The Landscape Contractor magazine OCT.19 Digital Edition

Asters for Autumn

Japanese Maples

Impact Program on page 31

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October 2019

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

8

FOCUS: The Impact Conference

Impact Conference Preview 10 All things sustainable ILCA style Ten Japanese Maples for Landscape Success Interesting selections for landscape use

16

Asters — Great Performers for Autumn Richard Hawke offers his opinions

24

New Committee Chair Profile Brandon Losey

28

10

Impact Conference Program 31

EN ESPAÑOL

Impact Conference Program 37

16

ILCA Golf Outing 2019 42 Spirits ran high on a cloudy day

iLandscape 2020 46 Making Connections

Turf Education Day 52 Record crowd enjoys a tremendous event

Diseases & Pests 54 Spruce Spider Mite and Landscape Sanitation

24

Member Profile 56 Blu Petroleum

Revisiting Your Plant Palette 62 Dodecatheon meadia On the cover... Pizzo & Associates received a Gold award for Ecological Planting for Graceland Cemetery.

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

42 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

ILCA Calendar

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

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee Sustainable Committee

Richard Hawke Jim Matusik

Calendar 4 5 7 58 61

1, 8-9 10-12 31-34 38-40 24-27 42-45

Rick Reuland 42-45, 52 Blue Petroleum 56 Ksthy Freeland 62

OCTOBER October 3, 2019 Women’s Networking Group Fall Event Chandler’s Chophouse Schaumburg

October 22, 2019 The Impact Conference Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe

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

NOVEMBER November 7, 2019 Pruning Workshop Boomer’s Stadium Schaumburg

Volume 60, Number 10. 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

November 14, 2019 Annual Party and Member Meeting Joe’s Live Rosemont

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

Senior Writer

treethyme@aol.com Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

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Feature Writer

2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523

January 29-30-31, 2020 iLandscape Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg

Patrice Peltier

Membership & Marketing Manager Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net

ILCA

JANUARY

v Becke Davis

Meta Levin

meta.levin@comcast.net Nina Koziol Feature Writer

n.koziol@att.net Heather Prince

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Feature Writer

princeht@sbcglobal.net @ILCAlandscape

4

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

facebook.com/illinoislandscapecontractorsassociation

From Where I Stand — This past summer, I found myself at one of my

friend’s houses for a backyard BBQ. I was looking through the window at a gorgeous collection of plants. Their leaves were shiny and in every shade of green. Gorgeous white flowers popped. The branches were meticulously pruned. I wondered if the homeowners did the maintenance themselves or had a professional who tended to the foliage.

Now for the weird part. I wasn’t inside their house looking out into the backyard, I was outside of their house looking into their living room. Yes, this couple had invested hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours into their houseplants.

Houseplants are having a renaissance.

Houseplants sales are up 50% in the last three years.

They are now a $1.7 billion industry and it’s impossible to turn on an HGTV show or flip through a design magazine without seeing houseplants nestled in every corner.

Normally, millennials and social media are blamed for all of society’s ills, but in this case, the opposite is true. Both are being credited for the revival of a market once left for dead. It’s no longer anachronistic to see green houseplants dangling from macramé hangers in college dorm rooms or trendy studio apartments. What’s old is new again.

It is doubly strange to be of an age where you remember the trends of the 70’s and 80’s while still being tangentially interested in keeping up with them. I am sure that in ten years I won’t care if Sony Walkmen and Rubik’s Cubes become popular again because I will be stuck in my ways and culturally ambivalent. For now, I still care about what the kids are wearing, watching and listening to. I am mostly annoyed and threatened by new trends, but I feel that is the normal, default response as we age.

Many of my friends’ parents tended to houseplants. I remember moms waltzing about their homes while Phil Donahue played in the background. They’d have a spray bottle in the one hand and a Tab in the other. Some of my friends’ houses became overgrown jungles as vines and ferns burst out of their containers and cascaded downward. These waxy plants merely got in the way of our lifestyle. They encroached on my designated spaces for Atari and Hungry, Hungry Hippos. Yet, hell hath no fury like an angry mom who rushed downstairs to see an overturned houseplant and five boys hiding a football behind their backs.

