The Landscape Contractor AUG.22 Digital Edition

Why Plant Ho-Hum Trees

A Tribute to Ralph Little

WE ARE AWARD-WINNING PLANT PEOPLE!

CHRIS PLANE

INVENTORY & SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

SHANNON McENERNEY

GPN’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2022

MARKETING MANAGER

IGIA 2021 ICN PRO of the Year

MIKE KRUGER

VIRGIL NURSERY MANAGER

Finalist for the 2022 GrowerTalks/ Ball Horticultural Company

Young Grower Award

The Midwest Groundcovers team salutes

CHRIS, SHANNON, AND MIKE

for being recognized for their achievements. Skål!

Place Your Orders 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

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May 2022

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project FOCUS: Expanding Your Tree Palette Why Plant Ho-Hum Trees

Four tree experts offer diverse choices Managing Customer Expectations Avoid complaints and disappointments

8 10 18

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The Pros at Home 22 ILCA visits Craig Bergmann Farewell to a Friend — Past President Ralph D. Little 32

EN ESPAÑOL

¿Por qué necesita un permiso?

Managing Customer Expectations

34

Creating a Sustainable Bird-Friendly Garden Knowing what birds want builds better gardens

38

Underused Wood Plants for Spring Flowering shrubs add a bit of spice to any garden

40

22

Diseases and Pests 52 Quackgrass and Edema on yews

Diseases on spruce 54 Member Profile 56 Triple H Mulch and Firewood LLC

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Inspiration Alley 61 Spring Shuffle Hidden Landscape Gems Luthy Botanical Garden

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On the cover... Moore Landscapes received the Gold Award for Commercial Maintenance with this project titled Twin Oaks Country Club.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

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

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee Debbie Bartsch Rick Reuland AAS Power Paver Nina Koziol

1, 8-9, 30-39 16-18 20-29 44-51 54 61

Calendar 4 5 7 56 61

Heather Prince

SAVE THE DATES JUNE June 16, 2022 Design Tour

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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.

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From Where I Stand —

Let’s talk turkey.

More accurately, let’s talk turkey sandwiches. One of the subtle finds of ILCA’s Latinos and Americanos task force was the difference in how each culture approaches lunch. Any landscape manager or supervisor can attest that a lunch break on a job site among a crew of Latinos is a lot different than what you’d find among domestic workers. Latino lunch breaks are communal and social. Food is prepared and shared among all. The workers find a shady spot where they can sit and enjoy their meals out of the sun. The lunch break is stretched for the complete time. No one rushes back to work. Most importantly, work is rarely discussed. Sounds like a little slice of heaven, doesn’t it?

The American lunch hour is close to being put on the endangered species list. In fact, even calling it a “lunch hour” is a misnomer.

There is no federal law that stipulates lunch breaks, states regulate them. In Illinois, the only stipulation is that a 30-minute break is reserved for employees who work more than 7.5 hours and that break cannot occur more than five hours after the employee’s start time.

Oh, and fresh water has to be provided. Those sound more like the conditions of a Dickensian workhouse than an office full of professionals.

Everyone complains about young people being buried in their computers and phones, but that is exactly what many American do on their meal breaks.

This stems from the individualistic vs. communal cultural differences between Americans and Latinos. Americans enjoy the short break to focus on themselves. Latinos enjoy the longer break to recharge and deepen the relationships so vital to crew dynamics. In fact, many Americans, if they even take a lunch break, use that time to run personal errands rather than stop and enjoy a decent meal.

I used to work in Park Ridge. Just up the street from Lurvey’s in Des Plaines was a restaurant called Anderson’s Charhouse. It was in a strip mall across from Maine East High School. Sadly, I think it is long closed down. When I was working, they had a $3.99 lunch special that came with two pork chops, rice, vegetables, soup, and fresh baked bread. I was usually the youngest person in the restaurant by 30 years.

I used to take my full lunch hour. I would sit at the bar, eat my two pork chops with a black coffee, and watch the Jerry Springer Show or whatever else the TV was tuned to. I spoke to no one. I had no phone to occupy my attention or pull me back to work. I just sat and enjoyed a meal in silence. My only conversational partner was the bartender who knew my order the second I walked in the door. I was happy.

Over time, my lunch habits began to change. I became like every other American worker. If I could find the time, I sat at my desk and threw food down my throat as quick as I could.

Famously, I had a bowl of soup every single day for lunch. I started with 20 cent bags of Ramen noodles to which I would add Jamaican hot sauce. Over time, as my economic conditions improved, I was able to buy Campbell’s Soup. Finally, when

I got the job at ILCA, I was eating so high on the hog, I could afford Progresso Soup.

Over time, I just stopped eating lunch altogether. I’d be lucky to wolf down a bag of pretzels or peanuts in between meetings or obligations. I’d drink coffee and smack gum to satiate the hunger. I’m not sure any of this made me happy. It made me feel productive and hardworking, but I can’t say it has improved my work day. I have become like millions of other Americans who work right through our lunch breaks in the name of productivity and efficiency. We are probably a few years away from nibbling seed bells dangling over our heads.

Often times, we decry change and romanticize the past. We will shake our fist and blame our employers or culture for robbing us of extended lunch breaks. However, is it actually our fault? Do we not take lunch because we feel the pressure of the American workday or do we not take lunch because we simply enjoy mindlessly scrolling the internet or flipping through our phones for 15 minutes? Americans do most everything quickly and efficiently, why should our lunch breaks be any different?

Instead of trying to determine how we got here, maybe it’s better to determine if we want to stay here. I can bore you with history lessons about how the “quick lunch” started in major metropolitan areas as a way to stay fueled for arduous days. Prior to the 1900s, lunch breaks weren’t really a thing. In fact, lunch itself was not a central meal. Most Americans, especially farmers and homesteaders, subsided on breakfast with a large supper. Lunch was defined as all the food you could fit in one hand. That changed as more professionals commuted to big cities. Work days grew longer and more regimented. Time was money.

Sixty percent of professionals eat lunch at their desks. 88% of bosses think their employees would say they are encouraged to take a lunch when only 62% of employees feel this way. 63% said they are more productive if they take a lunch break. Sadly, 22% of bosses look down on employees who pause for lunch.

These numbers help explain how we wound up here.

There is a blog called saddesklunch.com. It allows working professionals to snap photos of their pathetic desk lunches and post them to a blog. I am not sure if this is meant to be ironic, a badge of honor, or a case of misery loving company. The photos range from sad sandwiches to cat food-looking Lean Cuisines to ramen noodles made in a coffee pot. The photos could be from any office in America, cluttered desks, spreadsheets on the screen, and bacteria-covered keyboards sprinkled with crumbs.

These are hardly the enchiladas and Mexican rice being enjoyed among coworkers under the dappled canopy of a honey locust.

One of the takeaways of our Latinos and Americanos training is that employers should not mess with the lunch breaks of their Latino field workers. Instead, these gatherings should be supported and encouraged. We even recommend educating clients about the importance of lunch breaks for workers on the client’s property. These breaks are about camaraderie and

Let’s Do Lunch

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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From Where I Stand — increasing productivity and not indicators of laziness or wasting time. The benefits of these collectivist gatherings on morale cannot be understated. Could employers zap a few more man-hours out of those crews by coming down hard on lunch breaks? Sure, but do it at your own peril. Camaraderie and cohesion are vital to Latino field staff.

The question becomes, are they vital to American workers too?

Have we simply grown accustomed to our sad desk/car lunches (or no lunches) without stopping to question if they are ultimately fulfilling. We all agree that maintaining a healthy and happy workplace is important, but that buries the lead. The most important aspect is employee retention. It must be determined if encouraging American workers to take a proper lunch break, complete with a meal, and dare I say it, polite socialization will increase job satisfaction and retention. There is more nourishment in our lunches than we want to believe.

Thankfully, there is one profession in American life where eating together is still revered. No, it is not prisoners. The communal meal is still vital to firefighters. Researchers at Cornell University set out to determine if firefighters get any type of additional benefit to eating together outside of full bellies. Firefighters are not highly paid and work long and difficult hours.

The researchers visited 13 firehouses and surveyed 395 firefighters to determine if shared meals make them better employees.

The results were startling. Cooperative behavior was twice as high among firefighters who cooked and dined together. All approached roles in the firehouse better and more cooperatively than colleagues who ate alone. The social aspects of dining together increased satisfaction and work productivity.

I am not going to heap on a bunch of guidance and advice. I still can’t fathom returning to a world of daily Progresso Soup or double pork chop lunches. I will only make one recommendation. June 17, 2022 is National Take Back the Lunch Break Day. I encourage every American worker to give it a try. Here is the catch. Don’t turn this into a party that takes half the day. This is not about celebrating the lunch break, only normalizing it. Simply go out and get some lunch. You can do it alone or by yourself.

Make it a clean break and use every second of your lunchtime.

Do not look at a single work text or email. If you head out with coworkers, engage with the people you are with and don’t talk about work. It is called a “lunch break” for a reason. Eat lunch and break. It’s that simple. If you enjoy yourself, schedule another one next month. Then, maybe every other week.

When you return to work that afternoon, check your mood.

How is your productivity? Are you already looking forward to the next lunch break? Are you more or less stressed as a result of recalibrating your brain and raising your blood sugar? If so, it’s probably worth trying again. If you wake up five hours later, to a darkened office, face down on your keyboard with drool running down your chin, you may want to go easy on the carbs next time.

Bon appétit.

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

Sincerely,

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Scott Grams Executive Director April 19, 2022 The Landscape Contractor May 2022

President’s Message —

Do you find yourself running around putting fires out all day?

Busy, but don’t feel like your work is making an impact? Have long-term goals but have no time to work on or make progress with them? Have a hard time delegating or saying no? If you answered yes to these questions, you fall into the urgency trap and it might be time to implement the tried-and-true Eisenhower Matrix. We work in an industry where we accept interruptions, distractions, and frantic urgency as the norm, but do we really have to work this way? For those who don’t know, the Eisenhower Matrix (or known as the time-management matrix) is a simple, four quadrant matrix that allows an individual to prioritize what they need to do (and do it now), what they need to schedule, what they need to delegate, and what they need to drop. Too often, the landscape industry falls into the trap of focusing our efforts on the urgent present rather than the important future. As Dwight Eisenhower said, “What is urgent is seldom important, and what is important is seldom urgent.”

This is especially true in springtime during the spring rush: the volume for requests is at an all-time high and your phone doesn’t Scott McAdam Jr. stop ringing, you’re working excessive hours, stress levels are astronomical, and you often question how you can get it all done with such few hours in the day. Just because we receive an urgent request does not mean we abandon what is important to address it. Not only does this disrupt overall productivity, but additionally impacts individual, day-to-day operation, negatively. As a population, we fall victim to the mere-urgency effect and tasks with deadlines over tasks without one regardless of the long-term potential. The more we feel a time crunch, the more likely we will continue prioritizing tasks that focus on a timeline instead of long-term payoffs.

As our spring season continues to ramp up, I urge you to continually assess task importance versus task urgency. By doing so, you’ll be able to better prioritize your time in determining what you need to do now, what you can schedule for later, what you can delegate to others, and what you can eliminate entirely. Here’s to a happy, prosperous, and, hopefully, less stressful spring!

President

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

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

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

Directors

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

Sincerely, Scott McAdam Jr.

