The Landscape Contractor magazine NOV.21 DIGITAL EDITION

Own It — Inaugural Event

Gardens of the Art Institute

2022 New to Midwest!

Top reasons to choose Hydrangea Fire Light Tidbit® for your garden or landscape: • The smallest panicle hydrangea ever just 2-3’ tall • Powerful blooming ability, with dozens of full mophead flowers on strong stems • Flowers go from white to rich, saturated tones of pink and red as they age

Learn about the new additions to our plant line and place your order at midwestgroundcovers.com today!

ContaCt

our

SaleS team:

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

November 2021

CONTENTS

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

8

FOCUS: 2022 is Coming. Are You Ready?

ILCA Own(s) It 10

A new program that hit the right notes

Fall Events for Everyone­ Turf Education Day 16

10

Golf Outing 20

The Changing Face of Public Gardens The gardens of the Chicago Art Institute

24

Small Gardens are Crying for Vertical Plants 36 A little height adds great interest to small site

Soils Simplified 44 Kevin Donnelly delivers the scoop

20

EN ESPAÑOL Suelos simplificados: Rentabilidad y eficiencia a través de prácticas y la selección de productos

Soils Simplified

50

Member Profile 54 Swenson Truck Equipment

Inspiration Alley 61 Here’s to Hue

Hidden Landscape Gems Merrick Rose Garden

24

62

On the cover... Chicago Specialty Gardens won a Gold Award in 2020 for this project titled Dynamic Downtown Rooftop Resort.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

36 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

ILCA Calendar

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

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee 1, 8-9 Scott Grams 10-14 Rick Reuland 16-17, 20-23, 49 Art Institute of Chicago 24-31 Joe Karr 32-35 Tony Avent 36-42

Calendar 4 5 7 56 61

Nina Koziol Merrick Rose Garden

NOVEMBER November 4, 2021 Pruning Workshop November 11, 2021 Annual Party & Member Meeting 61 62

FEBRUARY February 2-4, 2022 iLandscape 2022

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

Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. WWW.ilca.net Volume 62, Number 11. The Landscape Contractor (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632 PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products

ILCA Staff

Magazine Staff

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

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

Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

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

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

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

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6 The Landscape Contractor 1RYHPEHU November 2021

President’s Message — What a year 2021 has been. Time is moving at warp speed, and we are already to November, a month of celebrating Thanksgiving and displaying gratitude.

Reflecting on the past season, or really, the past 18 months, I think we take for granted how fortunate we are to work in an industry that provides stability and opportunity through turbulent and uncertain times. While it might not have been easy, and we might have worked more than we ever thought we could, it was certainly worth the extra effort. Who would have thought that a pandemic would spur a consumer marketplace that not only needs our products and services, but wants them even more? With this demand has come great opportunity. And, yes, we are still battling the seemingly endless labor shortage, but with that also comes new opportunity.

As an industry, and as individual companies, we have effectively been doing the same thing, the same way, for decades. This isn’t to say that is a bad thing, but we need to step out of the relative comfort of the boxes we operate within and explore new ways of thinking and operating to adapt to the continually evolving labor and consumer markets.

New technologies and new strategies are everywhere; we just need to Scott McAdam Jr. find them, determine what works for our respective organization, implement them, and do so consistently.

So, with that said, have you had the year you were hoping for? Have you achieved your strategic goals? Gross and profit margins? Other deliverables? If the answer is no, or uncertain, the offseason is your time to digest the past 8 to 10 months and begin planning for changes in the year(s) ahead. Your plan is a guide, one in which I guarantee you will not adhere to 100% of the time, but it is the process of planning that allows you to be prepared for the unexpected.

I believe it is human nature to want change, but when we get “too busy” or “we don’t have enough time,” we revert to complacency because it is comfortable. Don’t allow yourself to be comfortable or complacent and plan for change.

To be successful at anything, you don’t have to be different. You simply must be what most people aren’t — consistent.

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) 301-8160 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

Qué año ha sido 2021. El tiempo se mueve a la velocidad de la luz y ya estamos en noviembre, un mes en que celebramos el Día de Acción de Gracias y mostramos gratitud. Reflexionando sobre la temporada pasada, o realmente, los últimos 18 meses, pienso que damos por sentado lo afortunado que somos de trabajar en una industria que proporciona estabilidad y oportunidades durante tiempos turbulentos e inciertos. Si bien puede que no haya sido fácil y que hayamos trabajado más de lo que jamás pensamos que podíamos, realmente valió la pena el esfuerzo. ¿Quién habría pensado que una pandemia impulsaría un mercado de consumo que no solo necesita nuestros productos y servicios, sino también los desea aún más? Esta demanda ha generado grandes oportunidades. Y, sí, todavía estamos combatiendo la aparentemente interminable escasez de mano de obra, pero con eso vienen también nuevas oportunidades.

Como industria y como compañías individuales, hemos estado haciendo la misma cosa eficazmente, de la misma forma, durante décadas. Esto no significa que eso sea malo, pero necesitamos salirnos de la relativa comodidad de los esquemas en que operamos y explorar nuevas formas de pensar y operar para adaptarnos a los mercados laborales y de consumo en continua evolución.

Por todas partes surgen nuevas tecnologías y estrategias; necesitamos encontrarlas, determinar qué funciona para nuestra respectiva organización, implementarlas y hacerlo de forma consistente.

Dicho esto, ¿tuvo usted el año que esperaba? ¿Ha logrado sus objetivos estratégicos? ¿Sus márgenes de beneficios brutos y ganancias? ¿Otros entregables? Si la respuesta es no o incierta, el tiempo entre temporadas es su oportunidad de digerir el período de 8 a 10 meses pasado y comenzar a planificar los cambios para los años venideros. Su plan es una guía, uno al cual garantizo que no se adherirá el 100% del tiempo, pero es el proceso de planificación lo que le permite estar preparado para lo imprevisto. Considero parte de la naturaleza humana querer cambiar, pero cuando estamos “muy ocupados” o “no tenemos tiempo suficiente”, volvemos a la complacencia porque es cómoda. No se permita sentirse cómodo o complaciente y planifique para el cambio.

Para tener éxito en algo, no tiene que ser diferente. Tiene que ser lo que la mayoría no es – consistente.

Scott McAdam, Jr. President, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

7

Premier Landscape Contractors • Lemont Hinsdale Grand Entry

A confusing

and failing front entrance was the start of this project. The space was renovated to allow for a large, linked front entry with arrival court. The plantings are mirrored on each side to give an illusion of symmetry, while the large pillow jumper stones create the look of a space that was original with the architecture. In the back, the client now

has a full outdoor kitchen with bar seating and mood lighting along their cedar pergola. Linked along the central axis is a new fire pit that blends its way into the yard and a hot tub surrounded by a timeless Ipe deck and screen. Intermittent plant massings soften the Cambridge limestone space and lead to a very comfortable backyard entertaining terrace for years to come.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

9

OWN IT! A New ILCA Program —

Own(s)It

Owners and senior managers come together to network and develop their strengths

by Nina Koziol

Labor issues. Demanding clients.

Material shortages. Backlogs. It’s enough to give any business owner a big headache. ILCA provided the aspirin, with innovative ideas to keep member companies healthy and thriving in the coming years.

“The Own It Conference was born out of ILCA’s annual strategic planning process,” said Scott Grams, ILCA’s executive director. “The purpose was to provide an opportunity for owners and senior managers to gather in a safe space to be open

10

about the problems of their businesses and the greater industry.

