Don Quixote‘ on the garage door was a neighborhood treasure. The family had renovated the home’s interior with stylish midcentury furniture and decorative objects in keeping with their father’s color palette of earthy jewel tones.

One of Toner’s projects was just that—a mid-century modern ranch house built in 1952 in Highland Park’s Sherwood Forest subdivision and owned by the descendants ever since. “It’s a corner lot on two nice streets in a soughtafter area,” Toner explains. “There are lots of old oaks and elms in the neighborhood and it’s a lovely home. Millennials love the area and the land value is good.”

Melding the House and Garden

The home’s interior holds the family’s collection of midcentury modern furniture. Toner’s goal was an updated landscape that would respect the home’s architecture and address (continued on page 44)

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Our model is simple!

We recycle garden and landscape byproducts.

Transforming them into beneficial organic amendments.

MULCH • SOIL • COMPOST • AGGREGATES • Custom soil blends • Contract grinding and screening • Pickup or delivery available

Deerfield 21457 Milwaukee Ave • Deerfield, IL 60015

Volo 27601 W Sullivan Lake Rd • Volo, IL 60041

Call 847-459-7200 or visit mulchcenter.com

Lake Bluff 30334 N Skokie Hwy • Lake Bluff, IL 60044

Special Series ­— Small Space Makeover (continued from page 42) the client’s needs and desires. Tempering a modern or contemporary architectural style for the landscape is a wonderful challenge. “You can’t put an Englishstyle garden in a mid-century modern landscape,” Toner said. But long before she developed any plant list or thought about hardscape, Toner looked at the original 1956 plat of survey and measured the entire site. “After 60 years, a lot had changed on the property and doing a base map was a challenge.”

Rain, Rain, Go Away

One of Toner’s biggest concerns was water on the property—a new drainage system was critical. An existing drain tile was relocated to a corner where the remnant creek previously ran, and now provides direct access to the city storm sewer. “The crisp angles planned for the new patio provided a balance of where the impervious space is located and

there’s been no flooding since the new drainage system was installed,” Toner said. “It’s not only how much impervious space, but also where it’s located on site.”

Toner took advantage of overall site conditions and request for native perennials by including moisture-loving plants like birch, Carolina sweet shrub, Indian pink, monarda, columbine, oak and palm sedge grasses, Epimedium varieties, and a collection of native ferns.

American hornbeam, Queen of the Prairie, cardinal flower, bowman’s root, beardtongue and a Joe Pye weed round out the sunnier selections.

New Approach

Two front doors each had a walkway—one from the driveway and one from the main sidewalk. After 60-plus years, the concrete walks needed updating. Toner designed a larger contemporary walkway from the drive to the front

Moisture-loving plants and a large patio replaced spotty turf.

44

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

entry and flanked it with ‘Fargo’ pinnacle white birches (Betula platyphyla ‘Fargo’). “I used the upright birch trees to create a rhythm that flows and draws your eyes across the property. The birch trees created an allée of privacy.”

The new walkway from the driveway offers a generous landing space at the main front door. Toner removed the secondary walk, and steppers threaded through the garden beds lead to the new terrace areas.

“Seeking a lower-maintenance hardscape product than traditional bluestone, which requires annual power-washing on most shady sites, we used a bluestone lookalike from Unilock called ‘Rivenstone,’” Toner said. She estimated the cement paver product cost about 40 percent less than natural bluestone.

Curb Appeal

A tired collection of junipers, Japanese maples and scattered (continued on page 46)

Over 40,000 trees 2� and above

Shade Trees, Container Trees, Ornamentals, Evergreens, Perennials, and Shrubs Questions? Our knowledgeable staff are ready to assist you.

815-653-9293 8920 Howe Road l Wonder Lake, IL 60097 l Goodmarknurseries.com

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

45

Special Series ­— Small Space Makeover

Fargo pinnacle white birches flank the new Riverstone Walkway. (continued from page 44) perennials hugged the home’s foundation. Toner transplanted the Japanese maples as well as a climbing hydrangea and hostas, replaced the junipers and added drifts of perennials, grasses and woodies that offer multi-season interest. Arctic blue willows, Blackhawk big bluestem, tufted hair grass, Gillenia ‘Pink Profusion,’ Autumn Bride coral bells, mugo pine, September Charm windflower, purple moor grass, and Emerald Blue creeping phlox are some of the plants used in the project. Across from the birch trees, five Ruby Spice summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’) shrubs offer fragrant flowers and excellent fall color along the foundation.

coneflower cultivars. “It’s a privacy screen,” Toner said. “All the passersby ask about the plants.”