I’ll be completely honest, I never really “got” houseplants at the time.

I was constantly being reminded to water them when I got home with the glass RC Cola bottle we kept by the sink. They never made me breathe easier. I don’t remember a wild mood swing when a houseplant bloomed or died. They were like boring, lifeless pets that my parents doted over.

At least my dumb fish wriggled back and forth a bit.

Annually, I attend the Independent Garden Center Show in Chicago.

This is a national gathering of garden center retailers. ILCA doesn’t delve much into the garden center arena, but I attend for different reasons. Garden centers tend to be ahead of most of the trends. They exist in an extremely competitive market since the advent of big box stores and have to take a number of risks to maintain a healthy customer base. Usually, what I see trending at the IGC Show will make its debut in the commercial and residential landscape market a few years later in some shape or form.

This year, the hot IGC topics were houseplants and cannabis, which, I guess is just a different kind of houseplant. I wandered around for most of the afternoon trying desperately to figure out how to implement both of these into the landscape market. Cannabis is a topic for another column, but it doesn’t take a marketing genius to understand its rise in popularity. The more challenging question is how do we learn lessons from this unexpected boom in the houseplant market. Perhaps, the factors that led to the surge in the popularity of houseplants can translate over to exterior landscaping.

The succulent is credited as being the gateway drug to the houseplant market. Writer April Long (what a great name for a garden writer) called succulents, “The plant kingdom’s first bona fide social media star.”

Succulents led to terrariums, terrariums led to fiddle-leaf figs, and fiddle-leaf figs led to any glossy, comically broad-leafed plant in an Instagrammable white pot.

The theory of why houseplants took off is fourfold.

The first aspect is that millennials love them and appear to be a more nurturing generation than they get credit for as long as what they are nurturing isn’t a human baby.

Millennials have lower fertility rates than previous generations, but apparently love to raise plants and pets. A 2016 National Garden Survey concluded that of the six million people who had taken up gardening that year— both indoors and out—five million were millennials.

Millennials outpace Boomers and Xers on pet ownership by about 10% and 95% consider their pets actual members of the family.

The second aspect is that houseplants infuse a tiny shred of nature into lives dominated by screens and walls. There are both real and psychosomatic benefits to connecting with nature. Eclectic use of natural materials are seeping into the interior design aesthetic and houseplants are the perfect fit to soften cold spaces.

Third, they are easy to maintain and there are low risks to neglect. A browning houseplant may lead to a frown, but waiting one more day to water one isn’t the same as being out all night with a Labradoodle or child at home. Houseplants are a stoic and durable companion during an era of our lives when it’s difficult to be tied down.

Finally, let’s face it, houseplants are kinda cute. They aren’t showy containers or majestic trees, but they have a girl next door quality. They are photogenic and offer plant owners an ironic sense of pride. Sure, it’s just a plant, but there is genuine joy in seeing it grow and prosper.

That pride eventually ends up on social media profiles and in “oohs” and “aahs” at backyard BBQs. So, can exterior landscape professionals capitalize on this burgeoning love of houseplants or is this simply a silly fad that happens to involve plants? Houseplants could’ve been storm lanterns or floor poofs or ceramic deer heads or any of the other design fads working their way through the zeitgeist.

Let’s look at the criteria: they provide their owners a sense of nurture and nature, they are easy to maintain, and they are ironically cute enough to generate pride of ownership usually reserved for dogs and kids. Using those criteria, landscaping hits on half the marks. Landscapes allow us to nurture and provide us with nature. However, landscapes are not easy to maintain unless we use professionals and there is a stark difference about Instagramming a containerized houseplant versus a $45,000 patio. One is

The Outdoor Houseplant

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

5

From Where I Stand —

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adorable and the other looks vain.

I respect that it’s silly to compare an entire functioning landscape to a houseplant. I do feel the popularity of houseplants offers clues to the stickiness of modern trends. It is impossible to deny the benign narcissism we show when we follow a trend. Whether it’s skinny jeans, Canada Goose jackets, or ironic mustaches, we straddle the line between wanting to be hip and not wanting to be left behind.