Having a cordial and respectful relationship with colleagues and competitors makes you a better business,” Grams said.

Own It was designed to help owners look deep within their own companies and also realize they are part of a larger structure of ethical landscape businesses. “We wanted the event to be high-end, small in size, and an opportunity to break away from the business.” And break away they did. About 40 (continued on page 12)

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Below: Attendees all agree, it was thumbs up for the OWN IT program.

Above: Small groups get down to the in depth discussions of the day.

The Landscape Contractor 11 November 2021

OWN IT! A New ILCA Program — (continued from page 10) owners and managers attended the new, two-day event at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, WI, in late September.

The speaker, Joe Abraham, is the author of Entrepreneurial DNA: The Breakthrough Discovery that Aligns Your Business to Your Unique Strengths. He led a series of exercises that helped attendees focus on staffing and skillsets because, as most owners eventually discover, not everything can be gleaned from a resume or interview. Prior to the event, attendees did an exercise with the BOSI Quadrant, a tool Abraham developed that analyzes whether a person is a Builder, Opportunist, Specialist, Innovator, or a combination. (Google BOSI quadrant to check it out.)

“Joe was the right fit,” Grams said.

“We wanted a pragmatic speaker who respects that no business can simply start over. All change has to work within the current constraints of the business operations and economic climate. Joe

“At this point,

we’re adjusting

our mission and vision statement to match

our goals.”

Tom Marsan

doesn’t believe in a perfect workforce.

He believes that we hire people based on different abilities and it is best when their positive leadership traits mesh with the core values of the company. His BOSI system is an analytical tool that helps us better understand ourselves and our colleagues. Part of the exercise is a mandatory assessment of staff.”

“I was definitely interested in just the owners and senior managers getting together, focusing on the business, networking and getting more involved with ILCA,” said Tom Marsan, general manager of Beverly Companies in Markham.

“At this point, we’re adjusting our mission and vision statement to match our goals—to really have a good description of our goals and not just a generic statement. The speaker gave us a spectrum that will help us adjust our evaluation process—where are your service people, innovators, rain makers? It placed the employees by their specific personality (continued on page 14)

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OWN IT! A New ILCA Program — (continued from page 12) and where it fits with the job that they do.”

Aside from Abraham’s presentation, many took the time to discuss industry challenges—Covid, economics and the future.

“I didn’t know what to expect but it was a great event—learning about the insight of our staff and how they think and what makes them tick,” said Matt Menoni, business developer at Apex Landscaping in Hawthorn Woods. “Some staff were pegged right where we thought they’d be and others were identified in other areas.”

Bob Atwater, owner of Apex Landscaping, agreed. “One of the big takeaways—to think outside your normal mindset. I was very intrigued to see what we could build out of it.” The program focused on tools that will help owners match employees to the best positions based on their skills. “I don’t think there were any two companies that were exactly alike. An eye-opener was what you assumed what [employees] were thinking and that they were on board, but they weren’t.”

“I wanted to get more involved,” said Daniel Huber, president of Alan Horticulture in Lemont, IL. He’s attended ILCA’s golf outings but was interested in what the program offered. “The networking and speaking with other owners was valuable. I’ve attended some high-level conferences and the speaker had some good material and he ultimately got owners to open up about issues—labor shortages, pricing in the industry.” When it comes to company mindset, Huber notes that employee wages are one of the things at the forefront. “I think as a business, we are really honing in on our numbers and our costs and we’re working on passing that on to our clients, which in turn will correct some of our labor issues.”

“The thing I took the most out of was that the speaker helped us look at our business through a different lens. Being

able to go to a destination and shut off the day-to-day things and really sit down and think without distractions was good,” Marsan said.

Tyler Doering, CFO at Doering Landscape in Barrington attended with his brother Dan. “Our father owns the company and we’re in a period of succession planning. Sharing ideas with other people was good. The premise of the speaker’s message was understanding not what we do as a company, but who we are and how we build that mindset or brand throughout the company and with our customers. It’s about who are your employees, what’s their mindset, how are they built to achieve for your company and who do you want to serve. The speaker tied everything together really well and it made me think differently about our employees.”

As a result, Doering said, “I’m looking at our clients and who we’ll best serve and that will help with our marketing strategy—one that’s more organized. It definitely inspired me.”

Menoni was intrigued by Abraham’s ‘employee DNA’ concept. “When we thought about our staff, you can’t push a person who is systematic in nature to be creative. You have to understand their strengths and how to guide them, and not push them in a direction out of their comfort zone or where they don’t want to be. It allows us to work with them better and help them.” And ultimately, be a better, more successful business.

“I didn’t know

what to expect, but it was a

great event—

learning about the insight

of our staff

and how they think and what makes them tick.”

Matt Menoni

14

Looking for more opportunities? Visit: https://www.ilca.net/professional/events/ Google “Joe Abraham’s Ted Talk on Entrepreneurial DNA” to watch his video.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Turf Education Day — 2021

The ILCA Turf Education Day

, fondly known as TED, returned to its normal live format September 15, 2021, at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Like so many events lat year TED was conducted in a virtual format. It was considered a success and proved to be a valuable experience to the ILCA staff and committees who would soon be planning a full slate of virtual events.

Attendees said it was tremendous to have a live educational event albeit fully masked and distanced.

Shane Griffith, Turf Committee Chair 16

Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Dr. Aaron Patton, Purdue University

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

17

Turf Education Day — 2021

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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The Landscape Contractor 23 November 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens

The Gardens of the Art Institute of Chicago

by Heather Prince

On a beautiful summer morning, birds sing and butterflies flutter through the garden spaces that embrace the Art Institute of Chicago. One of the grande dames of Chicago’s public institutions and one of the most visited museums in the world, this Beau Arts building has anchored Michigan Avenue since 1893. As with any built environment of this longevity, it evolves and changes through the decades.

We are fortunate that this jewel of a museum is set within three beautiful landscape spaces designed at different points in the building’s development. Talking to Patrick Thomas, Grounds Manager, we discussed each of these roof gardens that are open to the public and receive heavy foot traffic, creating some special challenges and opportunities.

The North Garden

The North Stanley McCormick Memorial Garden resides on Michigan Avenue, and with its honey locust trees embracing the Ferguson Wing, is a place of green respite. Installed in 1959, it was a gift by Mrs. Stanley McCormick in memory of

24

her husband, who was the youngest son of Cyrus McCormick, of mechanical reaper fame. The initial garden was designed

by Holabird, Root, and Burgee. After several decades, landscape architect Laurie Olin was commissioned to re-design the space, and the new garden opened in 1990. The Olin design created a space to showcase four stunning pieces of sculpture: Flying Dragon by Alexander Calder, Large Interior Form by Henry Moore, Cubi VII by David Smith, and Untitled by Ulrich Rückriem.

You step down into the North Garden and through trimmed yew hedges to a private green experience. Sculpted mature honey locust softens the terrace against wall of the Ferguson Wing and cools the eastern edge of the garden.

Colorful planters line the balustrade filled with seasonal shade-loving plantings. Crabapples add fragrant spring flowers to the southern end of this rectangular space and tuck underneath the classical loggia of the Robert Allerton building. “In the North Garden, you step in, and you’re really separated from the street scape by the hedge of clipped yews,” commented Thomas. “It makes it very quiet and green.”