Because the property is viewed from two streets, the client wanted privacy for a second seating area and Toner obliged by designing custom panels that enclose part of the new patio. “I did historical

Backyard Makeover

Privacy

A sweeping new planting bed helps screen the property from the street.

Toner used viburnum, hornbeam, Carolina allspice, grey dogwood, Russian sage and several 46

research on mid-century modern fences and designed a horizontal framework that would also extend the burgundy plant palette color accent,” Toner said. Benjamin Moore’s ArborStain provided a semiopaque color over smooth cedar. The new terrace provides a much used and balances the house with the new birch allee.

Toner added a privacy screen of smooth cedar, based on mid-century modern designs.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Toner replaced everything in the backyard including a dated walkway and spotty turf and installed a large contemporary patio and sweeping planting beds with natives, native cultivars and low-maintenance ground covers. “I created a shady mix of natives with two types of carex, heuchera, and short goldenrod (Soldiago flexicaulis).

There are pockets with ferns, and a side bed of Japanese forest grass with a beautiful Japanese maple and hellebores.”

A linden tree shades a large part of the rear garden. “There’s an epimedium garden—it’s such a good ground cover when you can’t get anything to grow in the shade.” Although the wedge-shaped property created some constraints, the back garden now offers the homeowners a peaceful, private Zen-like space in which to relax. “We created quite a bit of space there for entertaining,” Toner said.

A small triangular vegetable garden was placed in the side yard. “It’s perfect for what the homeowner wants—it’s not overwhelming. She likes zinnias, too, and can sow them for cut flowers in late summer “There’s a whole layer of spring flowers—azaleas and phlox in the front garden offer a pop of spring color,” Toner said. “Other things flower in June and July and in August there are asters, coreopsis, and the smooth hydrangea nativar, ‘Invincible Spirit II,’ which has done very well.”

New Vibe

The landscape makeover resulted in a contemporary look that suits the onestory house. “Blending the landscape with the architectural style of the home is so important,” Toner said. “The fact that the family had maintained ownership of the property—and sought my creativity and ability to deliver the total project—was rewarding exciting,” Toner said. The renovation was done in two phases, with the front installed in the fall of 2017 and the rear in 2018. “I feel so much gratitude because they are so happy with the project.”

The Team: Deirdre Toner, D.T. Design, llc: Landscape Design & Project Management.

Landscape, Masonry & Drainage Contractor: Jesus Olmos and Olmos Landscaping, Inc., Carpentry: Olmos Landscaping, Inc. Perennials: Elite Perennials, Ingleside, Intrinsic Perennials, Harvard Native Shrubs & Trees: Johnsons’ Nursery, Menomonee Falls, WI., Montale Gardens, Wauconda.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

47

Irrigation Update ­— Spring 2020

Irrigation Know How ­— Knowing How Not to Use an Irrigation System Understanding the Plant, Soil Water Continuum

by Meta Levin

The key to effective irriga-

tion, is understanding the plant – soil – water continuum. If attendees at the iLandscape irrigation workshop: “Irrigation Know How – Knowing How Not to Use an Irrigation System,” walked away with nothing else, Larry Cammarata, principal and founder of Certified Consultants, wants them to commit that to memory.

“Our industry must realize that soil is the lifeblood of the landscape,” he says, pointing to the importance of proper plant selection, the correct soil for those plants, the right amount of sunlight exposure and the right amount of water.

It is crucial for landscape architects and designers to consider the soil type, sunlight exposure and irrigation – i.e. the plant-soil-water continuum – when deciding which plants to put in the ground and where. “Everyone must understand water and how it intersects with plants and soils,” says Cammarata, who has more than 41 years of experience in landscape design, management and installation, as well as agriculturally based water management systems.

For instance, he points to a consulting job he did in southern Indiana. He was hired to look at the soil biology, but when he arrived, he saw that while the

48

P

R

E

M

I

E

R

iLandscape

TM

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

N

T

E

N

landscape area was 80 percent shade, the plants all required full sun. The irrigation system just threw water over all of it. “I told the property owner that when he redeveloped the landscape, to let me work with the irrigation contractor for best product placement and development for this site,” he says. “Whenever there is a landscape modification, there has to be an irrigation modification.”

When designing a landscape, it is important that the landscape architect or designers take the soil type into account, as well as the microclimate, sunlight exposures, plants and water needs. “You have to design it so that it all fits together,” he says.