I recall a great exchange on the hilarious show Parks and Recreation that best captures trends. The town trendsetter was discussing the season’s hottest obsessions. She says, “You need to try the hottest new craze - beef milk. It’s like almond milk that’s been squeezed through tiny holes in living cows” Ron Swanson, the Libertarian Parks Director scoffs and replies, “It’s BLEEPING milk!”

So then, what do you call an outdoor houseplant? If you said, “a plant” you are thinking like a sane, rational person. You are the Ron Swanson to a society of trendsetters and trend followers. Yet, you are being shortsighted. Houseplants are not what’s important, they are just what is important right now. The real lesson is why they have found a foothold again. The trend is merely the byproduct of the petri dish it is grown in. What is important is that modern consumers want nature, to nurture, ease of care, and something to brag about. That’s the bulls eye worth aiming for.

The outdoor houseplant is not a shrub, container, or tree. The outdoor houseplant is the part of the landscape that resonates with the client because you’ve entrusted them with ownership of a small, meaningful piece. It is a piece of the landscape that they will engage with, draw nourishment from, and brag about to others. It is the first element they will show on their tour. It is what will catch their gaze when they look out the window. If it checks the same four boxes that houseplants check, it will be consequential. It can be a unique plant, funky container, salsa garden, herb-filled window box, living wall, pocket garden, grass covered picnic table, heck, it can even be a houseplant outdoors. The key is giving something to the client that they will take ownership of.

Landscaping is a referral-driven business. Every landscape professional’s hard drive is jammed with picture after picture of incredible landscapes and landscape features. Do you know what is not covered in photos of incredible landscapes and landscape features? Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites where influencers gather.

Those sites are covered in pictures of vacation spots and food and cute kids and dogs and yes, even houseplants. Those are the currency of the shareable world. Sales reps, take note, and find a client’s outdoor houseplant. To you, it may be another BLEEPING plant, but to them it’s a personal statement that bears repeating.

Scott Grams September 16, 2019

6

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

President’s Message — Surround yourself with good people…

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”

-Abraham Lincoln

President

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

Maintaining a business for more than 25 years has its secrets: passion, patience, and perseverance are important, but establishing a proper environment that includes respect, responsibility, honesty, compromise, dedication, and growth are also essential in the formation of a great team.

Thanks to the diversity of work I’ve done and to the people with whom I’ve had the good fortune to have interreacted with, I learned the importance of teamwork. At Natural Creations Landscaping’s beginning, it was clear what I needed to develop my team.

I’ll share with you certain guidelines that I have followed through the years with positive results: Treat your employees as you would like to be treated. Speak with respect to everyone. Listen to them and give them the opportunity to express their ingenuity to service the company. Maintain a questioning attitude, never forgetting that the only constant is change, with this attitude they will perform more and better. Stand with and learn from those who know more. Hire professionals in the areas where you need support. The compensation and benefits should be continuous and timely.

It takes years to unite a loyal team whom are ready to achieve success for the company, but lead by example. This has been my attitude.

Surround yourself with good people, that is the key of success!

The men who I first hired are still employees at Natural Creations, there have been many more since then too. Thanks to them we at Natural Creations are leaders in the landscape industry. I agree completely with Napoleon Hill when he wrote: “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

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

Directors

Eric Adams Russo Power Equipment (847) 233-7811 eadams@russopower.com Jennifer Fick Wilson Nurseries and Landscape Supply (847) 683-3700 jennf@wilsonnurseries.com

Kind Regards, José M. Garcia, President of ILCA

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

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

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

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

www.ilca.net

¡¡Rodéate de gente buena!!

“Si todos avanzamos juntos, el éxito se da por sí solo.”

- Abraham Lincoln Mantener un negocio por más de 25 años tiene sus secretos, la pasión, paciencia y perseverancia son importantes. Y para crear un gran equipo, es esencial establecer un ambiente cordial de respeto, responsabilidad, honestidad, compromiso, dedicación y desarrollo.