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Mature bottlebrush buckeye and oak leaf hydrangea provide summer blossoms in the shade. A rectangular panel of lawn in the center offers a place for a picnic lunch and a green carpet to feature the sculptures. “One of the goals for the North Garden plantings are minimal maintenance plants that don’t require much care, as we are a three-person crew. We also have to keep the plants around the Calder low to respond to the sculpture,” mentioned Thomas. The Flying Dragon sculpture sits here in a layered bed of perennials carefully chosen to feature the piece. Along Michigan Avenue two old venerable American elms spread wide branches for shade and shelter. The Art Institute contracts with Bartlett Tree Experts to maintain the woody plants. “We’ve had some mimosa webworm in the honey locust, but we got on top of it,” said Thomas. “We treat the elms for Dutch elm disease. Our arborist at Bartlett saved the one when a storm broke one of the main branches. They came the next day and cabled and braced it and it bounced back.” The lawn panel features one island bed of river birch.

Unfortunately, “the birch has bronze birch borer, so we are losing them year by year. We’re working on switching up this bed.” The team is also working on new shade perennial plantings in the beds as “shade requirements are changing in the North Garden as the trees mature and change.”

Along the front of the museum, low classical concrete urns line the balustrades and allow the horticulture team to flex (continued on page 26) The Landscape Contractor 25 November 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens

(continued from page 25) their creativity. You’ll find container plantings throughout the museum campus designed in complimentary colors to accent the architecture while holding up to the tough demands of the space. “We get an extraordinary amount of wind down Michigan Avenue and off the lake on the Columbus Drive side.

Anything we plant in the containers needs to be able to handle wind and drought,” recounted Thomas. “We change the plants out seasonally, and I love that we change up the colors and textures each year. At the holidays, it’s really fun to work with evergreen boughs and branches, too.”

The South Garden

The South Garden along the Morton Wing is also a few steps down into a private space. One of the few extant public gardens designed by modernist landscape architect Dan Kiley, this architectural garden room was installed in 1962 and is regarded as one of his finest outdoor spaces. Here the murmur of the fountains quiets the traffic of Michigan Avenue as you pass under a double row of mature honey locust into a courtyard of 16 cockspur hawthorn trees set into a grid of granite planters. A rectangular reflecting pool leads you to the large Fountain of the Lakes sculpture by Loredo Taft against the wall (continued on page 28) 26

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens (continued from page 26) of the Morton Wing. The square granite planters aise the trees and create an interlaced canopy of carefully pruned branches while providing ample seating for visitors. Groundcovers and hardy perennials fill the planters with four-season green. It is a well-loved space for Chicagoans and visitors with its serene beauty. The challenges here are maintenance. “Bartlett sprays the hawthorns for diseases,” observed Thomas. “We regularly prune the thorns to keep visitors safe.” Beneath the honey locusts, Thomas has included native northern sea oats and palm sedge for layers of green texture while requiring little care. The biggest challenge in the near future is one corner of the garden is sinking. “We had the locusts air spaded and backfilled with soil, which worked for a while,” commented Thomas, “but it’s going to require more investigation.”

The East Side

On the east side of the Art Institute along Columbus Drive, you’ll find a very different landscape. Here, Roy Diblik was commissioned to create two perennial gardens in the New Perennial Movement style. Native plants and cultivars blend in complex layers and soften the hard lines of walks and buildings while offering dynamic four-season interest. Flowers are buzzing with bees, butterflies, and pollinators. A monarch butterfly lights on the Joe Pye weed for an early morning snack as goldfinches feast on echinacea seeds. “I’ve been taking pictures of monarchs in this garden all summer,” chuckled Thomas.

The Louis Sullivan arch from the Chicago Stock Exchange anchors the north bed. “It undulates and has catch basins that holds pretty much all the stormwater it collects,” reported Thomas. “The whole thing is a roof garden. Our soil tends to be sandy, so this has irrigation, but the ginkgos planted in the tree wells outside the garden bed do not. They had irrigation, but they kept getting flooded out, so we turned it off and only hand water now.” Diblik typically visits several times a year to help edit and replace plants. “One of the biggest challenges are keeping the self-seeders in bounds, so we edit to keep to Diblik’s plans,” said Thomas. “He does come in and check on us and bring plants to add. Some things will work, and some get crowded out. The stonecrop and baptisia are finally starting to establish and get going.” The team does not use pesticides here, only hand-pulling weeds and stragglers.

One of the most dramatic plants in these garden areas are the prairie docks with their huge leaves.

“One of the questions I do get the most is about the prairie dock. ‘What is that?’ and ‘Is that a tropical?’ (continued on page 30) 28

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens (continued from page 28) is something we hear a lot,” recounted Thomas. “I love it when they dry out in the fall as well for winter interest.”

Because these spaces mimic the style of Lurie Garden across the street, they are noticed by the public, even if they are gardens people are more likely to move through. “It’s not like the North or South Gardens where people get to sit in those, have lunch, and spend time. This is more of a transient kind of space,” observed Thomas. “I get a lot of feedback from people walking by. They go two ways – the people who are into gardens say it’s beautiful; the people who aren’t think it looks like a bunch of weeds. It’s mostly good, though. People love it.” Thomas loves it too. “This is my favorite garden. I love seeing how it evolves and differs in every season.”

The biggest overall challenge with these very public gardens is people. These landscapes are heavily used and so there is a considerable quantity of litter, graffiti, and vandalism that Thomas and his team deal with every day. “We’re constantly changing hats. We do all the grounds maintenance, we pick up the trash, we do the plowing, it’s not just gardening,” commented Thomas. Overall, Thomas and his team are using sustainable techniques and products like environmental-friendly ice melters as much as possible. “We are trying to go organic and use beneficials, but the more ornamental gardens require higher maintenance to keep them healthy and looking good,” commented Thomas. This year, watering has been a priority as the Chicago area moves in and out of drought. “The North and South Gardens are handwatered. They do not have irrigation. We end up lugging hoses about a quarter mile.” The pandemic shutdowns gave them an opportunity to do some much-needed maintenance and deep cleaning. It also gave wildlife a chance to claim the gardens. “We see foxes and coyotes. During the COVID shut down, there was a coyote walking right up Michigan Avenue.

It liked the South Garden.” An owl moved into the South Garden as well, helping keep the rabbit population in check.

Each of the landscapes surrounding the Art Institute has its own distinctive personality. Birdsong is plentiful amid the burbling of fountains and the buzzing of pollinators. As these historic spaces evolve with time, Thomas and his team adapt and continue to manage the beautiful green settings of this venerable jewel of a museum.

30

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens

Building a Masterpiece:

The History of the Dan Kiley South Garden

by Heather Prince, as described by Landscape Architect Joe Karr

The Dan Kiley South Garden

along the Morton Wing on the south side of the Art Institute campus has had deep ties with several Chicago landscape companies over its history. We were delighted to speak to Joe Karr, noted landscape architect, who started his long career in Dan Kiley’s office with this garden.

The Morton Wing was completed in 1962, while the Park District garages were being constructed under the south end of the Art Institute campus.

About two-thirds of the garden sits on top of that garage, making it a roof garden. “It took a long time to design the garden,” remembered Karr.

Joe Karr with the frequently-changed model “Dan Kiley was working

with Mrs. Stanley McCormick and every two weeks they’d meet. Kiley had a cardboard model made so she could visualize the space. I was fresh from the University of Pennsylvania when I joined the project.