Here’s how it works. When soil is irrigated through an irrigation system, the water tends to stay on top of the soil, because the sprinklers usually deliver water faster than the soil can receive it. When rain falls, however, the water percolates faster down to one degree or another into the soil. Therefore, the rainfall tends to end up down where the root system can take advantage of it.

“Irrigation is not the savior of the land-

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

scape,” he says. “More is not better.”

Irrigation is, however, a tool in horticulture water management, “when properly used in the plant-soil-water continuum.”

Irrigation systems are strictly to replenish the soil profile with water that has been lost through evaporation and transpiration, but which has not been replenished through rainfall.

A healthy soil environment is 25 percent air, 25 percent water and 50 percent soil, minerals and nutrients. “Everything beneficial breathes oxygen and everything that doesn’t is nonaerobic and not beneficial,” says Cammarata.

How deep and how much water is available to the soil and the plant root systems is a factor of the type of soil, as well as the microclimate in which the plants are located. Soil moisture tension is the amount of suction needed to move water through the soil, distribute it evenly and make it available to the plants. “Good soil tension occurs when the air-water-soil balances are properly maintained and monitored,” he says.

Field capacity is the amount of water the soil holds after any excess has drained away and percolation down has stopped. “I find the highest and best soil (continued on page50)

THE MOST POWER. THE BEST PRICE.

Iron Rental has affordable equipment solutions just waiting for you!

MODEL

DAILY

WEEKLY MONTHLY

T595

$200

$800

$2,400

T650

$220

$880

$2,640

E20

$235

$800

$2,160

E26

$245

$900

$2,400

E35

$275

$1,100

$2,800

E45

$320

$1,260

$3,400

Contact us today at info@ironrental.com or call 630-320-0860.

Equipping the Chicagoland area

Equipping the Chicagoland Area

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

49

Irrigation Update ­— Spring 2020 (continued from page 48) tension occurs when the soils are maintained with their moisture content at the lower end of the field capacity, but not at the wilting point,” says Cammarata.

If soil is at the higher end of field capacity, it cannot accept more water, because it is nearing saturation levels, i.e. the air space is depleted. “There are no beneficial oxygen levels there to help the biological elements do their work,” says Cammarata.

Irrigation and landscape contractors must take this into consideration when designing an irrigation system. “Design with moisture sensors set to measure the actual air and water levels in the soil, so that the system turns on only when needed,” he says. “This has proven to be a great tool for keeping the soilplant-water continuum well balanced.”

Every landscape and irrigation contractor should know the soil. “Only supply water when it is needed.”

And that also means taking the microclimates into account. These can vary from area to area on each property, containing or releasing moisture content in variable ways on the same site.

They are important and affect the amount of water needed on any landscape. Again, Cammarata points to the

Looking for Quality Compost? We Have It!

50

• STA Composy • Increased Water HoldingCapacity • Increase organic matter • Improve the soil • OMRI listed

630-858-8070

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

landscape on which he consulted in southern Indiana, much of which was on the east side of the building. “By noon, it had no sun,” he says.

On the other hand, there are berms on many properties on which the top has full sun all day, while other parts do not.

Some parking lot islands have full sun, as well as sunlight reflection off cars and car windows, not to mention salt damage from the snow season.

If you have a glass building, the whole west side will have sun that reflects off the glass onto the plants and soil. “The reflection can cause a 30 to 40 degree difference in temperature from other parts of the landscape, thus increasing the water demand differently than other exposures on the same site,” Cammarata says.

Or take the case of a reflecting pool on the property. The water may stay warm all winter, warming the land on the shoreline, winter and summer. This affects the irrigation needs. “The soil around it never goes dormant in the winter and never freezes,” he says.

Irrigation along the edges of sidewalks, for instance, should be on different zones than other turf areas. Areas that get a lot of salt during winter have different soil structures, because of that

salt, than areas that do not.

There are other issues that affect the soil and the amount of irrigation needed. Cammarata was hired to look at problems in an amphitheater that hosted weekly concerts, some drawing considerable crowds. There might be as many as 5,000 people jumping up and down on the turf. “I had to redesign everything,” he says. That meant not only modifying the landscape, but the soils, irrigation and management practices, as well.

The irrigation had to be changed so that the area would not be as wet, so that the soil would not get as compacted, which brings us to water saturation.

Cammarata worked to modify the soil structure to promote better drainage.