Gracias a la diversidad de trabajos que he ejecutado, y a las personas con las que tuve la fortuna de interactuar, comprendí la importancia del trabajo en equipo. Al fundar Natural Creations Landscaping tenia claro lo necesario para desarrollar mi equipo de trabajo. Les comparto algunos de los lineamientos que he seguido a través de los años con resultados positivos: Trata a tus empleados como te gustaría ser tratado. Dirígete a todos con respeto.

Escúchalos y dales oportunidad de expresar su creatividad en beneficio de la compañía.

Mantén una actitud crítica, sin olvidar que lo único constante es el cambio, con esa actitud se expresarán más y mejor. Apóyate y aprende de los que saben más. Contrata profesionales en las áreas donde necesites apoyo. La compensación y beneficios deben ser constantes y siempre a tiempo.

Toma años amalgamar un grupo de colaboradores leales dispuestos a lo necesario para lograr el éxito de una compañía, pero predicando con el ejemplo es posible, esa ha sido mi actitud. ¡¡Rodéate de gente buena: es la clave del éxito!!

Hoy en día el grupo de trabajadores que comenzaron la empresa siguen en ella, junto a los que se unieron con el tiempo. Gracias a ellos nos encontramos en posición líder en la Industria del Paisajismo. Estoy de acuerdo por completo con Napoleón Hill: “Es literalmente cierto que se triunfa mejor y más rápidamente cuando ayudas a los demás a triunfar.”

Saludos Cordiales, José M. Garcia, Presidente de ILCA The Landscape Contractor October 2019

7

The 151 N. Franklin

Christy Webber Landscapes • Chicago 151 N. Franklin

project presented many diverse challenges throughout the construction process. The ‘Plaza Level’ featured the installation of 5 Birch trees sized at 24-28’ in height. Not only were these trees installed on top of an underground parking structure, they were installed beneath the overhang of the building that created the plaza. The root balls of the Birch were hand dug at 80” diameter; the openings in the plaza deck were 82”. To execute this portion of the project, the trees were placed overnight by use of a crane.

The landscape features on the 2nd and 3rd levels included the installation of drainage layers, custom soil blends, trees, shrubs, perennials, and pre-vegetated sedum mat.

Jumping up to the 36th floor - the Penthouse Level - this level was covered with drainage layers, custom soil blends, edging, and pre-vegetated sedum mat.

On the 35th floor is the 151 N. Franklin outdoor amenities deck. Custom stainless-steel frames were created to bring to life a LED lighting feature which consisted of tumbled glass ballast

underneath custom fabricated and installed 1” tempered glass panels. The panels were embedded with a custom texture to prevent slipping. The decking consisted of Ipe wood tiles set on pedestals.

Wind uplift was a concern on the 35th floor, therefore custom ballast boxes were constructed out of marine grade wood products.

These ballast boxes were filled with gravel and attached to the pedestal system to create a solid footing. Custom, hand-fabricated Ipe benches were also created and installed to line the perimeter walls.

Perhaps one of our favorite features were the Gabion planters, custom fabricated out of stainless steel and set onto round concrete.

Concrete buggies shuffled the 5 cubic yards of concrete up to the 35th floor using the freight elevator. We then installed 3 of the 4 sections of Gabion onto the concrete, leaving one section out to place the trees. Once the 8’ Hawthorn trees were set, the Gabions were closed in and filled with custom planter mix. The outside of the Gabion planters was filled with Peruvian beach pebbles, imported from Peru.

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

9

Impact Conference Preview

by Meta Levin

This year’s Impact

Conference is designed to have something for everybody. “We’re targeting as broad an audience as possible,” says Impact Conference chair Brandon Losey.

The event, titled, “Resilient Landscapes: Redefining the Design/Build/Maintain Paradigm,” is scheduled for October 22, 2019 at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “It’s a high-profile destination, which draws people to come experience that space,” says Losey. “Anyone interested in the industry would find it appealing.”

While organizers want to look at the entire spectrum, the program will, says Losey, “hit hard on maintenance. We see a lot of projects for which no one thought about what happens after it is in the ground. We’re bringing a level of practicality – more nuts and bolts.”