Every two weeks we remade that cardboard model until it was finally right.” The gardens were designed with deliberate The south garden during construction care. “Dan started the design work for the garden in December 1962,” recalled Karr. “I joined the team in spring of 1963 and was assigned to the project with Ian Tyndall, my classmate, who was the lead designer. Design work continued into spring of 1964. The hardscape went in 1964 to 65 and the plantings were done in the spring of 1965 and 66. Four years on a project wasn’t unusual at that time.”

Karr handled the softscape elements of the garden. “I pulled together all the construction documents and oversaw the installation of the garden. Dan tapped Harry Weese & Associates to handle the hardscape as he and Harry were good friends.

Fully planted, but still new (continued on page 34) 32

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

33

Special Feature — The Changing Face of Public Gardens (continued from page 32) There were four landscape contractors bidding on the installation: Otto Damgaard, Gus Grundstrom, Synnestvedt, and Clauss Brothers. Grundstrom got the contract, but Otto had all the trees. He had started Kaneville Tree Farms to supply his own projects, especially large specimen trees. Those guys were all friendly competitors and worked wonderfully with each other and were great friends.”

The greatest challenge was working with a difficult site.

“Working over the parking garage meant a very shallow depth to plant into and work with,” commented Karr. “The hawthorns are in seven-foot, four-inch square wide and two-feet, eight inches deep planters and have been for 55 years. They are tough trees. In the process of Dan going back and forth with the client, he chose the cockspur hawthorns, saying ‘these will become a bower in time’. And that’s what has happened.

Their branches have woven together and it’s very special with the light dripping through them.”

One of the best parts of the installation was selecting the trees. “Otto Damgaard had planted the hawthorns on about 14 feet on center so they had a beautiful form,” remembered Karr. “I chose the whole row as each one was perfect! We had 32 identical cockspur hawthorn trees for the center of the design, and 61 cockspur hawthorn trees in total. Otto had planted the honey locusts we chose as seeds when Ron Damgaard was a little boy.”

The plant choices were made for toughness. “Cockspur

34

hawthorn, which I’ve used in many projects, is extremely hardy,” observed Karr. “The Redmond linden I’ve always thought of as the hardiest linden. Honey locust is an excellent city tree because its open habit lets the light go through and its small leaves are easy to clean up. I love Sargent crab for its durability and small stature. The wintercreeper groundcover was chosen because it will grow up and out. The grounds staff have let it climb the walls and tree trunks to beautiful effect.”

Over the years, very few changes have been made to the original Kiley design and it has many stories within its walls.

“We had groups of Sargent crabapples originally planted against the wall of the Morton Wing,” recalled Karr. “They grew together to form a solid low mass. About three or four years after the garden was finished, there was a murder in Grant Park. The body was found under one of the crab tree masses a day later. Those crabs were removed after that. At one point, the Art Institute elected to extend its terrace along the south wall, necessitating removal of four hawthorn trees.

Loredo Taft also taught at the school. He’d hold a lot of his classes out on that terrace. To this day, the Art Institute grounds staff have maintained the space beautifully.”

The garden continues to be a signature Chicago space.

“Dan’s idea was to set the garden down 18 inches so that the sounds of the street were muted,” said Karr. “Dan always liked to have water in his designs. Water brings a little bit of animation and sound that is so important in the landscape.

This garden is its own space, separated from the street and

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Shrubs Worth Your Consideration —

Small Gardens Are Crying fo

by Nina Koziol

Have you noticed

how plantbreeders are creating smaller shrubs, trees, and even tinier annuals?

That’s because everyone seems to be talking about “small” gardens these days.

Forget those big, beefy perennial borders of years past. Baby boomers are downsizing and don’t have the energy to garden on big lots. And those in the 18 to 34 year age group either don’t have the time or the interest in maintaining large gardens. They’re more likely to grow trendy houseplants, and pots of herbs or tropicals on a patio or deck. As a result, breeders and nurseries are practically flooding the market with Lilliputian plants.

We can now get petite Knock Out roses, compact PJM rhododendrons, Tiny Tuff Stuff® mountain hydrangea (18” wide by 2 feet tall), Kelsey’s Dwarf Red-Osier Dogwood (30” tall and wide), itsy-bitsy annuals like the 6-inch-tall Brainiac celosia, which has a blossom the size of a cauliflower, and Kitchen Minis—super compact tomato and pepper plants sold in 4- and 8-inch pots intended for growing indoors or outside!

Compact, dwarf, short—they’re all marketing buzzwords to attract those gardening in or designing for small spaces. But must everything be rounded, mounded blobs just because space may be at a premium?

“Gardens are getting smaller— they’re not getting shorter,” says plantsman Tony Avent, owner of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, N.C. “There’s a time and a place for short plants but we need height!”

You’ve no doubt encountered tight spaces—narrow walkways, foundation beds, confining spots along fences 36

and garages, and little borders in urban back yards. They warrant something that makes a statement without overgrowing the space. That’s where vertical plants and vines come in to play.

Living Large by Growing Tall

Many new varieties of woodies have been developed for limited, narrow spaces. Columnar trees—slender but tall—are useful in confined areas. Some examples include Dawyk’s purple beech, columnar English oak, and Green Giant arborvitae. Susie Eyre of the former Rich’s Foxwillow Pines Nursery used an espalier of Rohanii purple beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Rohanii’) in a narrow bed for one client. “It makes a beautiful statement against the wall,” she said.

Some plants have the word “fastigiate” in their name or description, which simply means tall and thin. Fastigiate plants add a very desirable vertical line to the landscape. Besides working as a screen, they can be used as a single specimen plant to provide a visual pop in the garden.

Here are some favorite woodies for smaller spaces suggested by Todd Jacobson, head of landscape horticulture at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

“You can see all of these plants at the Arboretum,” he said. (Check mortonarb. org to see current visitation requirements.)

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’

Slender Silhouette sweet gum is a beanpole of a tree, growing about 45 feet tall but only 6 to 8 feet wide at the base. It creates a dramatic towering effect and adds an exclamation point to the landscape.

Star-shaped glossy leaves turn a dramatic orange-red in fall.

or Vertical Plants Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’ Persian ironwood

This tree’s multi-season appeal starts in spring when the attractive mottled bark is highlighted by small red spidery flowers. The new growth has scalloped leaves with burgundy edges. By summer, the foliage is a bright green, taking on stunning shades of red, purple, orange and gold in fall. This vase-shaped cultivar reaches 30 feet high by about 15 feet wide.

Carpinus caroliniana ‘J. N. Upright’

Firespire muscle wood

This cultivar of American hornbeam grows about 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It was selected for its unique shape and improved red-orange fall color. With its slow growth rate and dense canopy, it shines as a small-stature screening plant. It thrives in full sun to full shade and has a variety of landscape applications, from specimen to shrub borders. Its upright habit is especially useful to frame a building or a view.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Shrubs Worth Your Consideration — Nyssa sylvatica ‘WFH1’ Tupelo Tower At 30 to 40 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide, this native cultivar produces outstanding shades of scarlet, orange and yellow in fall. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

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Shrubs Worth Your Consideration — Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’

Cascades of white, thinly petaled flowers appear on this very upright selection of the Chinese fringe tree. Upon maturity, the fruit turns blue, providing a nice contrast with the golden-yellow fall foliage. With age, the bark starts to exfoliate, revealing tan and gold colors. It reaches about 15 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Although Tokyo Tower is listed as zone 6 on many web sites, it grows at the The Morton Arboretum and is sold by Illinois nurseries.