Irrigation systems must be designed to consider soil types, microclimates and plants, all as part of one big picture, not three separate ones.

“Everything that I do is meant to keep the proper balances in the soil, understanding plant usage and the water requirements in every landscape,” he says. “This tends to meet or exceed every law or regulation wherever we are hired as consultants. I try to be ahead of the curve.” Done right, irrigation can even help developers get points for LEED certification.

Organization

All new Gasoline V8 Allison Automatic

“When properly designed, installed, managed and maintained, horticultural management tools will provide just the right amount of water to our customers’ landscapes only where needed, only in the quantities needed and only at the time needed,” says Cammarata. He believes that most irrigation companies, as well as others in the industry, do not understand soils, plants and microclimates, making it difficult to properly design, manage and maintain landscapes and irrigation systems that are the most effective, even if they have the best equipment.

Even if you have a so-called “Smart” controller, if the water delivery system on the landscape is not matching the smart element, then the landscape suffers. Without understanding the area’s plant-soil-water requirement, no product will be the hero that solves everything.

Therefore, it is important to create “hydrozones” or valve groups for specific types of plants, based on their water requirements. Appropriate irrigation systems are replenishing the soil profile, not watering plants.

In the end, Cammarata is trying to encourage the irrigation industry to take the plant-soil-water triangle seriously.

D&S TRUCK CENTER, INC 708-352-5551

Isn’t it time for the grass to be greener on your side of the fence? For a longer lasting truck that works as hard as you do, experience for yourself the all new gasolinepowered Mitsubishi V8 with an Allison Automatic transmission 10 FREE Oil Changes with the purchase of any new gasoline powered

D&S Truck Center*6035 East Ave*Hodgkins, IL 60525 708-352-5551 The Landscape Contracto May 2020

51

Doing Business in Challenging Times

Solve Your Labor Issues

by Growing Leaders

by Meta Levin

The world has changed

When recruiting new people, first give some thought about what is most important to you and your business. Ask yourself, are you hiring for shared values? “Look at your culture,” says Evans.

“Are you asking questions around your values?”

Evans points to an analogy he heard from Flip Brown, a Vermont based business culture consultant: your business consists of a stool with four legs and a seat: • Values - what you, as an organization believe in, that are shared by the owner and employees • Mission Statement – a clear and concise statement of what differentiates your organization from others • Vision – where you see yourself and your business at a certain point in the future. “The leader needs to set the vision,” says Evans.

since January 2020, when Don Evans presented “Solve Your Labor Issues

by Growing Leaders” to an attentive iLandscape audience. But, he says, the basics remain the same.

“Let’s focus on the qualitative, on the quality of the people we recruit, hire and develop into leaders on our teams,” says Evans, president of LandOpt, a company that provides hands-on coaching, peer networking and role-specific training for landscape professionals and their teams.

Admittedly, iLandscape occurred before the novel coronavirus, COVID19, became a national emergency, when unemployment had hit historical lows and a labor shortage was one of the biggest issues for those in the landscape industry. The recommendation, however, stands.

Cardno has been growing Midwestern native plants and seed for more than 25 years. Let us be your source for container plants, plugs, and seed for your next restoration project.

We offer plants for every habitat type, and can grow to your container size specifications. We also offer submerged aquatic plants — exclusive to our nursery and perfect for a healthy pond or lake restoration.

Our products include: > > > > > > >

Bare-root Trees and Shrubs Deep Water Aquatics Live Stakes and Fascines Monarch and Pollinator Plants Native Plant Plugs Native Seed and Seed Mixes Vegetated Coir Materials

574 586 2412 | nurserysales@cardno.com www.cardnonativeplantnursery.com 52

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

• Strategy – the decisions and actions that enable you to achieve your vision • Behaviors – this is the seat on which you sit. What behaviors are you forming and re-enforcing among your employees in order to execute the strategy to achieve your vision?

The people you recruit are not necessarily those who come from the landscape industry. If they reflect the values important to you and your business, Evans believes that they can be taught the specifics, which means that you should be looking everywhere. The acronym “ABAR” sums it up: always be a recruiter. “Be proactive,” he says. “If you find someone who is a good fit for your team, you will find a way to hire him or her.” (continued on page 54)

The ChiTurf Team

“The Lakeview” by ChiTurf    

Free Next - Day Delivery (to your warehouse or jobsite) No Order Minimums, No Custom Cut Fees, Free Remnant Storage Contractor Special Pricing (register your business @ ChiTurf.com) 24/7/365 Installation Support & Free Samples + Installation Training

Get to know about us @ ChiTurf.com

Artificial Grass Supply Warehouse For Contractors 4042 S.Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60653

| info@chiturf.com

|

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

630.805.3800

|

@ChiTurf 53

Doing Business in Challenging Times (continued from page 52) Evans tells the story about the landscape contractor who was making a purchase at the local hardware store.