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

www.ilca.net

¿Se encuentra usted corriendo de un lado al otro apagando incendios durante todo el día? ¿Ocupado, pero no siente que su trabajo tenga impacto? ¿Tiene metas a largo plazo, pero no tiene tiempo para trabajar en ellas o hacerlas avanzar? ¿Le cuesta trabajo delegar o decir que no? Si contesta afirmativamente a estas preguntas, usted ha caído en la trampa de la urgencia y podría ser tiempo de implementar la Matriz de Eisenhower, de eficacia probada. Trabajamos en una industria donde aceptamos interrupciones, distracciones y urgencias frenéticas como la norma, pero ¿realmente tenemos que trabajar de esta manera? Para los que no saben, la Matriz de Eisenhower (conocida también como la matriz de gestión de tiempo) es una matriz sencilla de cuatro cuadrantes que permite a las personas priorizar lo que tienen que hacer (y hacerlo ahora), lo que deben programar, lo que deben delegar y lo que deben descartar. Con mucha frecuencia, la industria del paisajismo cae en la trampa de concentrar nuestros esfuerzos en el presente urgente en lugar de en el futuro importante. Como dijo Dwight Eisenhower, “Lo que es urgente, pocas veces es importante, y lo que es importante, casi nunca es urgente”.

Esto es especialmente cierto en la primavera, durante la fiebre de la primavera: el volumen de solicitudes se encuentra en su punto más alto y su teléfono no deja de timbrar, usted trabaja demasiadas horas, los niveles de estrés son astronómicos y con frecuencia se pregunta cómo podrá hacerlo todo con tan pocas horas en un día. Solo porque recibimos una solicitud urgente no significa que abandonamos lo que es importante hacer. Esto no solo afecta la productividad global, sino que además impacta negativamente las operaciones individuales diarias. Como población, somos víctimas del efecto de mera urgencia y priorizamos tareas con fechas límites sobre tareas que no las tienen independientemente del potencial a largo plazo. Cuanto más sintamos la presión del tiempo, más probablemente continuaremos priorizando tareas que se concentran en un período fijo en lugar de en los beneficios a largo plazo.

A medida que nuestra temporada de primavera continúa avanzando, los insto a evaluar continuamente la importancia de las tareas versus la urgencia de las tareas. Al hacerlo, podrá priorizar mejor su tiempo para determinar lo que debe hacer ahora, lo que puede programar para después, lo que puede delegar en otros y lo que puede eliminar totalmente. ¡Les deseo a todos una primavera feliz, próspera y, espero, menos estresante!

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Night Light, Inc. • Lombard Dusk Delight

For this luxury home on a ¾-acre property, the lighting designer/contractor sought to ennoble the property’s natural attributes of tall trees and open vistas and to emphasize the refined architectural details that characterize the house and outdoor living areas. Dramatic silhouettes, intricate shadow patterns, and textural variations enhance what the home’s architect, builder, landscape architect, and homeowner value most about the property and its built environment. Utilizing proprietary technologies, the lighting approach throughout the property is particular to each area and element – optimiz-

ing fixture type, position, light direction, lumen output, beam spread, and color temperature to influence viewpoints, add depth, create visual hierarchies, balance scale, enable particular tasks, establish architectural and spatial continuity, and provide for safe pedestrian movement throughout. Skillful landscape lighting transforms trees into sculptures, surfaces into patterns, and dark vagueness into liveliness. It recognizes, through the manipulation of light, shadow, and color, what daylight often overpowers. The result is truly a Dusk Delight.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Spring Tree Panel —

Why Plant Ho-Hum Trees?

Nina A. Koziol

When you know how a product works and

it works well, it can be hard to switch. It could be a special brand of tool, an appliance or a car. Why try something new when you have a proven product? That goes for plants, too.

If you’ve been using river birch, red maple, spruces or honey locust as dependable choices, you’re not alone. But, there are many good reasons to try something different, even something better. Your projects will stand out from others, especially in residential subdivisions where these trees appear again and again. And, there’s the need for diversity in plantings. If a serious new insect pest or disease affects red maples and everyone on the block has one—well, you get the picture.

To provide some inspiration and encourage the use of broader plant palettes — especially in light of plant shortages for many of these often-used trees — we asked a panel of experts for their recommendations. Julie Janoski, plant clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Jim Matusik, owner of the Tree Connection, a wholesale nursery stock distribution company in Rochester, Michigan; Jeff Kramer, V.P. and ISA Certified Arborist at Kramer Tree Specialists in West Chicago; and Mike Cook of Cedar Path Nurseries in Barrington and Lockport, IL, all weighed in.

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Spring Tree Panel — ecosystems while protecting their invest“We’re seeing a lot of fungal problems ments.” on spruces,” Janoski said. “People Kramer calls Linden trees problemcontinue to plant them because they’re atic because they’re over planted. “But beautiful, but the disease pressure is more than that they develop girdling immense because there are so many of roots. It’s not a nursery issue at all. I them. They’re not happy here because would say 50 percent of them are affectof the humidity and clay soil. We’re not ed because their genetic code is such that recommending against planting them, they develop girdling roots.” The other but use them with caution.” issue is the love affair that Japanese Kramer sees the same decline in Colorado spruce and calls it disheartening.

“It’s getting needle blight, Phytophthora and we’re not planting them,” he said. “They were certainly a workhorse in the landscape for 80 years and years ago, it was only the older, mature ones that were affected, but now we see way younger trees that are stressed with needle blight and canker.” The list at the end has the panel’s recommendations for both deciduous and evergreen trees.

“The first thing about selection is right plant right place,” Janoski said. “No matter how sturdy a tree is, if it wants full sun and welldrained soil and you put it in a wet or shady site, it’s not going to Early Glow Buckeye thrive or survive.” And that’s the case for many declining spruce trees — young and beetles have for lindens. “Generally, established specimens. they won’t kill the plant but can really defoliate it. Some homeowners want them treated, but you have to be careful Over-Baked and not hurt the bee populations.”

“If you’re a contractor and the homeowner already has three maples, let’s plant something else,” Janoski said. “If Large Shrubs the neighbors have a ton of honey locust, It’s not just certain shade trees that are there are plenty of other good trees out over planted. “We need something in there that will fit our northern Illinois the spring that’s not forsythia,” Matusik conditions. You can encourage good

Problematic Evergreens

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

said. “Hamamelis vernalis — witch hazel — the spring-flowering period is February to March and there’s another species (H. virginiana) that flowers in fall. Witch hazel offers those two different flowering seasons. I’m doing them in my backyard as a filler plant that offers interest, is densely leaved and has cool, very nice spring flowers.”

Common witch hazel is one of Janoski’s favorites.

“We have Arnold’s Promise at the Arboretum and it’s been blooming for four months (this year) with no regard to snow or freezing temperatures.”

At 12 to 15 feet tall and wide, it’s a sturdy, shade-tolerant woody.

“The Cornelian cherry dogwood is a nice small tree or large shrub that’s also quite lovely.” And underused.

Red-twig dogwood has been around forever, but Matusik gives the cultivar Midnight Fire high marks. “This one has really nice branching that is showy in winter and it’s a good strong shrub. Redtwig dogwoods aren’t used as much as they should be. They don’t die and they’re tough as nails, they’re deertolerant and they attract birds and butterflies.

They have really cool fall color, too.”

Like many old varieties of trees and shrubs, Snowmound spirea has come in and out of vogue. “But they’re gorgeous and hardy as can be,” Matusik said.

“They can handle heavy shearing and they just flower their brains out. At two to four feet tall and wide, they’re great for borders and foundation plantings, and they add an instant punch of color.”

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Spring Tree Panel — Janoski calls Seven Son’s flower (Heptacodium) another super tough woody that’s not often seen in residential landscapes. “It’s considered a shrub, but it’s big enough that it can be shaped into a small tree. It can get a bit wild and wooly looking, but it flowers late in summer and has good fall interest and peeling bark.” And, it attracts migrating monarch butterflies in late August.

Kramer likes the native American smoketree for its resistance to pests and disease.

“Everyone is looking for lower maintenance, too. We had no problems with them so far and I’ve had great experience with it. It could be considered an ornamental.”

Small Spaces

Although serviceberry has been popular as a small, understory spring-blooming native, Cook would like to see more apple serviceberry (Amelanchier grandiflora) planted in residential and commercial projects. “I think that we could use more of these. It’s widespreading, but graceful in habit with beautiAmelanchier laevis

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ful fall colors.” And berries that attract a variety of songbirds.

“We have a whole other part of the industry that plants in urban spaces and smaller lots,” Matusik says. “Think of the brownstones in Chicago where you can’t have anything big.” He encourages landscapers to take a look at hardy Japanese maples. “There are hardy varieties that can work in niche areas and smaller sites. They have a real punch of color, provide density and a focal point.

There’s Pixie, a superdense upright form that can go right into a corner and not overtake the area.” (Acer palmatum ‘Pixie’ looks like a small version of Bloodgood Japanese maple.)

“Red Sentinel is another compact plant (Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel) that has amazing fall colors but spring interest, too, so it has three seasons to it and is super hardy. English Town Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘EngishTown’) is a very nice small tree.” Depending on the conditions, it can reach about 6 by 6 feet tall and wide.

Mix it Up

Instead of the usual red maple, how about planting an interesting oak?

“Oaks in general — so far, so good,” Kramer said. “Every plant has its problems like oak wilt, but generally anything in the oak family is good. I like Triple Crown and Regal Prince oaks — both are unique and newer. They’ve been out for a while, but I don’t see them often in the landscape.”

“There’s a buckeye — Aesculus glabra — that’s making a comeback,” Cook said. “Early Glow’ shows a lot of promise — less scorching and it’s underused. Usually they scorch terribly some years with wet summers and they’re denuded by September. Early Glow seems to hold its leaves through August.” A medium-size tree at 30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide, it offers bright red fall color.

Expanding your palette helps prevent plant loss to insects. For example, viburnum leaf beetle continues to be a serious problem. “Anything you can do to plant diversely — even in hedges — is important,” Janoski said. Blackhaw

Cornus mas

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Spring Tree Panel — viburnum is a native woody that reaches 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide. “Its leaves are a dark, glossy green and we’ve seen a tiny bit of damage, but it’s pretty resistant because the beetle apparently doesn’t like the heavier, waxier leaves. It’s nothing like the damage [we see] on arrowwood viburnum.”

“That’s why we’re encouraging landscapers to plant diversely — because now we’ve got an insect that will take [many] viburnums down or you’ll have to treat for the beetles,” Janoski said. “It’s so much more interesting and better for the environment if you can plant something varied.”

Try Something New

Looking for something different and perhaps much better than the old standbys you’ve been using?

Here are some of the panels picks for great performers among shade and ornamental trees and tall shrubs.