Thuja occidentalis ‘American Pillar’ This arborvitae is touted as highly resistant to wind and ice damage because of its strong root system. It grows 4 to 5 feet wide and 25 to 30 feet tall at maturity. Its tall, narrow and dense shape makes it a good specimen plant or massed as a living hedge.

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Thuja occidentals ‘North Pole’ Touted by growers as resisting winter burn, this arborvitae reaches 10 to 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide. A narrow columnar selection of ‘Wintergreen’, North Pole has excellent hardiness and dark green winter foliage. Suitable for narrow sites as a specimen or screen.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Vines

Perennial vines can scramble up a porch, an obelisk, trellis, fence or arbor. “I use climbing hydrangeas, but I’ve found they grow irritatingly slow,” says landscape architect Bailey Hoines of Bret-Mar Landscaping. But once they’re established, climbing hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris) produce fast-growing cinnamon-colored woody stems covered with lightly fragrant flowers. Jill Selinger, manager of education at the Chicago Botanic Garden recommends clematis vines, which are typically underused but offer a bounty of colors. Here are some of her favorites.

Clematis ‘Roguchi’ Clematis ‘Roguchi’ (sometimes spelled ‘Rooguchi’ or ‘Rouguchi’) is a shortgrowing vine spreading 6 to 8 feet. The indigo-blue to plum-colored bell-shaped flowers nod on black stems and provide a long season of bloom. It can be grown on a trellis or allowed to meander through a tall, narrow shrub.

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Clematis ‘Arabella’

Another bush-type clematis, this moderate grower reaches 3 to 6 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide with training. Suitable for a trellis in a narrow border.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Shrubs Worth Your Consideration — Clematis viticella

Clematis texensis

The viticella group includes easy to grow, strong vines with many colorful cultivars including stunners such as Etoile Violette, Polish Spirit, Abundance, Blue Angel, Prince Charles and Wisley. Bred in 1885, Etoile Violette offers masses of small, nodding dark violet flowers up to 4 inches wide with profuse flowering over a long period.

Native to Texas and commonly called scarlet or Texas clematis, this vine flowers on new growth. It can reach 10 to 15 feet long, suitable for covering a fence or scrambling across the rails of a porch or deck. The bell-shaped, reddish-orange to scarlet flowers bloom from early summer to frost.

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Special Feature —

Soils Simplified

Profitability and Efficiency Through Product Selection and Practices

by Meta Levin

If the soil isn’t healthy, then neither are

the plants growing in it. That was Kevin Donnelly’s message to iLandscape 365 attendees during his presentation, “Soils Simplified: Profitability and Efficiency Through Product Selection and Practices.”

Donnelly holds a bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Illinois, where he also did graduate work in natural resource and environmental science. Now horticulture Soil Scientist for Midwest Trading’s Center for Horticulture Soils Testing and Research (CHSTR), he also has experience in sustainable crop production research at Ball Horticulture. He is a Certified Horticulturalist through the American Society of Horticultural Science, specializing in horticulture soils, product development and data management.

We focus our attention on what is above, but not necessar-

ily on what is below ground,” says Donnelly. “Feed the soil and you feed the plants.”

For example, he related an incident at Morton Arboretum.

A contractor, hired to remove a parking lot, took off only the asphalt, but not the subgrade. As a result, there was no water and gas exchange. The tree root systems could not get through, neither could the water. “It can be a problem if you ignore or don’t treat the soils properly.”

The kind of thing Donnelly described is known as lithologic discontinuity, i.e., changes in particle size and distribution that are differences in a soil column. The lithology of a rock is a description of its physical characteristics, including color, texture, grain size and composition. (continued on page 46)

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Special Feature — (continued from page 44)

Mulch

There are several ways to feed the soil and make the landscape look nicer in the process. Mulching, for instance. Why mulch?

• It reduces weed pressure.

•

It’s attractive.

•

It protects soil from compaction.

•

It helps maintain soil moisture and temperature.

There are a lot of mulch options on the market, including wood waste, hardwood bark, pine bark, Sienna Grove, Red Cedar, dyed, leaf, decorative and playground mulches. All have their benefits and drawbacks, and most are available in bags and bulk.

Dormant season mulching is another option Donnelly believes that landscape contractors should consider. “This is an often missed opportunity that landscapers should be looking at,” he says. “Labor is the biggest challenge in our industry. When can you get out there?” In November, when you already have labor on a client’s property to do the fall cleanup, is a good time.

There is the bagged versus bulk question. Under certain circumstances, Donnelly believes that bagged mulches “can be a viable and efficient option, but not across the board,” he says. It is, he believes, something landscape contractors should consider in the appropriate situations. When using

46

bagged mulch, he suggests having employees put the number of bags needed around each tree, then have someone come along to open and spread it.

He views having a truck dump a pile of mulch on a driveway or some other area, then have laborers haul it via a wheelbarrow or some other container to the location where it is to be used, as a waste of time and energy.

There also is the issue of potential surplus material. If you have estimated that a job will take, for instance, five yards of mulch and your employee has a half yard left over in the bulk pile, he or she is going to use it. “He’s not going to load it back on the truck,” says Donnelly. “If you have some left in bags, he can throw it back on the truck, making sure that he uses the correct amount of product.”

This helps with inventory accuracy. You know the volume in the bag, but measuring the bulk into the bed of a truck is not necessarily exact.

Delivering bagged mulch and/or soil also allows you to tap into the do-it-yourself market. It’s a way to get yourself and your services in front of these potential customers. You can reach out to customers and offer to drop off a pallet of bags or totes. It allows you to make a connection, not to mention earn more money. After one year of spreading mulch on their property, they may decide that it’s not much fun. Who will they think of to do it next year? Why, you, of course.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

(continued on page 49)

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

(continued from page 46) “Last year there was an increase in first time gardeners,” says Donnelly. “I think this is going to continue. If you can get connected with them, you will have an established relationship.”

Soil Amendments

Soil amendments have many advantages.

They allow you to • Improve poor soil •

Loosen compacted soils

•

Replace nutrients, especially if you are replacing plantings.

•

Add organic matter

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

49

Suelos simplificados:

Rentabilidad y eficiencia a través de prácticas y la selección de productos Por Meta Levin

Si el suelo

no es saludable, tampoco lo son las plantas que crecen en él.

Ese fue el mensaje de Kevin Donnelly a los asistentes a la iLandscape 365 durante su presentación, “Suelos simplificados: Rentabilidad y eficiencia a través de prácticas y la selección de productos”.

Donnelly tiene una Licenciatura en Ciencias con especialidad en Horticultura de la Universidad de Illinois, en la que también realizó trabajos de posgrado en Recursos Naturales y Ciencias Ambientales. Ahora, Científico de Suelos hortícolas para el Centro de Pruebas e Investigaciones de Suelos

Hortícolas (CHSTR, por sus siglas en inglés) de Midwest Trading, también tiene experiencia en investigaciones de producción de cultivos sostenibles en Ball Horticulture. Es Horticultor Certificado a través de la Sociedad Estadounidense de Ciencias Hortícolas, especializado en suelos hortícolas, desarrollo de productos y gestión de datos.