10

Keynote Speaker, Claudia West of Phyto Studio LLC, will talk with attendees about “Planting in a Post Wild World,” a subject taken from the title of the book she cowrote with last year’s Impact Conference keynote speaker, Thomas Rainer. “She will concentrate more on the science behind sustainable landscapes,” says Losey. Her presentation will dig into design principles using wild plant communities, as well as introduce attendees to forms of design that work with natural philosophies, marrying horticulture with ecology. (continued on page 12)

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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(continued from page 10) Losey is particularly pleased that West’s presentation will bookend the conference, with Julie Snell of TEND Landscapes, Inc., the final speaker, who will be talking about, “Design with Maintenance in Mind.” She will focus on challenging the idea that a no maintenance landscape exists. “You have to plan for maintenance,” says Losey. Snell will present ways to shift attitudes and actions to drive change.

In between, will be a day chock full of practical information for landscape contractors, designers and horticulture specialists. The first breakout session will feature three different presentations. Nadia Malarkey, of Nadia Malarkey Garden Design, will speak on

12

“Regenerating Suburbia, One Garden at a Time.” Lesley and Bruce Smith of Arborsmith, Ltd., will let attendees in on, “Dirty Little Secrets, What Every Tree Wishes Every Designer and Installer Knew.” And Dan Nielson of Biogreen Organics, will talk about “Fixing the Soil.”

The breakout sessions before lunch will feature Julia Bunn from The Spirited Gardener, talking about “Deluge & Drought: Using Sustainable SITES Criteria for Home Landscapes in a New Area.” Also, on the bill is Ken Williams, horticulturist, and AnnaMaria Leon of the Permaculture Chicago Teaching Institute, introducing attendees to “A New Vision for Permascaping.”

After lunch, Alyssa Schmitt of Stormwater Solutions Engineering, LLC, will talk about (continued on page 14)

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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(continued from page 12) “Green Infrastructure Maintenance: Standards and Lessons Learned,” and Pam Karlson of Waxwing Studio, Inc., will describe “Birds in the Garden: Creating an Eco-Friendly Bird Oasis.”

Losey is pleased with the quality of the speakers. “We got a huge amount of high-quality submissions,” he says. “We got some of the leading people from throughout the country.”

He’s also happy with his committee, who, he says, has worked hard to put this event together. Committee members include: • Cris Poggi, The Aspire Software Company • Carol Becker, Sage Advice • Chris Beiser, Nels Johnson Tree Experts • Lynn Bement, The Compost Queen • Jesse Felix, Graf Tree Care • Grace Koehler, Pizzo Native Plant Nursery • Tom Marrero, Wakefield Biochar • Christine Nye, The Shedd Aquarium • Alexia Paul, Semiramis, LLC • Lindy Westerfeld, Green Gardens Landscape & Installations, Inc. • Tom Lupfer, Lupfer Lanscaping, ILCA board liaison • AnneMarie Drufke, Education Manager, ILCA staff liaison • Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director.

The speakers, and, by extension, the committee, are, he says, “Going to show what people are doing and how to do it.”

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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Special Trees for Special Places —

10 Japanese Maples for Landscape Success

By Heather Prince

We love the layered grace or the del-

catwaterfall of lacy foliage that Japanese maples bring to our landscapes. From the elegant horizontal branching and deep burgundy foliage of a Bloodgood to the spill of finely cut foliage and fiery fall color of Tamukeyama, these trees bring a refinement to our garden spaces and can delight us for many years.

This winter was a true test of siting these sensitive trees and many were lost to cold temperatures and harsh winds. Will we see these difficult winter conditions again? Perhaps.

We talked to Tim Gruner, Garden Curator & Head of Horticulture at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford about his recommendations for siting, care, and cultivar choices.

Japanese Maple ‘Orion’ Rockford saw -31 degrees at its coldest, so in many ways, it was a true test of temperature tolerances of landscape plants.