Large Trees

Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra) Limber Pine (Pinus flexlilis) Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika) Norway Spruce (Picea abies) Concolor Fir (Abies concolor) Princeton Elm (Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’) Frontier Elm (Ulmus ‘Frontier’) Triumph(™) Elm Early Glow Buckeye (Aesculus glabra ‘Early Glow’) Acer ginnala ‘Flame’ and ‘Ruby Slippers’ Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)

Amelanchier laevis

16 16

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple Purple Catalpa (Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’) Gingko Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) American Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) London Planetree (Platanus x acerifolia) American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) Regal Prince Oak (Quercus Regal Prince®)

Small Ornamental Trees/Large Shrubs

Acer japonicum ‘Yama Kagi’ Acer palmatum ‘Rhode Island Red’ Pixie Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Pixie’) Twombly’s Red Sentinal Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’) Spring Flurry Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis ‘Spring Flurry’) Paw Paw (Asimina triloba) American Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus; syn. Cotinus americanus) Beijing Gold Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata ssp. pekinensis ‘Zhang Zhiming’) Ruby Falls Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’) Hot Wings Tatarian Maple (Acer tataricum ‘GarAnn’) Great Wall Tree Lilac (Syringa pekinensis ‘Great Wall’) Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas ‘Golden Glory’) Firebird Crabapple (Malus sargentii Firebird®) Ivory Spear Crabapple (Malus ‘Ivory Spear’) Resources and Photos: www.mortonarb.org www.thetreeconnection.com http://www.cedarpath.net

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Princeton Elm

Regal Prince Oak

Pixie Japanese Maple

Heptacodium Seedheads

American Smoketree Cotinus_obovatus

Ruby Fall Redbud

Morton Arboretum Princeton Elm

Beijing Gold Tree Lilac in Spring

Beijing Gold Tree Lilac in Fall

Hamamelis virginiana

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Irrigation Update —

Managing Customer Expectations

By Meta L. Levin

Communication,

early and often, is the key toward managing customer expectations, according to three leaders in the landscape industry. The three, Bob Hursthouse, ASLA, owner and founder of Hursthouse, Inc., Dean MacMorris, president of Night Light, Inc; and Tom Kelly, ASLA, vice president of Balanced Environments, Inc. weighed in on the question amidst a challenging and demanding business environment.

Like many industries, the landscape world is facing significant challenges from supply chain issues and labor shortages. But these issues are exacerbated because the landscape industry is busier than ever. “It’s a battle out there,” says MacMorris. “Most of the time clients understand, but they don’t necessarily like it.”

Still, says Kelly, contractors should be thankful.

“Covid has given everyone in the landscape and snow removal industry a huge chance to work due to our status as an ‘essential industry,’” he says.

By now, clients already are familiar with supply chain and labor shortages from other experiences in their lives. They know that items they order may be delayed or not available. So when a landscape professional explains delays, most are understanding. The key, though, is being truthful. “Be straight with the client,” says Kelly.

It is, says Hursthouse, “always a matter of trust.”

Hursthouse has found explaining delays, whether they be supply chain, labor shortages or related to other trades working on the project, usually is met with understanding. “Pretty much everyone knows,” he says. “Depending on what business the client is in, they may have been hurt by supply chain issues.”

They may understand when he shows a plan that doesn’t specify a certain plant, but, instead, calls for a general type.

For instance, indicating an upright evergreen, as opposed to an Emerald Green arborvitae, because he knows that it may not be available or he may not be able to get it in the desired 18

numbers. “The project may be slowed down if we have to have a specific plant.” A large part of the calculation is whether the project is done in a timely fashion. “We select the best plants that will work and most of our clients are happy.”

There are similar issues with irrigation and lighting contractors. Hursthouse Inc., which does some basic lighting, has had to wait as much as 90 days for certain types of circuit breakers, which they used to be able to get in a much shorter time. “Who would think we would have to wait 90 days for a circuit breaker?”

Tell the client when you can’t get the product,” says MacMorris.

Irrigation contractors have complained of an inability to get common products that used to require only a quick trip or call to a supplier. It’s become such a problem that many ordered large quantities of commonly used materials last fall, storing them in facilities so that they were ready to go this spring.

It’s no surprise that costs have gone up. Fertilizer, labor and fuel are more expensive than they were just a year ago.

So are many other materials. If you have established a good relationship with your clients and have communicated throughout the process, they will be amenable to workarounds, says Kelly. “If fertilizer goes up, find ways to keep the costs down ­­— maybe not treating the entire property the way you are doing the front.”

When you hit a budgetary issue, get creative. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. As an example, Kelly cites a $50,000 project that he offered to spread over three years. “Make lemons into lemonade,” he says. “We were in front of the client for three years.”

Whatever the issue, tell your client, says Kelly. No one likes an unpleasant surprise. (continued on page 20)

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Irrigation Update — (continued from page 18) For MacMorris, his schedule is dependent on the other trades, because the lighting contractor usually comes in last.

“We have to follow everyone else,” he says. “S their schedules affect ours.” That also means plenty of conversations with property owners, when, say, the carpenter can’t finish the pergola, so Night Light can’t go in and install the lighting for that feature, thus delaying completing the project.

Sometimes MacMorris has had to deal with an angry client when other trades haven’t been upfront about issues that delay the project, making Night Light late installing the lighting.

“We’ve had clients say, ‘We haven’t heard from everybody,’” he says, even though he has made every effort to keep the client up to date on his schedule and issues. When the previous trades are delayed, Night Light may have had to go on to another scheduled job and can’t get to that client’s as soon as it’s ready.

Labor issues have delayed projects. Working during a pandemic, means that workers caught COVID 19 and were out for weeks at a time. Everyone had labor issues and some employees left for higher paying jobs. Landscape, irrigation and lighting contractors were not the only ones with these problems.

Growers and materials suppliers had the same issues. This was on top of unexpectedly high demand for goods and services.

“Everybody was scheduled out for weeks on end,” says MacMorris. So when a client or potential client called wanting something done right away or within a brief period, contractors were put in the uncomfortable position of saying no.

Still, some found ways of saying yes for long time customers. Hursthouse recounted the story of a client who called in April about her daughter’s wedding, planned for August in the client’s backyard. “She wanted vignettes around the garden in certain colors,” he says. “It was a longtime client, so we scrambled.”

Another long-time client called about a business launch planned for the yard. They expected 300 people, including investors. “We had been doing work for them for years, so we couldn’t tell them no,” he says. “So, we had to be super creative.”

Customers often do not understand the time it takes just to get going on a project. Planning and designing takes time. There are permits – made even more time consuming, because those in municipal planning, zoning and building departments are working from home and are busy for the same reasons that contractors are. Let them know what you must do and how long it should take.

Plant material may be less available, because growers are experiencing the same labor shortages as everyone else.

Supply chain issues are affecting suppliers and contractors alike. Rental equipment is the same. If everything is on back order the contractors can’t do as much work.

In every situation tell your clients. Put yourself in their shoes. “Focus on the client and the proper end result,” says Kelly. “It’s just good business.”

Not an ILCA Member?

JOIN NOW for 2022!

Call Marissa at 630-472-2851 for membership information.

Set yourself up for the great recovery ahead.

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Top 10 Ways to Communicate with a Client Here are the top 10 ways to use communication to keep your client informed and happy:

Spring is right around the corner!

IS YOUR GARDEN CENTER READY?

1.

Lay out expectations

2.

Overcommunicate. “You want to over communicate,” says Hurthouse. “Keep your client apprised of exactly what is going on.”

3.

Find out what is important to the client

4.

Check in with your clients. “Constantly ask your clients how you are doing,” says Kelly. “Stay in touch as much as you can. Most of them will appreciate you asking them and I promise you that they will tell you if something is not right.”

5.

Ask the client about preferences – does he or she prefer a phone call? A text message? An email?

Then, use it and make sure that anyone connected with the job, knows and uses the preferred method of communication.

6.

Let them know you are doing the best on their behalf.

7.

Tell them if you can’t get the product or can’t get it on time, says MacMorris.

8.

Try to bring materials in early. “Just in time delivery is good if you can be assured it is going to be delivered,” says Hursthouse. In these times, however, you can’t always be sure.

9.

711 S Material Road Romeoville, IL 815-836-0086 rocksetc@att.net

Ask about animals (dogs, cats, other pets) and children, then talk with your client about planning around them.

10. Discuss a long-term plan, if appropriate. Help your client think through needs and expectations.

Don’t forget to check out our mix and match program!

Call your sales rep today!

18715 Route 84 N Cordova, IL 309-654-2261 sales@xylemltd.com

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OR BULK—WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Focus — The Pros at Home

ILCA Visits with Craig

by Nina Koziol

When Craig Bergmann

was five years old, his father gave him a 20’ x 20’ plot of ground at their Glen Ellyn home. “My dad was an avid gardener. Evenings and weekends he was out in the garden and when I was old enough to follow him he’d give me tasks. I was mad that he lifted up the old brick patio to put in concrete and I asked him if I could have the bricks. So we edged the beds with bricks and whenever my dad went shopping for plants I’d go with him with my allowance money. I’d ask neighbors for starts of things, and my aunts and uncles would share — you know real gardeners share.”

The rest, as they say, is history. For the past four decades his firm Craig Bergmann Landscape Design in Lake Forest, has received critical acclaim for projects not only in Illinois but in at least a dozen states from coast-tocoast. He also operates a 25-acre nursery in Wadsworth.

“It’s certainly not anything I thought I’d do as a kid.”

Beginnings

Bergmann’s childhood home was near woods and water.

“There were acres of ponds and wildlife to explore with other kids. During the summer, our moms would pack lunch and say be back by five.” That personal interaction with nature throughout his youth ignited his interest in flora and fauna.

While attending DePaul in 1977, he worked at a flower shop across the street from the university. “A very elegant woman came in and asked who arranged the flowers.” It was his work and she was so impressed she hired him to do a garden for her husband’s birthday. “A four-acre garden in Kenilworth! It was my first North Shore client. We worked with them for some 20 years.” He graduated with a BS in biology in 1981 and founded Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, Inc. in 1982.

Inspiration

The Kenilworth couple championed his work with friends and neighbors. “It was good karma,” he said. His first Lake Forest project was for Posy Krehbiel, whose expansive estate, Camp Rosemary, was designed by (continued on page 24)

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Bergmann at Home

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Focus — The Pros at Home (continued from page 22) Rose Standish Nichols in the 1920s. “Posy introduced me to anybody who was of garden significance. I was able to meet all these incredible design professionals and craftsmen.”

Bergmann’s mentors ranged far and wide. “On any vacation I would go to improve my connectivity to plants and design.” In England, he met with Christopher Lloyd of Great Dixter fame, Rosemary Verey, and John Brookes, who designed the Chicago Botanic Garden’s English Walled Garden.

“I visited them all at their homes and stayed with them — they were all friends.” He made a point of visiting England’s Chelsea Flower Show and gardens in Italy as well as in New England. He went to the famed Heronswood Garden in the Pacific northwest where he met plantsman Dan Hinkley. “Oehme van Sweden were one of the first nationally recognized firms and I went to meet and talk with them. I’d focus my attention and go see these places.” Whenever possible, he talked to the head gardeners responsible for maintaining the estates.

Details, Details

It’s the attention to the small things that makes Bergmann’s work stand out, whether it’s for a client’s landscape or at home. “I think we are very detail oriented. Once the spaces are created, we create vignettes or palettes as you walk through the garden. We accessorize a bit, we furnish it and create focal points.”

He often hears someone say they could tell a Bergmann garden when they pulled into a driveway. “Other landscapers have a signature style or a signature way of representing the house. We want our landscapes to reflect the owner.

We’re not afraid to put gardens in the front or to do something different from the norm. I feel like our work is often very related to the specific style of the architecture. It brings it back to the original intent of the structure as well as personalizing it.”