The clerk was friendly, knowledgeable, energetic and helpful. In other words, he exemplified the values and culture that the landscape contractor wanted in his business. As he completed his purchase, he gave the clerk his business card, telling him that if he wanted a job, to contact him.

You can guess the result. The clerk contacted the landscape contractor and now he is a successful account manager in the landscape contracting business.

“Hire for attitude,” says Evans. “You can train the rest.”Once you hire someone, training and coaching at all levels of management are important. Continuing it is even more crucial. “It’s all about providing a personal development plan for each member of your team,” says Evans.

Eighty percent of job seekers expect and

54

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

demand career development. Keep that in mind when you are hiring and managing your employees.

This can include many things, but Evans points to the value of peer networking. “Owners can join peer networks; make sure that your managers can, too,” he says. These peer networks have proven to be good training for career development.

It’s important to be aware of changing demographics in the workplace, says Evans. This is not your father’s work environment, nor, for that matter, is it yours anymore. Millennials are moving up in the work force and into management.

Studies have shown, for instance, in addition to the need for personal development, the Millennial generation (approximately ages 25 to 39) doesn’t like annual reviews. Instead, they prefer ongoing conversations.

Evans recommends the “plan and

review” (PAR) process. This institutes regular dialogues about the job and the work the employee is doing. Under this plan, every two weeks the employee completes a form and hands it to his or her boss. A few days later they discuss it.

The form includes information, such as the employee’s successes and challenges of the past two weeks, , the priorities he or she is working on, what should be done and on what the employee would like to work. “Eightyfive percent of the talking is done by the subordinate,” says Evans. “Put it on the calendar.”

It allows the manager to guide strategy, to get feedback from the employee and gives you a platform and a window into what your employee wants and how he or she is performing. “I’ve been with LandOpt for three years and I’ve never seen a process as on point as this (continued on page 56)

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box 189 Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com FairviewEvergreen.com

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

55

Doing Business in Challenging Times (continued from page 55) one,” says Evans, who has a broad background and grew up on the family farm in Virginia. He spent some time as a corporate lawyer, from which he moved to areas, including sales and marketing, strategic planning as well as general management. “It keeps the lines of communication open.”

Evans also stressed the importance of strategy meetings that include the mission statement and company values.

“Strategic planning meetings are a group project,” he says. If owners set a clear vision of where they want to take their companies, then the strategic planning meeting is a critical next step in executing that vision. People look to the leader to establish the vision.

He had another anecdote to illustrate his point. If the team successfully plans and climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro, it’s great, unless the owner wanted to climb K2.

Make sure your team scales the mountain you want to ascend.

Strategic planning needs to be a twoway street, says Evans. He suggests that the general manager be a part of the team, and that, if the company can afford it, bring someone in from the outside to lead the meeting. If the general manager or owner leads the meeting, other team members are likely to defer to him or her, eliminating the ability to have an honest exchange of ideas.

If hiring someone to lead the meeting is too expensive, have someone else on the management team lead and let the general manager be a team member.

These strategic planning meetings, says Evans, should be a part of the annual cycle. In each successive year, he recommends that the team dig deeper, tweak and refine the plan.

Focus on the qualitative, Evans emphasizes. From recruiting to hiring to

executing your strategy, make sure each process is aligned with a focus on quality. If we all do this, our industry will be a welcoming and invigorating career path and our labor issues will be solved.

Successful suppliers know— industry leaders read this magazine.

Save the Date — Aug. 10, 2017

Save the Date — Aug. 10, 2017

May.17_TLC.indd 1

JAN.17_TLC.indd 1

12/14/16 10:01 AM

• Sales and marketing statistics show that the single best way to reach buyers is through highlytargeted specialty magazines.

4/18/17 3:11 PM

• This award-winning magazine is frequently hailed as the best magazine of its kind. Put your ad message in this very flattering environment.