The most important factor when siting a Japanese maple is winter wind. “I’ve found that you can push their sun tolerance if they are in a protected area,” reported Gruner. The majority of our winter winds in the Midwest come out of the north and northwest. Remember those Alberta Clippers? Japanese maples have a delicate twig and thin bark. They can easily desiccate in the onslaught of winter winds. Paper tree wrap can make a big difference on trunks to prevent frost cracking.

16

The best spot for a Japanese maple is usually the east where it can get the gentle morning sun and if tucked against a building or fence, or with other plantings, protection from wind.

When planting Japanese maples, decent drainage is appreciated. “We have such a mishmash of soils at Anderson between areas that were filled in when they dug the ponds to native soils with a nice clay-loam balance,” commented Gruner. “When we create a new garden area in a challenging spot, we will often bring in high grade soil.” Soil alkalinity isn’t typically an issue with this type of maple, but their longterm health will be challenged in a heavy, wet, clay soil. When planting consider, “Planting a little high so that the crown drains off makes a big difference,” recommends Gruner.

Once you know your site and your soil, it’s time to find a cultivar that suits your space and design goals. There are thousands of kinds of Japanese maples, but here are 10 that offer a mix of textures, colors, and sizes, are readily available, and are zone 5 hardy. In general, Japanese maples are slow growing, although the larger cultivars can be a little quicker.

When choosing a Japanese maple, make sure it is listed to your zone’s hardiness. (continued on page 18)

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

Special Trees for Special Places — (continued from page 16)

Fernleaf Fullmoon Maple

Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ Height: 8 to 10 ft Width: 8 to 10 ft Foliage: apple green ferny leaves deeply divided into toothed and cut lobes Fall color: rich crimson with tones of orange Notes: Aconitifolium was previously called ‘Maiku jaku’, which means dancing peacock and one look at its elegant textured foliage, you can see why. It has a rounded to mounded form that can be easily trained to be very sculptural. Purplered flowers bloom in the spring and lead to deep red samaras which can be particularly attractive when closely observed.

“These perform very well for us in the gardens and we only lost a few branches this winter,” commented Gruner.

Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Height: 20 to 25 ft Width: 15 to 25 ft Foliage: deep burgundy wine in color with a broader lobed leaf Fall color: crimson-red Notes: Bloodgood has been a solid staple Japanese maple in the Midwest for decades. It has proven to be a touch hardier than other cultivars and very popular. The beautiful burgundy leaves will turn a bronze-green in the high heat of summer before putting on its stunning autumn show. It features a dark purple winter twig. Bloodgood tends to have an upright oval to vase habit and is probably one of the largest in ultimate size available.

Burgundy Lace Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Burgundy Lace’ Height: 10 to 12 ft Width: 10 to 12 ft Foliage: burgundy-red leaves with narrow, serrated, deeplycut lobes Fall color: scarlet red Notes: Burgundy Lace offers a nice mid-sized maple with a bit more delicacy in the leaves than Bloodgood. With a rounded to spreading habit, it can easily be a focal point in a corner. The leaves hold their color in summer heat a bit better, but will have a period of bronze-green before turning bright red in fall. (continued on page 20) 18

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Special Trees for Special Places — (continued from page 18)

Fireglow Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Fireglow’ Height: 10 to 12 ft Width:10 to 12 ft Foliage: broader, lobed leaves with bright cherry red new growth that darkens to burgundy Fall color: crimson red Notes: Fireglow offers a smaller-sized tree with similar texture to Bloodgood but with a more cherry red cast to the new growth. Its foliage holds its burgundy color better in summer heat than other similar maples. Vase-shaped to broadly oval in its habit.

Katsura Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’ Height: 10 to 12 ft Width: 10 to 12 ft Foliage: small, five-lobed leaves emerge peach with red edges in spring before maturing to bright green Fall color: yellow and orange Notes: Vase-shaped to upright in youth, Katsura will broaden to oval with age if allowed. The spring growth on this cultivar sets it apart and lights the landscape. With chartreuse summer foliage, it can easily be a focal point for a shady nook or a specimen under larger trees.

Oregon Sunset Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Oregon Sunset’ Height: 3 to 4 ft Width: 3 to 4 ft Foliage: narrow lobed leaves with fine serration in tones of red and burgundy. New growth is a subtle deep orange.