Work, Home, Play

Bergmann’s artistry is evident at his home and business — The Gardens at 900 in Lake Forest. He and his partner, interior designer Paul Klug, bought the property on Waukegan Road 12 years ago. It became the perfect place to combine their professional and personal lives in a complex that has a fascinating history. In 1915, meat industry mogul A. Watson Armour set about creating a gentleman’s estate called Elawa Farm. Renowned architect David Adler designed two gatehouses and a motor house. But the First World War and a post-war depression put the brakes on the construction of the main house. (continued on page 26)

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Focus — The Pros at Home (continued from page 24) In 1920, landscape architect Ralph Root laid out the original garden plans, but little remained of the garden’s structure when the couple purchased the property. Bergmann looked to vintage photos for reference. He’s melded his own design aesthetic with the original and the result is a sensational series of garden rooms. He’s added an entry garden, double borders, a shade garden, a swimming pool garden, an orchard, vegetable gardens and a flock of chickens.

“We have a little over two acres, a fraction of the original 200 and the pastoral view is no longer pastoral so we had to create screening. I felt the need to keep the plant collection appropriate to the period of the architecture. The buildings have a diminutive size and I didn’t want the gardens to overwhelm them.”

A formal courtyard and an old iron gate, enhanced by two carved stone figures, lead directly into the garden. The two vinecovered gatehouses serve as their residence and as an office for Klug’s business. The original motor house serves as Bergmann’s headquarters. The unique property is designated as a State of Illinois historic landmark.

The British Influence

Bergmann’s original vision for the site was an English country style garden. Two splendid formal borders contain an eye-

26

popping collection of perennials. Foxgloves, penstemon, allium, phlox, bee balm, tall lilies, daylilies and irises extend the color from spring to late summer. Antique statuary and containers that overflow with annuals provide interesting vignettes throughout the property.

“I’m moving away from the “Great Dixter” look in our own garden. As our gardens mature, the things that allowed for full sun are in part shade so I have to change it up all the time. I’m having a hell of a time growing dahlias. The best ones grow with the tomatoes.”

Roses, boxwood-edged parterres and ornamental trees define some of the garden rooms. Japanese forest grass, variegated Solomon’s seal and astilbes hug a path in one of the shady spots.

Bergmann has been simplifying the gardens, taking some things out and using fewer annuals.

“We’re rethinking and simplifying the gardens, not complicating them. We’ve gone completely organic. We have rabbits, scale, chipmunks, blackspot. There are ways to keep them under control without nuking the whole environment. This is an environment that we can control and we can take a stance.”

The property generates enough organic compost to provide for organic produce as well as food for the chickens. (continued on page 28)

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Focus — The Pros at Home (continued from page 26)

Personal Paradise

As a registered landscape architect, garden designer, plantsman and lecturer, one might think Bergmann has little time to commune with his own garden, especially since he lives steps away from the office. One would be wrong.

The garden, which encompasses the entire property, gives him a chance to renew and recharge when he’s not tending to business. And while all irrigation is included in his work for clients, Bergmann prefers to hand water at home, calling it relaxing and a chance to keep tabs on the plants.

“To not own a garden would be a disservice to my clients. Honestly, if all you’re doing is working for other

28

people, your passion for plants, which got you into business in the first place, must be waning. What’s better than sitting in your own garden in the evening with your dog and your mate? I truly believe I’ll live longer because we moved here.”

The best thing about his career? “I think it’s the people that I’ve known and worked with — it’s a real testament of having a successful life when you have a lot of wonderful relationships with clients, staff and friends.”

See more of his work at www.craigbergmann.com

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Focus — ILCA Events

ILCA Conducts Field Staff

The ILCA

Field Staff Skills Training workshop was held March 22-23, 2022 at the Northern Illinois University Conference Center in Naperville. This popular event returned after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Field Staff Skills Training is a 2-day seminar for English and Spanish-speaking field staff, foremen, supervisors, and grounds managers. The seminar covers skills that everyone needs to know. This program was developed to help make sure your employees are prepared for the busy landscape season. Field Staff Skills Training is put on with the joint cooperation of the Technical Skills Committee and Latino Relations Committee.

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Skills Training

The Landscape Contractor 31 May 2022

Focus — Farewell to a Friend

Past President and Man-of-the-Year Ralph D. Little Ralph D. Little, longtime resident of Geneva Illinois, passed away on March 30, 2022 the cusp of his 98th birthday. With his infectious sense of humor and unending interest in connecting with others, he was social right up to the end. Ralph spent his childhood in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the third child of Mary E. and A.D. Little, and his siblings included Jeanne, Howard, Carolyn, Don, and Harriet.

He was an army veteran who served in Europe during World War II, and a graduate of University of Iowa.

Ralph met his wife, and love of his life, Lucile, in college. They were married in 1950 and spent almost 68 years together, until her passing in 2018. They started their family in Iowa, welcoming their first three daughters Suzanne, Jean and Jan, and later their fourth daughter, Betsy, born in St. Charles, Illinois.

In 1958 Ralph, with Lucile’s blessing, chose to follow a life-long passion: landscape design. They moved to Illinois to work for Marlie Moulton, founder of Thornapple Nurseries, in St. Charles, Illinois. They eventually purchased the nursery business and continued to grow it until Ralph’s retirement in 1990.

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A believer in the equality and dignity of all people, and an ardent pacifist after the horrors he witnessed in WWII, Ralph was an outspoken supporter of the civil rights and other justice movements. He was an advocate for community engagement, serving on the Geneva School Board, Geneva Parks and Recreation Board, and Tri-City Family Services Board. An active member of the Geneva Rotary Club, he was also a founding member of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA). As a supporter of the Chicago World Flower and Garden Show, he was recognized with gold and silver awards in 1974, 1975 and 1977.

Along with other colleagues in the landscape industry he helped develop industry education programs in coordination with faculty from University of Illinois. The education programs provided by the ILCA, continue to flourish today.

Ralph was grateful for all the opportunities in his life.

He and Lucile survived the lean years and prospered in their landscaping business, thanks to assistance from Geneva business owners and landscape/nursery colleagues following a devastating fire. We will miss him dearly.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

ILCA Members Reminisce A Leader - Colleague - Friend I served on any of number of committees with Ralph and assisted by Lucile at ILCA. They were very sincere and caring people making extraordinary investments in time into the profession and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA). At the time, the Littles gave me a tour of their Tree house home built on poles set in the woods. It made a great lasting impression on me and I tried to pass along their love for nature, the landscape and unique solutions to save trees.

John Hendricksen ILCA Past President and the Care of Trees, emeritus I am very sorry to hear of Ralph’s passing. We were really good friends, as was Lucile. She worked many years on the Summer Field Day with me. I got involved with Summer Field Day thanks to Ralph. Years ago ILCA was looking for a Chairman and Ralph said “Wally will do it,” so I took the job and worked with Ralph, who was president at the time. I never have known a better guy. He had a saying I never forgot. We would be going over something in a meeting and Ralph would say, “Now listen,” and we would stop and listen.

Wally Clauss Clauss Brothers, Inc. I met Ralph very early in my landscape contractor career. He was very involved in the ILCA at that time, but was always ready to help out a beginning contractor. He encouraged me to get involved in the association which I did.

The first time I actually worked with Ralph was on the committee for the Summer Field Day at the Morton Arboretum. Organizing this event was made possible by the association Ralph had developed with the Arboretum.

He worked behind the scenes making the friendships with other organizations as well.

And he worked tirelessly at putting together the events that would make the ILCA one of the top green industry association in the country.

I also was on the planning committee for the first MidAm at the old Arlington Park Race Track. He was involved not only in the organization itself, but in the many

events ILCA was developing at that time.

When Ralph retired, he continued to help aspiring entrepreneurs. He joined a group that placed retired business volunteers with people in countries throughout the world to teach them how to run their businesses.

Ralph Little was a part of the leadership of ILCA for many years. The effects of his leadership are still felt today. I was proud to be his associate, and his friend.

George Weyland Weyland’s Landscape I did not get to know Ralph personally, but I know my father, Denny Church, had the greatest respect for Ralph and the work he did at Thornapple. Back in the 70’s, commercial landscaping was truly starting to gain momentum as Brickman, Damgaard, Thornapple, Clauss Brothers, Clarence Davids, Church Landscape, and others started to shape what would become a strong economic driver in Northeastern Illinois.

Denny would tell me about the hard work that the ILCA was doing and the incredibly difficult job that its founders had pulling together contractors that were more farmers than business people. They had the charge of moving the perception of landscaping from agricultural/ farming based, to a group of professionals that did great work and provided solid opportunities for the individuals that chose commercial landscape contracting as their career of choice. Ralph and Lucile had a lot to do with that change. Thornapple was consistently a winner of multiple ILCA awards during Ralph’s tenure as owner and President. Ralph could definitely “Walk the Walk” when it came to promoting landscape contracting as a profession performed by professionals.

If Denny where here today, he would have many more and better words of praise for what Ralph (and Lucile) did for landscaping in Illinois. Ralph and his legacy to landscaping will be missed.

Bruce A. Church President Balanced Environments, Inc.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Cómo gestionar las expectativas de los clientes Por Meta L. Levin

La comunicación, a tiempoy

frecuente, es la clave para gestionar las expectativas de los clientes, según tres líderes en la industria del paisajismo. Los tres, Bob Hursthouse, ASLA (siglas en inglés de la Sociedad Americana de Arquitectos Paisajistas), propietario y fundador de Hursthouse, Inc., Dean MacMorris, presidente de Night Light, Inc., y Tom Kelly, ASLA, vicepresidente de Balanced Environments, Inc., sopesaron el asunto en medio de un entorno comercial desafiante y exigente.

Como muchas industrias, el mundo del paisajismo hace frente a desafíos significativos debidos a problemas con las cadenas de suministro y la escasez de mano de obra. Pero estos problemas se exacerban porque la industria del paisajismo está más ocupada que nunca. “Es una batalla campal”, afirma MacMorris. “La mayor parte del tiempo los clientes comprenden, pero no necesariamente les gusta”.

Aun así, dice Kelly, los contratistas deben estar agradecidos. “Covid ha ofrecido a todos en la industria del

paisajismo y la remoción de nieve una enorme oportunidad de trabajar debido a nuestro estatus de ‛industria esencial’”, dice.

¿QUÉ DESEA SU CLIENTE?

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A estas alturas, los clientes ya están familiarizados con los problemas en las cadenas de suministro y la escasez de mano de obra por otras experiencias en sus vidas. Están conscientes de que los productos que piden podrían retrasarse o no estar disponibles. Por consiguiente, cuando un profesional del paisajismo explica los retrasos, la mayoría comprende. No obstante, la clave es decir la verdad. “Sea The Landscape Contractor May 2022

directo con el cliente”, aconseja Kelly.

Según Hursthouse, siempre es “una cuestión de confianza”.

Hursthouse ha encontrado que los clientes usualmente comprenden las explicaciones sobre los retrasos, débanse a problemas en las cadenas de suministro o escasez de mano de obra o relacionados con otros subcontratistas que intervienen en un proyecto. “Casi todo el mundo sabe”, dice. “Dependiendo del tipo de actividades de su negocio, el cliente podría haber sido perjudicado por problemas en la cadena de suministro”.

Por consiguiente, podrán entender cuando el contratista les muestra un plan que no especifica una planta determinada, sino un tipo general de planta. Por ejemplo, indicar un arbusto de hoja perenne erguido en lugar de especificar un árbol de la vida verde esmeralda, porque sabe que podría no estar disponible o que no podría conseguirlo en las cantidades deseadas. “El proyecto podría retrasarse si tuviésemos que obtener una planta específica”. Un parte importante de los cálculos es determinar que el proyecto se haga de manera oportuna.