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

For immediate attention CALL Debbie at 817-501-2403 or email — debbie.landscapecontractor@yahoo.com 56

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Diseases & Pests —

Disease of the Month: Dothistroma Pest of the Month: Eastern Tent Caterpillar

by Heather Prince

Disease of the Month: Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Disease of the Month: Dothistroma

Dothistroma is a common needle blight on Austrian, ponderosa, mugo, red, and scots pines.

This fungus causes banding and dieback of affected needles and attacks the older needles. You may see new tips stay green for months, with sections of brown needles behind them. The infection occurs typically from May through October. Small, Common needle blight water-soaked or chlorotic spots develop on older needles, which turn yellow to tan, then brown to reddish brown as time goes on. The spots will often expand into bands and girdle the needle, killing the tip end which turns brown while the base remains green. Eventually the entire needle will die, leaving dead needles attached to the branch for a season or two before dropping. The greatest needle loss is usually seen in spring and summer, and infection usually begins at the base of the tree and moves upwards. Fruiting structures develop on affected needle in spring, and occasionally in autumn. Small, black structures will erupt through the epidermis of the needle and are seen only in affected areas of the needles, not on healthy tissue.

Eastern tent caterpillars (Maclacosoma americanum) are native pests that can quickly defoliate trees. They feed on leaves starting at the margins and moving inward, leaving the midrib behind. These caterpillars overwinter as eggs in dark brown egg masses, with young larvae hatching around bud break. Caterpillars are dark with a yellow-gold stripe down their back and blue spots along their sides. The caterpillars have short velvety hairs with some sparse longer hairs along their bodies and can grow to be two inches long. They create silk tents at the crotches of branches and venture out of the tents to feed on foliage. As the caterpillars grow, tents expand as they provide protection from predators, parasites and pathogens. The tent also has a greenhouse effect, creating a warm, humid environment that is beneficial for larval growth and activity.

Treatment:

Remove tents by winding them around a stick and squashing the caterpillars. By removing tents at night or on cloudy days, more caterpillars will be inside. When the tents are damaged Tent and caterpillars Treatment: or removed, the surviving caterpillars will be exposed to disease, Management for Dothistroma needle blight is a two-step process parasites and predators. Inspect branches and remove egg masses of sanitation and fungicide applications. Fallen needles should from previously infested trees in the fall to reduce populations be removed from around the tree, and dead branches should the following year. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Bt) are bactebe pruned out during dry weather. Make sure to sanitize tools rial treatments that effectively control caterpillars, but Bt treatbetween cuts. Copper, copper hydroxide, copper + mancozeb, or ments are most effective when caterpillars are young. Apply to copper sulfate sprays can be used, but must be applied just before foliage as larvae must consume the Bt treatment for it to work. buds begin to swell to protect the previous year’s growth. During Somewhat resistant varieties of bentgrasses, Kentucky bluegrass, wet years, additional applications may be necessary for good and ryegrasses are available, so make sure to check when restorprotection. ing an area.

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

Additional resources:

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 May 2020

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

57

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Maintenance Supervisor King’s Landscape Design needs to hire dynamic, highly motivated individuals to our team.

King’s has been a staple in the western suburbs since 1959. We are in need of Maintenance Supervisor/Sales.

The position is salaried; pay will be commiserate with experience and education, 401K and health insurance available.

All resumes submitted to mking@kingslandscaping.com Maintenance Supervisor/Sales: This individual is required to have a spray operator’s license, horticulture background/Degree, and management experience. Candidate will supervise employees, manage all daily activities of the maintenance crews, assist in estimating / selling new maintenance programs and enhancements, and be the customers contact for all related issues.

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES June 2020 issue ads: May 15, 2020 July 2020 issue ads: June 15, 2020 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

HELP WANTED

Account Manager – Maintenance – Full Time

Landscape Architect or Designer

Wingren Landscape, Inc. is an award winning full-service landscape company for both residential and commercial properties. Our outdoor services are virtually limitless and include full-scale landscape design, construction, maintenance, lighting, and irrigation.

We are ‘All Things Outdoors’. Founded on a commitment to excellence since 1957 we are seeking experienced candidates for the following positions.

Hi!! We are Located in 60449. Southwest of downtown with a great hwy and Metra commuter location.

We are a small boutique residential design build company that designs and builds incredible landscapes.

We have been in business since 1989 and have retained the same employees for 20 years.

You need to be very good at CAD, hand rendering, elevations, coloring and a great working knowledge of our area’s plants. Also possess a great attitude, peaceful demeanor, be easy to communicate with and have strong design talent.

Let me know what you are looking for in an ideal employment situation. We can see if we are good fit for each other.