Centramos nuestra atención en lo que está encima, pero no necesariamente en lo que está debajo de la tierra”, dice Donnelly. “Alimente el suelo y estará alimentando las plantas”.

Por ejemplo, narra un incidente en

el Arboreto Morton. Un contratista, contratado para remover un lote de estacionamiento, quitó únicamente el asfalto, pero no el subgrado. Como resultado, no hubo intercambio de agua y gas. Los sistemas de raíces de los árboles no pudieron pasar, tampoco el agua. “Puede ser un problema si se ignoran o no se tratan los suelos debidamente”.

Lo que Donnelly describe se conoce como discontinuidad litológica, es decir, cambios en el tamaño y la distribución de las partículas que son diferencias en una columna de suelo. La litología de una roca es una descripción de sus

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The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Mantillo

Hay varias maneras de alimentar el suelo y hacer que los terrenos ajardinados luzcan mejor al mismo tiempo.

Cubrir con mantillo, por ejemplo. ¿Por qué mantillo?

• Reduce la presión de la maleza • Es atractivo • Ayuda a mantener la humedad

y la temperatura del suelo • Protege el suelo contra la compactación

Hay muchas opciones de mantillo en el mercado, incluyendo mantillos de residuos de madera, corteza de madera dura, corteza de pino, Sienna Grove, cedro rojo, teñidos, foliares, decorativos y de patio. Todos tienen sus beneficios e inconvenientes y la mayoría está disponible en bolsas y a granel.

El mantillo de temporada inactiva es otra opción que, en opinión de Donnelly, los contratistas de paisajismo deben tener en cuenta. “Esta es una oportunidad con frecuencia desaprovechada que los paisajistas deben considerar”, dice. “La mano de obra es el mayor desafío en nuestra industria. ¿Cuándo puede ir al terreno?”

En noviembre, cuando ya tiene miembros del equipo de trabajo en la propiedad de un cliente para hacer la limpieza del otoño, es un buen momento.

Está la cuestión de usar mantillo en bolsas o a granel. Bajo ciertas circunstancias, Donnelly piensa que los mantillos en bolsas “pueden ser una opción viable y eficiente, pero no siempre”, advierte. En su opinión, son algo que los contratistas de paisajismo

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deben considerar en las situaciones adecuadas. Cuando se usa mantillo en bolsas, Donnelly sugiere que empleados coloquen el número de bolsas necesarias alrededor de cada árbol y luego que alguien vaya y abra las bolsas y esparza el mantillo.

En su opinión, que un camión vierta una pila de mantillo en un camino de entrada o en otra área para que los trabajadores la transporten en una carretilla o algún otro contenedor al lugar donde se va a usar, es una pérdida de tiempo y energía.

También existe el problema del posible material sobrante. Si usted había calculado que el trabajo requeriría de, por ejemplo, cinco yardas de mantillo y a su empleado le sobró media yarda en la pila a granel, la va a usar. “No va a cargarla de nuevo en el camión”, asegura Donnelly. “Si queda algo en las bolsas, las puede tirar de nuevo al camión, asegurándose de usar la cantidad necesaria del producto”.

Esto ayuda a la precisión del inventario.

Usted conoce el volumen en la bolsa, pero medir el sobrante que se tira a

granel en el bastidor de un camión no es necesariamente una medida exacta.

Suministrar mantillo y/o tierra en bolsas le permite también introducirse en el mercado del bricolaje (“hazlo tú mismo”). Es una forma de presentarse usted y sus servicios ante estos clientes potenciales. Usted puede ofrecer a los clientes dejarles una paleta de bolsas o sacos. Esto le permite conectarse con sus clientes, además de ganar más dinero.

Después de un año de esparcir mantillo en sus propiedades, podrían decidir que eso no es muy divertido. ¿Con quién pensarán hacerlo el próximo año? Con usted, por supuesto.

“El año pasado hubo un aumento de jardineros primerizos”, informa Donnelly.

“Pienso que esto va a continuar. Si se conecta con ellos, tendrá una relación establecida”.

Enmiendas del suelo

Las enmiendas del suelo ofrecen muchas ventajas. Le permiten • Mejorar suelos deficientes • Descompactar suelos compactados • Agregar materia orgánica • Sustituir nutrientes, especial-

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

5151

mente si reemplaza plantaciones anualmente Esto es de especial importancia para nuevas plantaciones, asegura Donnelly.

No obstante, debe conocer sus enmiendas agrícolas. ¿Puede esparcirlas y plantar directamente a través de ellas? ¿O sería mejor mezclarlas con el suelo? ¿Qué tiene sentido?

Donnelly y su equipo de trabajadores en Midwest Trading están involucrados en un proyecto continuo para determinar esto. “Continuamente publicamos contenido (vídeos) sobre ensayos de enmiendas del suelo que estamos haciendo en nuestros terrenos”, dijo.

Hay varias opciones de enmiendas de suelo, incluyendo compost, musgo de tubera, sustrato de hongos gastados, enmiendas mezcladas (esto se conoce con diferentes nombres, pero todas son mezcla de compost y otras enmiendas agrícolas, aunque los ingredientes específicos varían), humus de lombriz,

52

micorrizas, biosólidos y biocarbón. Como el mantillo, todas tienen ventajas y desventajas. Las fuentes, igual que los mejores usos, varían también.

Recipientes de mezclas

Los componentes de las enmiendas del suelo que tienen buen rendimiento en recipientes abarcan toda la gama. Por ejemplo, el musgo de tubera retiene bien el agua, mientras que la fibra de coco ayuda a la retención de agua a largo plazo. La tierra mantillosa se puede usar en recipientes, pero es difícil encontrarla en bolsas, debido a su peso. Es más probable encontrar mezclas de invernadero en bolsas. A medida que los recipientes se hacen más grandes, usted necesitará más una mezcla tipo vivero, la cual es un producto más grueso.

Usualmente el musgo de tubera no durará dos temporadas, pero la corteza del pino sí. Si decide añadir fertilizante de liberación controlada, asegúrese que sea algo que dure y concéntrese en obten-

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

er las plantas adecuadas para su área de trabajo. ¿Conclusión? “Invierta en sus suelos”, recomienda Donnelly.

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The Landscape Contractor 53 November 2021

New Member Profile Snapshot

Swenson Truck Equipment 590 Heartland Drive Sugar Grove, Il 60554 (630) 409-6882 www.swensonproducts.com/upfit

by Meta Levin

Recently, a customer of Swenson Truck

products that offer controlled spreading, chiefly of snow- and ice-control products.

Now known as a snow equipment company, Swenson boasts distributors all over the United States. The company-owned Sugar Grove facility installs dump bodies, snowplows, platform bodies and salt spreaders, all of which, says Thomas, have become more technologically sophisticated in the last few years.

Technology now allows snow- and ice-control professionals to manage everything, from how much product each spreader is laying down to the width of each spread.

Municipalities have adopted these methods for a few years, but now landscape contractors are asking for it.

“They are budget conscious,” says Thomas. Today, a landscape contractor can not only track a truck’s location to within three feet, but can-also put down a geo-fence around property and trace when the truck crosses the geo-fence going in and when it leaves, allowing the landscape contractor to be more accurate when estimating jobs. “People are being savvier with technology.”

In addition to a demand for high technology products, Thomas sees that more and more customers are buying stainless steel dump bodies than ever before. “They don’t rust and they last longer,” he says.