“Seleccionamos las mejores plantas disponibles y la mayor parte de nuestros clientes quedan satisfechos”.

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

Hay problemas similares con contratistas de riego e iluminación.

Hursthouse Inc., que realiza trabajos básicos de iluminación, ha tenido que esperar hasta 90 días por ciertos tipos de disyuntores, que solían obtenerse en mucho menos tiempo. “¿Quién habría pensado que íbamos a esperar 90 días por un disyuntor?”

Diga al cliente cuando no puede obtener un producto”, dice MacMorris.

Los contratistas de riego se han quejado de la dificultad para obtener productos comunes que se obtenían mediante un viaje corto o llamando al proveedor. Se ha convertido en un problema tan serio que muchos pidieron el otoño pasado grandes cantidades de materiales de uso común, guardándolos en instalaciones de almacenamiento, para que estuvieran listos esta primavera.

No debe sorprendernos que los precios hayan aumentado. Los fertilizantes, la mano de obra y el combustible son más caros que hace apenas un año. Lo mismo ocurre con muchos otros materiales. Si ha establecido una buena relación con sus clientes y se han comunicado durante todo el proceso, estarán más abiertos a aceptar soluciones alternativas o temporales. “Si los fertilizantes aumentan de precio, busque maneras de reducir los costos. Quizá no tratar toda la propiedad de la forma en que lo hace con el frente”.

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Al toparse con un problema presupuestario, hay que ser creativo.

Póngase en los zapatos del cliente. Como ejemplo, Kelly cita un proyecto de $50,000 que ofreció extender por un período de tres años. “Si la vida te da limones, haz limonada”, dice. “Estuvimos frente al cliente durante tres años”.

Cualquiera sea el problema, dígaselo a su cliente, aconseja Kelly. A nadie le gustan las sorpresas desagradables. Para MacMorris, su calendario depende de los otros contratistas, porque el contratista de iluminación usualmente interviene de último. “Tenemos que seguir a todos los demás”, dice. “Por consiguiente, sus calendarios afectan el nuestro”. Esto también implica muchas conversaciones con los dueños de propiedades cuando, digamos, el carpintero no puede terminar la pérgola, por lo que Night Light no puede instalar la iluminación para esa estructura, retrasando así la compleción del proyecto.

Algunas veces MacMorris ha

tenido que lidiar con un cliente disgustado cuando otros contratistas no han sido sinceros sobre problemas que retrasan el proyecto, haciendo que Night Light se atrase en la instalación de la iluminación.

“Hemos tenido clientes que nos han dicho, ‘No hemos oído de todos’”, afirma, aunque él haya hecho todo lo posible por mantener al cliente al día sobre su calendario y los problemas que surgen. Cuando los contratistas previos se retrasan, Night Light ha tenido que ir a otro proyecto programado y no puede atender al cliente cuando éste está listo.

Problemas de mano de obra han retrasado proyectos. Trabajar durante una pandemia significa que los trabajadores contrajeron el COVID 19 y estuvieron fuera por varias semanas. Todos tuvimos problemas de mano de obra y algunos empleados se fueron a otros trabajos con paga más alta. Los contratistas de paisajismo, riego e iluminación no fueron los únicos que tuvieron estos problemas.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

35

Los cultivadores y los proveedores de materiales tuvieron los mismos problemas.

Esto además de una alta demanda imprevista de productos y servicios.

“Todo el mundo estaba comprometido por varias semanas”, dijo MacMorris. Por consiguiente, cuando un cliente o cliente potencial llamaba para algo que debía ser hecho de inmediato o en poco tiempo, los contratistas se veían en la incómoda posición de decir que no.

No obstante, algunos encontraron formas de decir que sí a los clientes antiguos. Hursthouse relató la experiencia de una clienta que llamó en abril para hablar sobre la boda de su hija, programada para agosto en el patio de fondo de su casa. “Ella quería viñetas de ciertos colores alrededor del jardín”, relata. “Era una clienta antigua, por lo que tuvimos que buscar cómo resolver la situación”.

Otro cliente antiguo llamó para un lanzamiento comercial programado para realizarse en el patio. Esperaban 300 personas, incluyendo inversores.

“Habíamos realizado trabajos para ellos durante años, por lo que no podíamos decirles que no”, dice. “Por consiguiente, tuvimos que ser súper creativos”.

Los clientes con frecuencia no comprenden el tiempo que toma solo poner en marcha un proyecto. La planificación y el diseño toman tiempo. Hay permisos que se deben obtener – lo que toma aún más tiempo debido a que las personas que trabajan en los departamentos de planificación, zonificación y construcción están atendiendo desde sus hogares y se encuentran más ocupadas por los mismos motivos que los contratistas. Hágales saber lo que debe hacer y cuánto tiempo tomará.

Los materiales de plantas podrían estar menos disponibles debido a que los cultivadores están experimentando las mismas escaseces de mano de obra que los demás. Problemas en la cadena de suministro están afectando a proveedores y contratistas por igual. Lo mismo ocurre con los equipos de alquiler. Si todos los pedidos están atrasados los contratistas no pueden completar a tiempo todos sus trabajos.

En toda situación, informe a sus clientes. Póngase en sus zapatos.

“Concéntrese en el cliente y el resultado final adecuado”, recomienda Kelly. “Es bueno para los negocios”.

36

Las 10 mejores formas de comunicarse con un cliente Estas son las 10 mejores formas de usar la comunicación para mantener a su cliente informado y satisfecho: 1.

Defina las expectativas

2.

Sobrecomuníquese: “Usted debe comunicarse frecuentemente con su cliente”, dice Hursthouse.

“Mantenga a su cliente informado exactamente de todo lo que está ocurriendo”.

3.

Averigüe qué cosas son importantes para el cliente

4.

Consulte con sus clientes. “Pregunte constantemente a sus clientes si están satisfechos con su trabajo”, recomienda Kelly. “Manténgase en contacto lo más que pueda. La mayoría de ellos agradecerá que les pregunte y le aseguro que le dirán si algo no les parece bien”.

5.

Pregunte al cliente sus preferencias – ¿Prefiere una llamada telefónica? ¿Un mensaje de texto? ¿Un correo electrónico? Luego, úselo y asegúrese de que todos los que están conectados con el trabajo sepan cuál es el método de comunicación preferido y lo usen.

6.

Hágales saber que está haciendo todo lo mejor en su beneficio

7.

Dígales si no puede obtener el producto o no lo puede obtener a tiempo, dice MacMorris

8.

Trate de tener los materiales lo antes posible. “La entrega justo a tiempo es buena si usted puede estar seguro de que se hará la entrega”, dice Hursthouse. Pero en estos tiempos, no se puede estar siempre seguro.

9.

Pregunte sobre animales (perros, gatos y otras mascotas) y niños, luego hable con su cliente sobre planificar alrededor de los mismos.

10. Hable sobre un plan a largo plazo, si fuese apropiado.

Ayude a su cliente a pensar en sus necesidades y expectativas.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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The Landscape Contractor 37 May 2022

Focus — The Soundtrack of Spring

Creating Sustainable Bird-Friendly Gardens for Your Clients On the Sly

by Nina A. Koziol

They’re here.

Millions of them. Songbirds, warblers, orioles, wrens, robins — you name it. They’re in parks, golf courses, ponds, lakes and streams, in prairies and woodlands, and in residential landscapes.

Some are just passing through on their way north. Some will stick around.

All are hungry. Your crew members hear them in the early morning when they’re heading to a job site. That’s because the males start singing their heads off at dawn to attract a mate.

(The birds, not the crew members.)

We bet it’s the rare client (if any) who calls you and says, “Hey, I’d like a bird-friendly landscape.” Your clients may have heard the doom-and-gloom drumbeat over the plight of bees and native insects, but few are likely to ask how they can help stem the downward trend on their own property. As landscape contractors, why not do it for them even if all they want is a nice place to hang out and entertain? We are the green industry, after all.

“I select the appropriate plants as they fit into my designs and I definitely lean toward more natural plantings,” says Bruce Davey, an ISA-certified arborist and horticulturist/designer at Fleck’s Landscape in Wheeling. When choosing plants, Davey considers what they have to offer besides multi-season interest or color, texture or hardiness. And he leans toward natives, noting that the flowers, leaves, seeds, fruits, nutlets, berries and insects attracted to those plants are important food for birds. Insects are especially important for nesting species in the spring and early summer. That’s when birds are on the hunt for caterpil38

lars, moths and beetles to feed their young.

According to Doug Tallamy, author of “The Nature of Oaks,” the caterpillars of more than 900 species of moths and butterflies use oak leaves for food and there’s no other genus that comes close. And while the thought of insects munching on their trees might turn off homeowners, the leaf damage typically goes unnoticed. By the way, Illinois is home to about 2,000 species of moths and butterflies.

As the seasons change, so do food sources. “American Linden provides seeds while oaks have acorns and insects,” Davey said. “Hackberry fruit can persist through winter and American hornbeam has nutlets.” He’s used common winterberry, which offers fruits from fall into winter, as well as spicebush, fragrant sumac, lead plant, coralberry, hop hornbeam and American hazelnut.

“Buttonbush has nutlets, common witch hazel has seeds, and smooth and staghorn sumac have fruits.”

For Jane Grillo, customer service rep at Midwest Groundcovers, if you choose carefully, you can include plants in your projects that not only look great but add diversity to the landscape and benefit wildlife throughout the year, starting in spring during the great bird migration. “I like Virginia bluebells and lilacs because they offer an early source of nectar.

And people don’t always think of them for pollinators.”

Grillo says it’s not only native plants that serve bees but non-native plants and cultivars as well. “Geranium ‘Rozanne’ has a long bloom time and is a great nectar source. I have had bumble bees on it in October!” When it comes to peren-

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

nials, some of her top picks are rudbeckia, liatris, sneeze weed (Helenium autumnale) and asters for their long, lateseason bloom. “Goldenrods are a top nectar source and there are many varieties in a range of sizes and soil preferences.”

Check out the Chicago Botanic Garden’s evaluation of goldenrods here: chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/goldenrod

Habitat Helper

Landscape designer Denise Sandoval, of Good-Natured Landscapes in Naperville, fills a real niche market. Unlike many homeowners who prefer a weed-free, deep green turf and the neat-and-tidy-everything-pruned landscape, her clients are a special breed that want to attract wildlife. For one client who travels south in winter to bird watch, Sandoval is designing a bird habitat around the home using all natives. “Most native plants attract birds because of the insects, seeds or berries they offer. Some provide shelter from predators and nesting sites whether they are planted as individual plants, in thickets, or part of a habitat garden. Native oaks are an example of a keystone species that provide for so many wildlife in the way of caterpillars, acorns and shelter.”

But it’s not just about choosing the right plants. “There are other habitat and ecosystem components to consider like not using pesticides and providing water especially during drought and in the winter. There’s the removal of invasive plants that aren’t nutritional like bayberry, buckthorn, Japanese honeysuckles and ornamental pear.”

Her clients also don’t mind if things are not totally tidy.

“My designs incorporate dead wood, snags and brush piles.”