Please inquire through the website email.

Please send me a resume and fully developed design examples of your work. Designs that would be ready for presentation to a client that are a match for our project caliber.

Thank you for looking!

Account Manager – Maintenance – Full Time

• Communicate frequently with customers and crews to ensure high quality and service expectations are met. • Proactively prepare, present, and sell site enhancement to customers. • Proactively assist in resolving issues with customer service when needed. • Follow up on leads and solicit new business opportunities • Communicate billing details to client and answer any questions. • Complete knowledge of landscape services (maintenance, plant identification, and seasonal annual rotations). • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, both internal and external. • Proficiency in or knowledge of using a variety of computer software applications, to include Asset, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook • 3-5 years’ experience All interested candidates please email current resume to bdolwick@wingrenlandsape.com

Jim Bertrand, BertrandLandscape.com Please send resumes to: jimbertrand999@gmail.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

NEW OPPORTUNITY! Controller Oversee multi-company financial operations from budgets and financial statements to accounts payable and receivables. Be a part of our Senior Management team!

Senior Sales Associate

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

58

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

HELP WANTED Landscape Estimator Allied Landscaping Corp., is seeking a Landscape Estimator to be part of a great teamwork environment.

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: • Experience in estimating Commercial landscape work is preferred • Excellent communications, computer and math skills • Independent problem solver • A team player with integrity and a strong desire to win bids.

Salary based on experience and qualifications.

Please send resumes to: accounting@allied-landscaping.com

711 S Material Road Romeoville, IL 800-762-5738 * 815-836-0086 RocksEtc@ATT.net

SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! - ORDER YOUR GARDEN CENTER SUPPLIES NOW RESERVE YOUR SHIPPING DATE BEFORE THE RUSH! VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW TRIED AND TRUE SUPPLIES AS WELL AS OUR NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2020!

CALL YOUR SALES REP TODAY!

Maintenance Supervisor King’s Landscape Design needs to hire dynamic, highly motivated individuals to our team.

King’s has been a staple in the western suburbs since 1959. We are in need of Maintenance Supervisor/Sales.

The position is salaried; pay will be commiserate with experience and education, 401K and health insurance available. All resumes submitted to mking@kingslandscaping.com

18715 Route 84 N Cordova, IL 800-736-1356 * 309-654-2261 Sales@XylemLtd.com

Maintenance Supervisor/Sales: This individual is required to have a spray operator’s license, horticulture background/Degree, and management experience. Candidate will supervise employees, manage all daily activities of the maintenance crews, assist in estimating / selling new maintenance programs and enhancements, and be the customers contact for all related issues.

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

59

Successful suppliers know— industry leaders read this magazine.

is the Midwest’s premier monthly magazine for the landscape, nursery and green industry.

Professionls’ Choice Award Goes to Chalet

• Sales and marketing statistics show that the single best way to reach buyers is through highly-targeted specialty magazines

• This award-winning magazine is frequently hailed

as the best magazine of its kind. Put your message in this flattering environment.

• The Landscape Contractor has an affordable

advertising program for every budget.

Day In — Night Out

FEB.19_TLC WORKING BODY.indd 1

1/11/19 8:11 AM

Judges’Award Goes to Kane Brothers

For immediate attention CALL Debbie at

817-501-2403 or email —

debbie.landscapecontractor@yahoo.com

60

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Advertisers

Attention Advertisers:

1st Choice Equipment ...........................................13 Bartlett Tree Experts .............................................54 Breezy Hill Nursery ..............................................21 Cardno ...................................................................52

offers some extraordinary MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES.

Chi Turf .................................................................53 Compost Supply.....................................................50 Dayton Bag & Burlap ...........................................55

Just one call opens the door to enhanced sales and marketing success.

Doty Nurseries LLC ................................................4 D&S Truck Center ................................................51 Fairview Evergreen Nursery .................................55

Call Debbie to get started!

Goodmark Nurseries .............................................45 Green Glen Nursery ..............................................63

817-501-2403

Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ........................................12 Homer Industries ...................................................15 Iron Rental .............................................................49 James Martin Associates .......................................58 JKS Ventures ........................................................50

Attention Landscape Contractors:

Lafarge Fox River Stone .......................................37 Longshadow Planters ............................................11

Remember to Support ILCA Supporters!