In 2015, Aebi Schmidt, a global company that focuses on smart product systems and services, bought Swenson and three years ago, the uplift facility in Sugar Grove opened.

The uplift facility has between two and 15 people in staff, depending on the volume of work. They also have service people on the road, who they will bring into the facility when needed. In large part because of the proximity to the Lindenwood manufacturing facility, the uplift center maintains many parts in stock. “Our average turn around (for work) is eight to 10 days,” says Thomas.

When not working on trucks, Thomas likes to work on race cars — ­ specifically dragsters. A friend owns a shop, where Thomas often can be found outside of work hours.

Married, Thomas is the father of a 31-year-old son, who works for Navistar corporate and a 28-year-old daughter, who is a nursing student.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

Equipment’s uplift facility in Sugar Grove, IL purchased a flatbed and had it installed. Three weeks later, he called because the corners had been damaged. He brought the truck in at 7 am on a Monday and he had his repaired truck back that afternoon.

Customers of Swenson Truck Equipment’s uplift center know that they can count on the facility for good, fast service.

In fact, service personnel often stay late and come in on weekends to get the work done, says Danny Thomas, sales and operations manager of the facility.

Thomas is proud of his company’s customer-centric attitude. “We stand by our work product like no other company I have been with before,” he says. “We try to get repairs done immediately, because we know our customers are making a living with that piece of equipment.”

A 30-year veteran of the trucking industry, Thomas knows of what he speaks. In fact, the center’s reputation attracts customers from all over Illinois, from Chicago to downstate.

Thomas started in the industry with Badger Truck Equipment, which is where he was first introduced to ILCA. The memory of that experience led him to join ILCA recently as part of Swenson Truck Equipment’s uplift center. His career also included a stint with Navistar’s On Command Connection sales team.

Landscape contractors represent a large part of Swenson’s business, says Thomas, and many of them have encouraged him to join the ILCA. “Our customers are there and we need to support our customers,” he says. “We joined in the spring and we plan on taking a more active role in ILCA in the future.”

Swenson Truck Equipment is a part of Swenson Products, a brand of Aebi Schmidt. Swenson manufactures large, small and medium spreaders, as well as tailgate spreaders, dump bodies, all purpose bodies and liquid systems from its facility in Lindenwood, IL. Eskil Swenson founded the company in 1937 as Cherry Valley Pulverizer Company, producing a twin-roller chaindrive spreader, primarily used to spread fertilizer and other products for agriculture. Eventually it expanded into salt and abrasive spreading and has continued to evolve to provide 54

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Sales, Buyer and Logistics Manager at Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects Description For Summerfield Trading (a subsidiary of Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects) Summerfield Trading is a vendor of high-quality landscape related product lines. These products include, but are not limited to: plant materials, bulk organic goods, paving materials, garden furnishings and accessories, etc.

The full job description is on our website at: https://hoerrschaudt.com/

HELP WANTED Landscape Production Manager Seeking Production manager ILT Vignocchi is hiring a production manager for its Island Lake facility. The right candidate will have at least 5 years of management experience in a horticulture related field. Our full-service landscape company has been operating for 52 years and in that time has developed a very special culture. We work very hard, we also make certain to have fun, and most importantly, we respect one another.

A successful candidate will have 5+ years of management experience in a related field (horticulture) Strong communication skills Highly organized Bi-lingual in Spanish and English (preferred) High computer literacy A positive attitude toward coworkers, challenges, continuing education and operational improvement Responsibilities Manage scheduling, material procurement and execution of work Management of all production jobs at budget Management of production staff Management of online scheduling in LMN Management of LMN Time capture by employees Manage all snow operations, equipment and staff Coordination with Fleet Manager on equipment issues and needs Approval and all vendor invoices Inventory management Compensation: Competitive based on industry standards Submit resumes to ilt@iltvignocchi.com

Please email your resume to jobs@christywebber.com

Residential Maintenance Account Manager Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Landscape Designer/Project Director Management Associate Call Maria for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers 56

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

JOIN US LIVE! The iLandscape Show is a three day show that features opportunities for lawn and landscape professionals, equipment dealers, growers, construction businesses, and more to view the newest products, technology and best practices.

Attendee Data Over 6,400 attendees with these top job titles:

Landscape Company Owner/Senior Management Landscape Operations/Project Manager/Estimator Landscape Foreman/Supervisor/ Laborer/Technician Landscape Designer Landscape Architect Landscape Maintenance Municipal/Parks/Government Supplier/Sales Grower/Nursery/ Retailer/Garden Center Other: Arborist, Turf and Irrigation Professionals

         

Attendee Growth Year After Year (Minus a Polar Vortex in 2019)

5,045

5,500

2015

2016

6,003

6,125

2017

2018

5,300

2019

6,430

2020

Attendees

Exhibitor Data 2020 Exhibitor Feedback:

Number of Exhibiting Companies

 210

210

235

275

244

285



95% of exhibitors rated the show good to excellent!

92% of exhibitors rated the quality of visitors to their booth as it

relates to future business good to excellent! 

90% of exhibitors rated the quantity of visitors to their booth good to excellent!

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

“Aesthetic Metals has had successful years at the iLandscape trade

2020

Number of Exhibiting Companies

Recipient of 4 Trade Show Executive’s Fastest 50 Awards! On the list of the fastest growing trade shows in the U.S.

show and we’ve had a phenomenal response from participating! It has given us great exposure in the landscape community and we’re happy to say we have projects scattered all over the southern Wisconsin and Chicago land area. We really feel like we’re targeting the right people – the location is great – easy exhibit inand-out . . . it all adds up to a positive experience. ” BARB FOSTER, AESTHETIC METALS LLC

Interested in exhibiting? Contact Terre Houte at thoute@ilca.net www.ilandscapeshow.com The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Sales

Accounts Payable

Elan Landscape Development is a leading Design - Build - Maintain contractor specializing in the high-end residential market of South-Eastern Lake County. We are adding another talented professional to our team as we continue to grow.

The Ideal candidate will be detail oriented, professional, honest and motivated to succeed. We will take a look at all candidates who are hard working and exhibit excellent communication skills. Stand out candidates will have knowledge of landscape processes, above average computer skills and meaningful experience in a supervisory role.

We offer a casual work environment, competitive wages & benefits and reduced winter hours. If you are a career-oriented sales professional, please reach out. We would like to meet you.

Call Dan 847-924-0790 or dan@elanlandscapes.com Groundskeeper Harper College is currently seeking applications for the full time Groundskeeper position.

Groundskeeper responsibilities include the maintenance, care and modification of campus grounds. Duties include snow removal and first level maintenance on equipment as needed. The successful candidate will respond to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns within or outside normal working hours. You must also be able to work shift work, weekends, overtime, and holidays as well as be available (on call) for snow removal responsibilities.

You must be able to operate motorized landscaping equipment, snow removal equipment, vehicles and associated tools for landscaping and snow removal. Job hours will be Monday through Friday, 7am – 3:30 pm.

Requirements include:

·

High School Diploma or equivalent required.

·

At least three years’ experience in grounds, nursery, gardening, or related work, and have performed maintenance on related equipment appropriate to the needs of the campus

To learn more about this position and apply, visit us at: http://jobs.harpercollege.edu/cw/en-us/job/493993? lApplicationSubSourceID= Harper College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We strive to create an inclusive learning and working environment where individual differences and identities are respected, valued and embraced.