All of which provide habitat for over-wintering bees and mourning cloak butterflies, for starters. She encourages clients to leave fallen leaves on the ground where the decaying carpet of foliage creates a habitat for insects and adds organic matter to the soil. “Leaving the previous year’s plant material like

stems, twigs, vines, leaves, bark and seed fluff — like that of milkweed, anemone, thistle — provides nesting material.”

Besides oaks, some of Sandoval’s favorite woodies include Cornus alternifolia, smooth serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), Lindera benzoin, and the native elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). “Given the right spot, elderberry can look gorgeous in a garden.”

Food for Flocks

There are many native perennials from which to choose, but Sandoval says her list supports a large number of caterpillars and other insects as well as seeds, nectar or berries for birds.

“When planted together, similar to a prairie or woodland habitat, they can also create shelter and nesting sites. I see many birds hunkering down in my prairie garden and eating seeds during the winter.”

•

Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.)

•

Rudbeckia spp.

•

Penstemon digitalis and P. hirsutus

•

Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)

• • • • • •

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Common blue violet (Viola sororia) American sedges (Carex spp.)

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

Dive into bird identification with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: cornell.edu/home

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

39

Focus — The Sights and Smells of Spring

Underused Woody Plants for Spring

by Heather Prince

Ah, Spring!

As we look around and think about how to delight clients and increase plant diversity, there are many spring-blooming woody plants besides traditional favorites. We talked with Scott Beuerlein, Manager of Botanical Garden Outreach of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden after his lively presentation at iLandscape 2022.

“People are always worried about whether a plant will live or die, so they’re afraid to try new things,” commented Beuerlein. “Once you realize a plant dying is not the worst thing in the world, it’s an opportunity. You end up learning something and seeing different things and enjoying new experiences.” As we try to educate clients and broaden our plant knowledge, trying new plant ideas is worthwhile. “It’s fun to try things you don’t know to see if they survive, thrive, and if you’ll even like them. There’s a lot of plants I’ve bought because I’d never heard of them before. Some of those turned out to be really amazing plants, and some died, or were hideous. I think you get a cooler garden out of it in the end and a more diverse one. I used to experiment with about 10% of the plants in client’s gardens, telling them I don’t know how well these plants will do but I want to try them. That little bit of risk expanded my palette and made the garden more exciting for them. Gave them a story. Of course, I’d make it right if my experiment failed.”

A Little Spice

By bringing a diverse plant palette to the table, you not only create beautiful, interesting garden spaces, but also bring a new level of diversity to the community as well. “A diversity of gardeners adds to a diversity of the whole landscape or community or ecosystem,” said Beuerlein. “Letting me be my crazy plant self means I’ve added maybe 1,000 plants to the local ecosystem. My neighbor who’s growing other plants contributes a whole bunch more and the person down the street with a completely different garden then adds more, too.

Then, there’s somebody with a vegetable patch or someone with a cutting garden. It all adds up.” Plus, as we navigate our changing world, “People are going to have to be more flexible as climate change dictates that things that used to work no longer do. We must figure out what’s going to do well now.”

These selections are ones that will extend bloom season in our landscapes. They are available, but some may be a bit harder to find than others. A few will need a protected spot as they are hardy to Zone 6. Let’s explore some of Beuerlein’s favorite shrubs and small trees for spring color and fragrance.

40

Cercis chinensis ‘Don Egolf’, Don Egolf Chinese Redbud Zone: 6 to 9 Size: 10 to 12 feet high and wide Habit: strongly vase-shaped Sun: Full sun to part shade Soil: Average to moist well-drained Flowers: Larger rose-purple flowers than the native bloom in April and smother the stems in blossoms.

Foliage: Glossy heart-shaped leaves turn yellow in fall.

Notes: This variety of compact Chinese redbud from the U.S. National Arboretum has a strong vertical vase shape, making it easy to tuck into a landscape. “It’s a bonus that it’s sterile so you don’t get countless fruits,” reported Beuerlein.

“It blooms insanely, and the pollinators absolutely love it. It shoots up a lot of stems and you will need to prune it for it to really look its best.” (continued on page 42)

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Focus — The Sights and Smells of Spring (continued from page 40) Cornus mas, Cornelian Cherry Dogwood Zone: 4 to 8 Size: 15 to 25 feet high and wide Habit: rounded Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flowers: Small clusters of tiny bright yellow flowers bloom in March or April.

Fruit: Bright red fleshy fruits appear by summer and are tartly edible.

Bark: Smooth grey becomes attractively flaky with age.

Foliage: Bright green leaves turn purplish-red in the fall.

Notes: Cornelian cherry dogwood is one of the first woody plants to bloom in spring with fine clouds of yellow flowers welcomed by early pollinators. It is slow growing and easily sculpted. “They grow almost formally, so for the folks who like round balls, it can be a good choice,” observed Beuerlein. These small trees make wonderful accents, an interesting specimen in a planting bed, or an attractive small copse. (continued on page 44)

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Focus — The Sights and Smells of Spring (continued from page 42) Corylopsis spicata – Spike Winter Hazel Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 4 to 8 feet high and wide Habit: an informal dense spreading multi-stemmed shrub Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: tolerates average soils, but prefers organic, free-draining acidic ones Flowers: Showy fragrant lemon-yellow racemes in drooping clusters bloom in March to April.

Foliage: Oval leaves emerge bronze-purple and mature to an attractive blue-green for the season before turning yellow in the fall.

Notes: This unusual shrub is a delightful surprise in early spring for its pretty and fragrant flowers. “I just love the spring flowers. Blooms along with Forsythia, but much more refined and not so ‘in your face!’” commented Beuerlein.

“I’ve got a couple I’ve just jammed in places and let be.

They’re doing fine.” Plant spike winter hazel with early spring bulbs like crocus and snowdrops for a charming vignette.

44

Fothergilla ‘Mount Airy’ Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 3 to 6 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide Habit: Upright multi-stemmed shrub Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained, prefers rich acidic soils Flowers: Small white fragrant powderpuff flowers in April.

Bark: Smooth grey bark Foliage: Medium-sized blue-green ruffled leaves become orange, red, yellow, with notes of burgundy in the fall Notes: Although treasured for its fall color, fothergilla also has pretty spring flowers with a honey-like fragrance that bees seek out. Mt. Airy is likely a cross between F. gardenii and F. major and was discovered by Michael Dirr at Mt. Airy Arboretum in Cincinnati. “With terrific fall color and early spring fragrance, it’s really a nice plant,” commented Beuerlein. “I’m partial to it because it was found in Cincinnati. It does very well for us.”

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Halesia diptera Magniflora Group, Silverbell Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 15 to 20 feet high and wide Habit: loose rounded multi-stemmed tree Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained but happiest in rich, slightly acidic soils Flowers: Showy clusters of white bell-like flowers bloom from April to May. Bark: Medium brown bark exfoliates in thin scales Foliage: Medium green leaves turn yellow in fall.

Notes: Silverbells are vastly underused small ornamental trees native to the south, but hardy up to Zone 5. “The Magniflora group seems to be much more vigorous and easier to grow than the other halesias,” reported Beuerlein. “It has larger flowers and is very floriferous. It’s pretty amazing. I’ve never seen it have a bad year. It grows a little squirrely, so prune it if you want a controlled form. Just a knockout when it’s in bloom.” Try using silverbell as an accent tree where its graceful flowers may be enjoyed. (continued on page 46)

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

45

Focus — The Sights and Smells of Spring (continued from page 45) Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ or Jelena Witch Hazel Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 8 to 12 feet high and wide Habit: strong vase shape Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flowers: Coppery with a red base, orange center, and yellow tips.

Foliage: large ruffled green leaves become golden yellow in autumn Notes: Jelena witch hazel is smaller and slower growing than the species. Its multicolored long strappy flowers are beautifully fragrant. “I know it’s heresy to say so, but I prefer the exotic witch hazel cultivars to the native species in most landscapes,” commented Beuerlein. “The flowers are bigger, and the shape is better.” Jelena usually begins blooming in March, but can be earlier, and flowers for at least six weeks if not longer. “Among the witch hazels, I like the yellow and oranges better than the red-blooming ones,” observed Beuerlein.

“On cloudy winter days, those colors pop so much better than the reds. Jelena is the best of the group.”

Lindera angustifolia, Oriental Spicebush Zone: 6 to 8 Size: 8 to 10 feet high and wide Habit: loosely pyramidal Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained and happiest in a sandy soil Flowers: Small clusters of yellow, early in March to April.

Foliage: Lanceolate glossy green leaves with silvery undersides turn shades of yellow to russet red in fall and persist until spring.

Notes: Oriental spicebush is a cousin of our native spicebush (Lindera benzoin). For northern sites, plant it on a sunny south wall or in a protected spot. “I am fond of the native.

It is a host plant for spicebush swallowtail,” commented Beuerlein. “However, the Asian species like L. angustifolia are great for screening because they retain their leaves through winter. They get large enough to even hide your neighbor’s boat! Graceful form and unusually interesting fall color.” (continued on page 48)

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Focus — The Sights and Smells of Spring

(continued from page 46) Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus ‘Juliet’, Juliet Bush Cherry Zone: 2 to 7 Size: 5 to 8 feet high and wide Habit: upright to rounded Sun: full sun Soil: average to moist well-drained Flowers: Covered in white flowers in April.

Foliage: Mid-green simple leaves may have shades of orange to apricot in the fall.

Notes: Bush cherries are tough and lovely plants for fruit and flowers.

Developed to be hardy into Canada, Juliet is one selection that is readily available. “Any of them are cool and I don’t know why people don’t think to use them,” commented Beuerlein.

“They fit easily into a small home garden, and you get tasty cherries too.”

48

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

Spiraea x cinerea ‘Grefsheim’, Grefsheim Spirea Zone: 4 to 7 Size: 4 to 5 feet high and wide Habit: rounded to arching Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to well-drained Flowers: Tiny clustered white flowers cover the shrubs in May about two weeks before Spiraea x vanhouttei.

Foliage: Small blue green leaves may turn bronze in the fall.

Notes: A more compact spirea than Vanhoutte, but with similar flower power in the spring. “It’s really amazing in bloom,” observed Beuerlein. “It’s a wall of white. We use it successfully in some truly dire sites and it always performs well.” Try this smaller spirea as a low hedge or dotted in the perennial border for a fine textured structure shrub. (continued on page 50)

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

49

Focus — The Sights and Smells of Spring (continued from page 49) Styrax obassia, Fragrant Snowbell Zone: 5 to 8 Size: 15 to 25 feet high and wide Habit: upright rounded to pyramidal Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: moist well-drained acidic soils Flowers: Long pendulous racemes of bell-shaped, fragrant, white flowers with showy yellow stamens bloom May to June.

Foliage: bright green medium-sized simple leaves Notes: An unusual specimen small tree that features a stunning floral display in spring. “Just chains and chains of beautiful flowers with gold calyxes,” enthused Beuerlein. “On the right day in the right light it’s really something special. Plant it in a warm spot since it’s a little less hardy and use a fertilizer labeled for holly or rhododendron to keep it happy.”

Try underplanting with May-blooming perennials for a showstopping display.

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Viburnum x juddii, Judd Viburnum Zone: 4 to 8 Size: 6 to 8 feet high and wide Habit: upright to rounded Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flowers: Large clusters of deeply fragrant white flowers, attractive pink buds bloom in April.

Foliage: Deep green sandpapery leaves turn burgundy wine in fall.