Mariani Plants .........................................................6

These include:

Mariani Plants .......................................................39 Martin Implement .................................................20 McGinty Bros. ......................................................54 Midwest Groundcovers .........................................17 Midwest Trading .....................................................2 Monroe Truck .......................................................29 Spring Meadow Nursery .......................................23 The Landscape Contractor magazine ....................56 The Mulch Center .................................................43

• Members & Advertisers who supply goods and services • Members who sponsor ILCA programs and events

Where will you find them?

• ILCA Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide

• The Landscape Contractor magazine advertising • The Landscape Contractor magazine reports of events with

sponsor acknowledgments

• www.ilca.net member lists – Finding a Landscape

Contractor & Suppliers to the Trade

Unilock, Inc. ..........................................................64 Xylem ....................................................................59

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

61

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Farnswworth House

by Heather Prince

Sited along the Fox River, the iconic Mies van

setting and natural look. The house was set on the bottomland der Rohe home is surrounded by an ancient Illinois landscape of to be near the river and van der Rohe pushed the building up fields, river bluffs and floodplain woodlands. The long clean white against the mature trees to shade the house and to preserve the lines of the steel building echo the flat river bottomland as the open meadow behind it.” expanses of glass windows reflect the ever-changing patterns of After enjoying her weekend retreat for many years, light and shadow. This landscape appears effortFarnsworth sold the house to Lord Peter less as you approach the house. Farnsworth House Palumbo in 1970. Palumbo hired landscape is a place to discover the connectedness of built architect Lanning Roper to develop the propspaces to natural areas. Take time to linger on the erty into more of an English country estate. terrace. Absorb the views in all directions through “They didn’t have a formal planting plan,” the walls of glass. Pause and notice the solitude reported Mehaffey. “The two of them liked to and sense of calm created when built structures visit neighboring nurseries on the weekends to frame, rather than compete with nature. select trees and then mark locations for them Dr. Edith Farnsworth first conceived of a to be planted. One of the goals was to screen country retreat in 1945 and purchased a section the building from the adjacent roads. Another Dr Farnsworth and poodle Spring 1950 of Colonel Robert McCormick’s experimental goal was to add year-round seasonal interest.

Guided tours: $20 Tribune Farm holdings. The allotment had been Roper created a formal drive with an allée of maple April to November: used by the tenant farmers as vegetable gardens and trees to provide a dramatic entry and also laid out a Tuesdays through allowed to revert to pasture. Charmed by the naturalis- Fridays – 10 a.m., sculpture walk.” When you visit today, the sweeping 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. tic landscape of the old field, widely spaced trees, and beds of groundcover dotted with spring bulbs and peaceful river waters, Farnsworth commissioned van hostas reflect Roper’s European aesthetic.

Saturdays and Sundays de Rohe to design a revolutionary building. The spare There are many layers of history in the towering – On the hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. elegance of the structure was intended to promote a trees and rich soils surrounding Farnsworth House. sense of retreat from Farnsworth’s bustling career in “The series of ridges to the north are ancient river Closed Mondays Chicago as a physician specializing in diseases of the shorelines. You can find some wonderful remnant January to March: kidney. It also allowed Farnsworth a place to pracoaks and preserved habitats along those ridges,” Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11:00am tice her violin, write poetry, birdwatch, and entertain observed Mehaffey. “Our plan is to conserve and and 2:00pm friends. interpret the natural and cultural history of the site “The house reflects the tension of a streamlined and its surroundings so that visitors can more fully machine set into nature,” commented Scott Mehaffey, Executive appreciate why Dr. Farnsworth built here – and why she and Director. “Edith never landscaped it, preferring a meadowlike Lord Palumbo both cherished this special place.”

62

The Landscape Contractor May 2020

Unleash your

CREATIVITY Your clients rely on you to show them what’s possible.

UNLEASH YOUR IMAGINATION with Unilock pavers and walls to create brag-worthy, one-of-a-kind outdoor spaces that build your company’s reputation for style and quality.

Only Unilock offers EnduraColor™ Plus Architectural Finishes.

From the sleek modern lines of Umbriano®, to the historic street paver feel of Town Hall®, this exclusive collection sets a new standard for everlasting beauty.

Learn more about how Unilock products can help your projects stand out - Local territory managers in your area are only a phone call away.

UNILOCK.COM

|

1-800-UNILOCK

Combine NEW U-CARA™ Opal and Granite Fusion with Umbriano ® French Grey for a sleek and modern design.

U-CARA™ Fascia panels can be placed anywhere along the Sure Track Backer Block, allowing for a variety of patterns, color and texture combinations not possible with other systems.