Fall color: sunset red Notes: Oregon Sunset has a compact, rounded habit with lots of dimension in the foliage colors. Its short, shrubby habit make it easy to tuck into a landscape. Place it where it will get the attention the dynamic foliage deserves. (continued on page 22) 20

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Tamukeyama Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’ Height: 6 to 8 ft Width: 8 to 12 ft Foliage: finely dissected leaves are deep burgundy Fall color: burgundy red Notes: A mounding, weeping finely textured maple that is usually grafted low to keep a soft, dome-like shape. Make sure to site with winter protection in mind, but it can be a graceful addition to any landscape.

Trompenburg Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Trompenburg’ Height: 12 to 15 ft Width: 10 to 15 ft Foliage: deeply cut, sharply serrate dark burgundy leaves that roll slightly at the edges Fall color: crimson red Notes: Vase-shaped to rounded in habit, Trompenburg holds its rich burgundy color throughout summer’s heat. “Every one of these survived this winter with very little damage,” reported Gruner. With a nifty pink winter twig, this cultivar seems to be among the hardiest.

Waterfall Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Waterfall’) Height: 6 to 8 ft Width: 8 to 10 ft Foliage: finely dissected delicate dark green leaves Fall color: golden with streaks of orange and red Notes: A lovely weeping cultivar that offers graceful fine texture in tones of green before putting on a fiery autumn show. It makes a fine specimen, particularly when paired with a water feature.

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Garden Speak — Practical Plant Evaluations

Asters—

Great Performers for Autumn

by Nina Koziol The autumn landscape brings a palette of colors in jewel tones and rich tints. Gold, chartreuse, red, burgundy, buttery yellow and crimson are just a few hues that produce a great hurrah as the growing season winds down.

No group of plants celebrates autumn with more enthusiasm than the aster family. All members of this group have daisy-like flowers and most put on a brilliant flower display.

Asters are classic autumnal flowers of gardens, roadsides and native landscapes. They make wonderful companions for other late-season perennials and grasses, whether sprinkled through a border or planted in large sweeps. And, they provide nectar for late-season bees and butterflies.

Aster flowers are a nice contrast to the reds and golds of trees and shrubs this time of year. Their starry flowers in rich hues of blue, purple, pink, or white burst forth to mark the change of seasons. Although asters sometimes have a reputation for seeming a bit wild, don’t overlook their natural beauty and garden merit—they are part of the autumnal tapestry.

Endless Choices

About 250 types of asters are native to North America, Europe, Asia, and to a lesser extent, the southern hemisphere. Nurseries throughout 24

Aster tataricus ‘Jin Dai’

the Midwest offer dozens of cultivars. Choosing the best ones for your project can be a challenge. However, Richard G. Hawke, plant evaluation manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden, has done the legwork for you.

In his “Comparative Study of Cultivated Asters,” Hawke evaluated 119 different asters in full-sun and partial-shade trials. The goal of the evaluation was to identify outstanding asters for Upper Midwestern gardens.

The study included species, cultivars, and hybrids of native and nonnative asters. While his typical evaluation period for perennials is four years, the average evaluation period for asters was six.

“Asters are great late-flowering plants that extend the season,” Hawke said. “Most of the ones used locally are natives and they’re good pollinator plants especially this late in the season. They offer a lot of possibilities.”

Note: most of our native asters were renamed to other genera. For example, Aster ericoides is now known as Symphyotrichum ericoides.

Here are some of Hawke’s toprated picks. (continued on page 26)

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ The Landscape Contractor October 2019

Eurybia divaricata ‘Eastern Star’

Symphyotrichum ‘Kylie’

Symphyotrichum ‘Climax’

Symphyotrichum ‘Raydon’s Birthday Pink’ The Landscape Contractor October 2019

25

Garden Speak — Practical Plant Evaluations (continued from page 24)

A. tataricus ‘Jindai’

“This Tatarian aster is not as aggressive as the species,” Hawke said. It blooms late September through late November. Its basal leaves are like those on tobacco but are smaller further up the flowering stems. “I like it because it’s late and very distinct.” Violet-blue flowers top plants that are 40 inches tall and 32 inches wide. Plants showed excellent mildew resistance.