Notes: Fragrant viburnums in flower will stop you in your tracks. “They aren’t used as often as they could be,” said Beuerlein. “They’re easy to grow. I like them all, but I think the fragrance on Juddii is the best. I have one in the backyard and for that one or two weeks it blooms in spring, the yard smells like candy.”

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The Landscape Contractor May 2022

51

Special Feature

Weed of the Month: Quackgrass Disease of the Month: Edema on Yew

by Heather Prince

Weed of the Month: Quackgrass

Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) is a broad-bladed cool-season perennial grass that has been benefiting from our cold moist spring this year. It spreads via seed and by rhizome, forming patches quickly. Now is a good time to scout for it in turfgrass. Leaf blades are flat, dull green to light blue green with a pointed tip.

They will be 1/8 to 1/2 inch wide and can grow 3 to 12 inches long. Leaf blade upper surfaces are smooth to rough and tend Quackgrass to be sparsely hairy with the lower surface being smooth. The sheaths can be hairy or smooth, although young plants will often have hairy sheaths. Look for the key feature of claw-like, slender auricles that clasp the stem. Quackgrass rhizomes are slender, white, and persistent, plus able to stretch several feet with new roots and shoots every few inches. Seed heads are 2 to 6 inch long spikes that occur from late May to September. Often confused with crabgrass, which is a warm-season annual, quackgrass is distinguished by the clasping auricles at the base of the leaf.

Treatment:

Quackgrass thrives in well-drained soil where there is little competition. A healthy, dense lawn will reduce quackgrass infestations.

Herbicide control is challenging. You may try spot applications of glyphosate but check after a week or so to see if a second application is needed. Herbicides specific for killing grasses that may be tried such as sethoxydim or fluazifop. Read and follow all label directions very carefully. Hand-digging may be effective, but the entire plant must be removed.

Additional resources:

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

Disease of the Month: Edema on Yew

Edema can be a common abiotic disease of yews (Taxus spp.) stressed by poorly drained, over-saturated soils, especially in the spring. Look for bumps or blisters on the epidermis of the undersides of needles that turn tan and corky as well as yellowing needles and dying twigs.

The bumps are the result of ruptured cells, where more water is retained in the plant than can be used by it, resulting in damage to the needle tissue. When spotting yellowing needles, Edema on yew with edema, you will not see signs of insect chewing or fungal pathogens.

Treatment:

Correcting the drainage is key for this abiotic stress disease.

When experiencing this disease, check irrigation systems for overwatering, use a trowel to assess soil density, and look for downspouts or sump pumps emptying in the area. Increase drainage in the area, if possible, but also consider replacing with more wet-tolerant plants if the problem persists.

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 2022

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

Artificial Grass & Turf Accessory Superstore “ We specialize in all types of premium artificial grass, high performance infill and related installation accessories. Call anytime, we’re happy to help!” - The ChiTurf Team 4042 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL. 60653 | info@chiturf.com | 630.805.3800 7328 Calumet Ave. Hammond, IN. 46324 | contact@indianaturfcompany.com | 219.613.8786 The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Special Feature

Disease of the Month: Rhizosphaera Needle Cast on Spruce Disease of the Month: Cytospora on Spruce

by Heather Prince

Disease of the Month: Rhizosphaera Needle Cast on Spruce

One of the major needle cast diseases hitting spruces hard, especially mature specimens is rhizosphaera needle cast. Rhizosphaera infections occur during a roughly two-month period following bud-break in the spring. However, symptoms do not show up until fall or the following spring. The fungus attacks the oldest needles which develop a characteristic lavender-purple or brown color before dropping from the tree. This results in bare branches with only tufts of new needles on the Rhizosphaera infection ends. A slow-moving disease, rhizosphaera will generally start low in the tree and advance upward over many years as spores bounce up with spring rains. When scouting for rhizosphaera, use a hand lens or microscope and look for fungal fruiting bodies protruding from the needles’ pores. Fruiting bodies have smooth edges and develop in parallel rows on the needles. It does not cause straw-colored needles, banded needles, or twisted twigs.

Treatment:

Rhizosphaera can be managed with fungicide applications twice in spring, usually for multiple years. Effective fungicides include active ingredients chlorothalonil, chlorothalonil + thiophanate-methyl, copper, and copper hydroxide. Prompt treatment can save a specimen tree as infected and fallen needles will not regrow, so recovery can take many years if the infection is severe. Trees under stress are more likely to become infected, so keep trees mulched, fertilize lightly in spring, and water in dry periods, especially going into winter.

Additional resources:

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

Disease of the Month: Cytospora on Spruce

Caused by Leucostona kunzei fungus, cytospora canker on spruce has become a common disease of these valuable landscape trees. It appears as browning and drying of needles at the tips of twigs and dying of the lower branches of affected trees starting at the bottom and progressing upwards, although occasionally branches high in the tree are attacked. Its conspicuous cankers produce amber, purplish white or white patches of resin on the bark.

If you carefully removal of a thin outer layer of bark in the diseased area you will find tiny, Cytospora on spruce black, pinhead-like fruiting bodies of the fungus. These fruiting bodies contain minute spores which can be spread by rain, wind, or pruning tools.

Treatment:

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

The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/ 630-719-2424 The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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

Successful suppliers know— industry leaders read this magazine.

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New Member Profile Snapshot

Triple H Mulch and Firewood LLC Saint Charles, IL 60175 Troy Buerster (630) 666-2748 http://www.triplehmaf.com/

by Meta Levin

Pharmaceutical sales and sales management

allowed Troy Buerster’s family to live a good life. It did not, however, feed his love of the outdoors and gardening, as well as a desire to become an entrepreneur. In 2014, he tiptoed into the landscape industry, selling first firewood, then mulch in what he terms a “side hustle.”

“With a family of five, it was difficult to leave the corporate world,” he says. “But I wanted to own my own business, to be in charge.” So, after 26 years, he left the pharmaceutical industry and started Triple H Mulch and Firewood, LLC in St. Charles, IL. In deference to his family, he named his fledgling company, Triple H Mulch and Firewood, the Triple H”standing for the first names of his three children: Hunter, Hayden and Hudson.

“I had worked for a firewood company while I was in college, so I looked at that first,” he says. He also mowed lawns during high school and college. At 15 he remembers pushing his lawnmower down the street “for blocks and blocks” to mow neighbors’ grass. At age 16, he got a pickup truck, which enabled him to expand his work. During his last year in college, he sold the business. “I always enjoyed lawnmowing and landscaping.”

Once he started selling firewood on the side, while still doing pharmaceutical sales, a friend suggested he investigate the mulch business, which he did. The two seemed to work together, since firewood is primarily sold in the winter, while mulch is in demand during warmer weather.

Now, he has added fall and spring clean-up, as well as planting shrubs and flower beds with perennials and annuals.

In the beginning, Buerster did all the work himself, with the help of his wife and three children. When he needed more help, he hired some of his older son’s high school friends, especially those who were on the baseball team with him. Now Triple H Mulch and Firewood has five full time employees, and three seasonal ones.

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Nathan Bawolek is a field supervisor, who oversees the day-to-day operations and mulch installations. Buerster first hired Bawolek when he was a college student and he has been working for the company for the last five years.

This doesn’t mean that Buerster has stepped back. Far from it. He continues to be heavily involved in the day-today operations.

Buerster’s wife, Mandy, does the books, answers the phones, takes orders and sets up deliveries. “She has been an important component of Tripe H Mulch and Firewood,” says Buerster.

In responding to the industry labor shortage, Buerster researched and invested in a truck that can distribute mulch through a blower system. “I’m excited to bring this more efficient method to the Chicago area,” he says, noting that there are only a few other local companies that have and use these systems. In fact, Buerster has a booth at iLandscape, where he plans to feature the truck, which he says, can hold up to 60 yards of material.

Triple H Mulch and Firewood joined ILCA in the fall of 2021, seeing it as “a great opportunity to network,” says Buerster. Friends, who are members and who participate in iLandscape annually, suggested it to him.

Eight years ago turned out to be a good time to jump into the landscape industry full time. Buerster’s two older children are out of the house — his eldest son is a CPA and his daughter is finishing a degree in education with the intent of teaching math and science — and his younger son is in high school. Now Buerster looks forward to the next chapter in his life.

“I am passionate about the industry and the opportunities in the Chicago area,” says Buerster. “I am looking forward to learning and growing.”

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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

57

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Commercial Landscape Estimator

tive environment, loves plants and design, but is not looking to be in a direct sales role.

Experience with Dynascape and Uvision is a plus, but we can train if necessary. This Monday-Friday position offers competitive salary, signing bonus, health insurance, 401k and a casual and enjoyable work environment.

Landscape Foremen and Laborers We are looking to add experienced team members to our production team. We have numerous positions and opportunities available for experiences paver installers, masons, and general laborers. We offer VERY competitive wages, 401k, vacations, sign on and seasonal bonuses as well as the opportunity for year round work.

Responsibilities: • Reading plans and specifications to determine scope of work • Perform accurate material, equipment and labor take-offs • Solicit sub & supplier pricing and estimate volume of work • Prepare timely estimates and meet bid deadlines • Review contract documents upon award • Communications with clients, project architects, subcontractors, etc.

• Project billing and cost evaluation Qualifications: • Excellent communications, computer and math skills Email resume and cover letter to accounting@allied-landscaping.com Come Grow with Us! Bruss Landscaping, Wheaton, IL is continuing to experience rapid growth and is looking to add to our team as we celebrate our 70th anniversary. If you are looking for a change of scenery, and a competitive income structure, we would love to speak with you.

Landscape Designer We are looking for a self-motivated and creative individual to fulfill the role of landscape designer and support for two of our existing team members. The proper candidate is someone who works well in a collabora-

Email ebruss@brusslandscaping.com to apply.

Landscape Project Manager We seek an experienced Landscape Project Manager to join us at our third generation, family-owned company. In this role, you will take a construction project from scheduling to completion, with a lot of communication, teamwork, and pro-active problem solving in between. Experience in landscape construction, site and crew supervision, and managing subcontractors is a must. This full-time, year-round position offers a robust benefits and compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, FSA, paid time off, holidays, and 401(k) with match. If you’re a people person who’s great at thinking on your feet, multi-tasking, and

HELP WANTED seeing details and the big picture, consider joining our team!

Please email AlexM@chaletnursery.com and include your resume if you have one Landscape Crew Supervisor We seek an experienced Landscape Crew Supervisor to join us at our third generation, family-owned company in North Chicago, IL (near Gurnee). In this role, you will oversee all aspects of residential maintenance job sites and ensure optimal performance and safety of your crew members. Experience in landscape construction, site and crew supervision, and strong plant identification is a must. This full-time, year-round position offers a robust benefits and compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, FSA, paid time off, holidays, and 401(k) with match. If you’re a customer-focused, pro-active team player consider joining us!

Please email AlexM@chaletnursery.com if interested.

Landscape Designer Looking for experienced Landscape Designer. You will be working directly with clients and the labor crew. *If you have experience with driving trailers and machinery a plus. Snow plowing experience. Pay negotiable Email michelle4season@yahoo.com or call 815-475-7229 to apply.

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

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

Classified Ads HELP WANTED Landscape Design/Build Sales Intern or Trainee

HELP WANTED oriented, organized, self-motivated with good social skills.

Do you love the outdoors and helping people?