We encourage women, people from historically underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.

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Job Description: Accounts Payable Administrator Classification: Full-Time Exempt (Salary) Reports to: Accounting Manager/Purchasing Manager Summary Under the direction of the Accounting Manager and the Purchasing Manager, and with minimal supervision, the accounts payable administrator position is responsible for overseeing incoming payables from initial approval and entry to payment and reporting. They will assist in setting up and enforcing procedures for purchase approval, vendor contact and compliance, and assist Ownership with accurate expense reporting.

Essential Functions 1. Oversees the company’s purchasers, primarily the Purchasing Manager but also Fleet, Branch Managers and Office Administrators, and additional as needed, in enforcing approval systems and tracking purchase orders to maintain organized records of spending.

2. Enters payables into Quickbooks once approved, overseeing the coding and data entry process to ensure accurate reporting.

3. Creates aging reports on payables to present to Ownership for approval and issues payments accordingly.

4. Oversees ongoing bills (utility accounts, loan payments, etc.) and manages our accounts throughout the branches as directed by the Accounting Manager and Ownership.

5. Manages the credit card accounts by tracking and coding receipts, processing monthly statements, and overseeing the expense approval process as needed.

6. Provides Ownership with up-to-date and accurate expense reporting and spending information to assist in creating budgets.

7. Assists the Accounting Manager in preparing financial information for audits as needed.

8. Responsible for maintaining vendor relationships, providing W-9s and filling out credit applications, answering payment inquiries and checking statements regularly; also maintaining up-to-date records for subcontractor COIs. 9. Assists the Purchasing Manager in tracking materials per job to assist with job costing reports.

10. Participates in any and all additional projects as needed. Performs a variety of administrative functions including correspondence, data entry and report preparation, processing paperwork, filing and computer work.

Supervisory Responsibility This position has some supervisory responsibilities. To provide accurate and timely reports to support operational and sales functions. A strong need to maintain accurate and current information.

Coordinate and manage a variety of administra-

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

HELP WANTED tive activities with accuracy, efficiently meeting all deadlines and maintain current and accurate files, vendors, projects, etc. for easy retrieval at any time.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work Monday through Friday during business hours of 7:30am-4pm.

Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Email jaimie@alanhorticultrual.com to apply.

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

• Project billing and cost evaluation Qualifications: • Excellent communications, computer and math skills Email resume and cover letter to accounting@ allied-landscaping.com

FOR SALE

Business for Sale 30-year Landscape Maintenance Company located in Wheaton IL is for sale. One crew 95% residential.

Contact Scott 630-665-0317 CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES January 2022 issue ads: December 12, 2021 February 2022 issue ads: December 28, 2021 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

ILCA Members!!

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

Post an ad in our classified section!

Classified listings are posted online for 30 days from the date of submittal and run in the next issue of The Landscape Contractor magazine.

We also offer the opportunity to share your posting with our industry list of over 10,000 contacts!

Pricing: $12.00/line with a 10 line minimum.

Feature your ad in our monthly email for $50.00 *Features are available with Classified Posting only

Non-profit postings are available. Contact ILCA for details.

Questions? Email Alycia Nagy at anagy@ilca.net

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

Ads submitted after the 15th of the month will post online and run in the following month's issue of the magazine

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Advertisers Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................41 Breezy Hill Nursery ................................................40 Compost Supply .....................................................38 Contree Sprayers .....................................................47 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4 GDS Enterprises .......................................................42 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63

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.

Here’s to Hue

By Nina A. Koziol

Who doesn’t love a nice can of Rustoleum? Or any outdoor paint that can add some oomph to your client’s piece of paradise? Most entry doors—especially older ones—can be a bit blah. If you’re providing the curb appeal, why not suggest changing the color of the door to complement the house and landscape?

Or to refresh a patio set, trellises or arbor? Think outside the box, or in this case, the can.

Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................12 Homer Industries ...................................................55 James Martin Associates .........................................56 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................39 Longshadow Planters .............................................13 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants ........................................................51 McGinty Bros. .......................................................49

Does your client have a tired looking but still usable patio set? Give them color suggestions and paint swatches. Newer paints have the primer built in and can work on metal, wood and plastic.

Midwest Groundcovers ............................................2

One of the least expensive ways to create that wow experience is to suggest a new color for the front door. Because red and green are complementary colors, this combination really pops.

When this plant collector’s super-expensive grafted larch died, he couldn’t stand to remove it. So he sprayed it white. The next year, he sprayed it to match the Knock Out roses below. Hey, it’s all about the landscape as art.

Midwest Trading ......................................................45 Montale Gardens ......................................................27 Northshore Truck .....................................................19 Spring Meadow Nursery ..........................................15 The Landscape Contractor magazine ........................60 The Mulch Center ....................................................29 Turtle Creek Nursery ...............................................41 Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

The Landscape Contractor November 2021

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Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Merrick Rose Garden

by Heather Prince

Tucked away on a leafy corner in Evanston is a

quiet formal rose garden enclosed by a wrought iron fence and anchored by a tall, elegant historic fountain. It’s a chance encounter as you cut through side streets to avoid traffic or stumble across it while at a wedding in one of the churches across the way. The scent of roses invites you in to walk the crushed stone paths, exploring the hundreds of varieties and enjoying the crisp formal lines of sheared hedges, low brick walls, and neat granite benches.

The north end of the garden sits at grade with neatly divided rose beds. As you continue south, the space is anchored by a sunken lawn panel often populated with picnicking families, studying students, and residents soaking in the sun and fragrance. Mature dwarf Alberta spruces provide pyramidal focal points along the lawn panel and offer winter punctuation in the garden. At the south end, the crown jewel of the garden is the Centennial Fountain surrounded by mixed plantings of four-season perennials and flowering shrubs.

This intricate, cast iron three-tier fountain was originally installed where Sherman Avenue meets Orrington Avenue and Davis Street in 1876 to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and was moved to the Merrick Rose Garden in 1951.

Decorated with water-spouting birds painted white, that have been called alternatively swans, herons, storks, or cranes, it adds a dra-

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1426 Oak Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parksrecreation-community-services/parks/merrick-rose-garden Admission: free Open to the public

matic musical water feature to the space. A cool, relaxing spot on a hot summer day, you might find children dipping their hands in the spray and counting how many birds they can find.

Dedicated in 1948, the garden was named in honor of Clinton Merrick, a prominent attorney and second ward alderman and designed by Ralph Melin, the city of Evanston’s landscape architect. Originally, the garden had more than 1,000 roses in 48 varieties, chosen by C. Eugene Pfister, president of the National Rose Gardens Association. By 1969, the garden was up to 1,200 roses and 65 varieties. A popular place to picnic or for small gatherings, by the 1980s, a facelift was needed. In 1987, a new brick outer wall, wrought iron fence, and an irrigation system were installed. The walls used bricks from the old brick city streets. By 2003, another renovation was required including new lighting, irrigation systems, and reconstructing the retaining walls. By 2004, the rose garden was filled with about 2,000 roses and 200 varieties.

It is an All American Rose Selections, Inc. display garden and each year the garden receives new donations of roses from AARS before they are available in retail nurseries.

This small garden is an excellent example of a formal rose display with multiple uses.

It is a lovely place to gather ideas for clients that prefer a structured garden style with strong axes and a good opportunity to evaluate rose performance in the landscape.

The Landscape Contractor November 2021