Job Type: Full-time

Grant & Power Landscaping Inc. is one of the premiere landscape contractors in Illinois. We have developed an excellent system for success for our design/build sales team. We are looking for qualified candidates to come on board to learn our industry and the way we operate.

Pay: $44,000.00 - $48,000.00 per year

We install high end projects from $25,000 to $500,000 plus. You will learn our industry from the ground up, learn construction best practices, and learn about our design processes. We will provide you the tools you need for success.

Our most successful people are excellent communicators, well organized, goal orientated, high achievers, and have the ability to succeed in a high paced environment.

Every successful salesperson working for Grant & Power makes more than six figures. Additional benefits include Medical and dental insurance, employer matched 401K, generous personal and vacation time, car allowances and gas. **This is an entry level position** Email resumes and interest to Tim Grant – timgrant@grantandpower.com Visit our website at www.grantandpower. com to get to know us and see some of our 40+ years of award-winning projects.

Landscape Design Assistant Join our well-established design, build and maintenance company. For over 40 years, Nature’s Perspective Landscaping has been providing landscape services to Chicago’s northern suburbs and Chicago’s north side.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

In this full-time, hourly position, you will perform site surveys, assist in preparing landscape drawings and proposals for client presentations, coordinate multiple landscape projects and perform clerical duties.

You must be able to handle a wide range of responsibilities, have a good knowledge of plant and hardscape materials, demonstrate excellent computer skills including Dynascape, and Google Sketch-up, be detail

Email: Paul Klitzkie pklitzkie@naturesperspective.com Project Manager Landscape Project Manager Position Landscape, Design and Build Company located in Lake County Illinois. We are a wellestablished family orientated landscape company creating horticultural excellence throughout the Chicagoland area for over 25 years.

Responsibilities Include: • Oversee daily activities for multiple crews over various job sites, establish task priorities, provide resources, and manage crew hours.

• Ongoing communication and progress reviews with client, Construction Manager and Project Designers.

• Scheduling and executing site inspections • Managing both in-house crews and subcontractors What We Offer: • Excellent Wages • Health Care • Matching 401 K program • Paid vacation time, sick and holiday pay • Company vehicle, phone, and laptop Please forward resumes to landscapes861@gmail.com Landscape Designer A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design in Mundelein, IL is hiring a Landscape Designer. This position produces professional landscape designs for commercial and residential clients with the ultimate goal to get projects into the installation/construction phase in a timely manner. This position will also promote and follow up on new sales opportunities. This position interacts professionally with external clients, subcontractors, vendors, village offices, and internally with individuals at all levels of the organization.

Email Resume to: dustin@amwoodland.com

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

HELP WANTED Landscape Designer (Experienced) Hinsdale Nurseries in Willowbrook is seeking an experienced Landscape Design candidate to join our Design-Build team. Benefits will be offered; compensation based on experience level.

Position requirements: • Proficient in planning and designing complex residential projects • Ability to quickly pivot project direction • Contribute to a collaborative environment The ideal candidate will have: • 5 years’ experience in design or project management (required) • A solid understanding of landscape construction (required) • Knowledge of proper plant siting (required) • CAD skills (required) • Hand rendering skills (preferred) Please send resume and work samples to Michael DiCristina at mdicristina@hinsdalenurseries.com.

Moore Landscapes is hiring a Construction Project Manager If you are looking for an excellent opportunity to work on beautiful commercial landscapes with a great team, we would love to meet you. Moore Landscapes is hiring a Construction Project Manager to work directly with general contractors, owners, and construction management companies and to direct crew leaders to produce Moore’s construction projects safely, on time, within budget, and according to customer specifications and Moore standards. The Project Manager will procure materials and supervise Moore’s crews and subcontractors. For a complete job description and qualifications, visit https:// www.moorelandscapes.com/join-our-team.php Apply online at www.moorelandscapes.com or email Barry at bclements@moorelandscapes.com CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES June 2022 issue ads: May 15, 2022 July 2022 issue ads: June 15, 2022 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

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Classified Ads Director of Operations Duties and Essential Job Functions: · ·

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Lead and develop a team of 6 Branch Managers

Act as the primary information source for the team, maintaining compliance and consistency, and taking corrective action when needed with staff and procedures Order all necessary product and supplies for each location

Evaluate weekly team performance by monitoring production dashboards, admin reminders, inspection reports, truck sales, calibration, technician notes

Develop the company’s bench strength of talent by mentoring, training, and developing teammates for career progression, performance improvement, and recognition purposes

Hold staff accountable through a progressive discipline process and development plans Work directly with the Quality Control Manager to ensure standard work procedures are being followed at all locations

Collaborate with the digital marketing team to create important customer updates/notes

Partner with other department heads to ensure cross-collaboration of best practice and instilling a culture of innovation

Develop and support all safety programs and OSHA compliance to ensure a safe work environment for all staff Proactively identify and lead process improvement initiatives to improve customer retention

Uphold company Core Values throughout the Operations Department

service requirements for new and existing Customers ·

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Benefits: · · · · · · ·

Develop and implement on-going programs and training necessary to ensure that all technicians, Service Managers and Branch Managers are aligned with the goals of the department

Perform other related duties as required to meet the goals of the company

Develop procedures to minimize customer complaints and retain customers

Review production costs and service quality and modify production and inventory control programs to maintain and enhance profitable operations Helps prepare annual budget, reprojections, and monthly projections

Evaluates performance, makes salary recommendations, and administers disciplinary actions consistent with company policy Coordinate round application meetings (6) with both sales and customer service departments Recruit and hire future leaders of the company

Need 23 Expert Employees?

40 Year Milwaukee Landscaping Company For Sale Specializing in: Landscape Construction Landscape Management Tree & Shrub Care •

•

• •

Salary $100,000-$125,000

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Profit Sharing

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Bonus

Ownership

Work from home

Individual and family health, dental and vision insurance Company matched 401k

Interested parties email Brandon Burns brandon.burns@weedmanusa.com or

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Email retirementplan2021@gmail.com with inquiries.

Extensive management experience

Direct the production department to meet and exceed customer

Manage inventory and ensuring calibration goals are executed at each location

We are looking to sell our active and growing Commercial Maintenance business.

Revenues are over $2M annually. Most work is contracted for several years to come on strong contracts that include a transfer clause (yes, we prepared to sell). All equipment and vehicles are included, but property is available in a separate transaction. We are looking for cash buyers and will aid in the transition for one season. We will be hiring a broker to sell the business in a couple of months, but wanted to try selling on our own first. We are located in the south suburbs.

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· ·

Landscape Maintenance Company for Sale

Actively participate in company committees such as Employee Retention and the Culture committee

Oversee all direct expenses to ensure company financial goals are hit including payroll, product usage, and vehicle/equipment maintenance at each location

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call 630-476-7777.

FOR SALE / REAL ESTATE

Unlimited PTO

Strong emphasis on work/life balance Strict adherence to company core values (see below)

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

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Strong operations and management team in place (current owner looking to slow down and prepare for retirement) Consistent sales in the $3.9M to 4M range The company generated $809K in EBITDA in 2021 Little or no employee turnover in 25 years (Strong culture and work environment) Safety conscience and focused (Low insurance mod rate) All work completed at a high level of quality for a quality focused customer base Strong and consistent annual contracts Profitable and financially secure

Call Mark today at (414) 841-5378 to learn more about the opportunity

Advertisers Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................49 Breezy Hill Nursery ................................................51 Cardno .....................................................................46 Chi Turf ...................................................................53 Compost Supply ......................................................42 Dayton Bag and Burlap .............................................49 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4

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

Spring Shuffle

By Nina A. Koziol

Great gardens use great containers. It’s all about attention to detail. Why not try selling four-season changeovers for your client’s home? With the right client (and budget) it can be a nice addition to your offerings. Now’s the time to put together a knockout combo.

Goodmark Nurseries ................................................55 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................14

Tulips, toadflax, primrose and violas are eye candy in May at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Homer Industries ...................................................19 James Martin Associates .........................................56 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................43 JKS Ventures ............................................................48 Longshadow Planters ............................................13 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants .........................................................35 McGinty Bros. .......................................................45

Cool weather makes cyclamen pop.

Midwest Groundcovers .............................................2 Midwest Trading ....................................................11 Monroe Truck ..........................................................47

Anne Roberts’ spring container sports pansy, ranunculus, pericallis (aka Cineraria), twigs and trailing lysimachia.

A simple pot of ranunculus offers rose-like blooms until hot weather sets in.

Rocks, Etc................................................................21 Spring Meadow Nursery .........................................27 The Mulch Center ....................................................41 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64 Xylem ......................................................................21

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

61

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Luthy Botanical Garden

by Heather Prince

Tucked between the Peoria Zoo and Springdale

Cemetery and behind a black wrought iron fence lies five acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, a lush conservatory, and two greenhouse spaces. Established in 1951, this quiet corner of Peoria is definitely a hidden gem.

Once parked in the gravel lot, you have a choice between slipping between the iron gates and exploring outdoor gardens or stepping into the lobby and then the humid air of the conservatory. On a cold April day, I elected to visit tropical plants first. At 2,500 square feet, the conservatory can be swiftly navigated or linger and explore the nooks and crannies. At the time of this writing, Luthy has playfully decorated with a Dr. Seuss theme and Easter lilies were plentiful. This is a popular wedding venue, so you might spot a bridal party.

You’ll find a koi pond with a small waterfall, a cactus collection, and lush layers of tropical plants. Benches invite you to sit and breathe in the fragrances of the many flowers. Serpentine concrete paths wind around a central island bed. Check the corners for collections of potted succulents and agaves. You’ll soon reach the rear doors to the gardens where a charming sign reminds you to keep them closed as a friendly woodchuck likes to nibble on the choice plants.

The outdoor grounds of Luthy are organized in a series of themed gardens

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2520 North Prospect Road, Peoria, IL https://peoriaparks.org/places/luthy/ Admission: free Hours: daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm unless reserved for a private event and rooms. Beds are planted in spring bulbs and layered with shrubs and trees. During my visit, I was thrilled to find a small group of eastern leatherwood (Dirca palustris) in the woodland garden blooming creamy yellow among emerging wildflowers. Look for dwarf conifers, roses, viburnums, hostas, daylilies, and more in the gardens.

A formal herb garden beckons from behind a screen of shrubs and enclosed by a boxwood hedge. Stop and check the time on the copper sundial in the center as you run your fingers through the labeled herbs. Admire the lush perennial beds surrounding it and check for fruit on espaliered apple trees.

There are many secret corners and vignettes anchored with original sculptures. Artwork is thoughtfully placed and responds to the garden themes. Be sure to visit the children’s garden area although you might stumble across a class or event.

Luthy Botanical Garden is a hidden treasure of a public garden. The conservatory makes it an attractive winter destination for a taste of the tropics in the midst of Peoria. The landscapes are lovingly maintained and offer four-season interest. This is a great place to gather ideas on layering plants, placing sculpture, and creating destination nooks for clients. With free admission, you can stop in again and again for new inspiration in each season. Don’t forget to stop and smell the rose collection, too.

The Landscape Contractor May 2022

50 years of

Prestige Projects

Public Plaza at CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario.

Designer: IBI Group

Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Illinois.

Designer: Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf

White Plains Public Library, White Plains, New York Designer: IQ Landscape Architects

Tor onto Bus Ter

Buckingham Fountain, Chicago, Illinois. Designer: Thompson Dyke & Associates

min al - 197 3

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