A. tongolensis ‘Wartburgstern’

An early bloomer, ‘Wartburgstern’ (aka Wartburg’s Star) is covered with 2-inch wide lavender-yellow flowers from early June through July. Grows 18 inches tall by 24 inches wide and has excellent mildew resistance. “It blooms early and it’s a reliable grower,” Hawke said.

Eurybia divaricata

Small white flowers open from early August to early November on plants that are 24 inches tall by 46 inches wide.

Excellent mildew resistance. Prefers part shade.

E. divaricata ‘Eastern Star’

“This is a no-brainer for partial to full shade,” Hawke said. “It does spread.” Plants are covered with 1 1/4inch white flowers from early August through early November and plants are 21 inches tall by 36 inches wide.

Excellent mildew resistance. “In years when there is disease present, the winners really stand out,” Hawke said.

26

Symphyotrichum ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’

“This is one of my favorites,” Hawke said. It’s undulating and cascades over a wall, which is beautiful. No disease issues.” At 8 inches tall and 48 inches wide, ‘Snow Flurry’ looks and feels like a woody plant.

S. ‘Bridal Veil’

‘Bridal Veil’ offers fine-textured branches that arch and turn pendulous as the growing season progresses. This produces a very graceful horizontal-weeping habit by the time the plant comes into bloom. Densely branching over time, the selection covers itself in ½-inch-wide white flowers, with its peak bloom in early October. Taller than ‘Snow Flurry’ and denser growing and more weeping than other full-sized A. ericoides selections, ‘Bridal Veil’ grows 24 inches tall by 4 1/2 feet wide. Drought tolerant and resists powdery mildew, but deer and rabbits may occasionally browse it.

S. ‘Kylie’

Pale pink flowers appear from early September to mid-October on plants that are 46 inches tall and 40 inches wide.

Offers excellent mildew resistance.

S. lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’

‘Lady in Black’ is a fast growing plant covered in white flowers from early September to late October. “It’s also known as calico aster and has very long horizontal branching,” Hawke said. Plants grow 34 inches tall and 50 inches wide and showed excellent mildew resistance.

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

S. novi-belgii ‘Climax’

Lavender-blue flowers appear from early September to early November on plants that are 46 inches tall and 40 inches wide. Excellent resistance to mildew. Fast growing.

S. novi-belgii ‘Rosenwichtel’

Large purple-pink flowers appear from early September to mid-October on 12 inch tall plants that are 30 inches wide. Excellent resistance to mildew.

Fast growing.

S. oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’

‘Raydon’s Favorite’ is also known as aromatic aster for its foliage, which has a refreshing minty scent. “It’s resistant to browsing because the leaves are sticky and aromatic,” Hawke said.

“The plants were impressive and covered with monarch butterflies.” Large blue-purple flowers open in early August with blooms continuing through early November. The mounding plants are 38 inches tall and 53 inches wide. Excellent mildew resistance.

S. oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Birthday Pink’

Large pink flowers cover ‘Raydon’s Birthday Pink’ from mid-September to late October. Plants are 32 inches tall and a whopping 84 inches wide with excellent mildew resistance.

For more on Richard Hawke’s aster evaluation: https://www.chicagobotanic. org/downloads/planteval_notes/no36_

Symphyotrichum ericoides ‘Snow Flurry’

Aster tongolensis ‘Napsbury’4 WTB

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’

Aster ‘Bridal Veil’

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Rosenwichtel’ Eurybia divaricata The Landscape Contractor October 2019

27

Special Report —

Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Committee Chairman — Brandon Losey

by Meta Levin

Nearly seven years ago ILCA

member and sustainability promotor, Tom Lupfer, recognizing a kindred spirit, approached a young ILCA member about joining the Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Committee.

“I was involved in MELA,” says Brandon Losey, now the committee chair. A few years later, MELA (Midwest Ecological Landscape Alliance) became a part of ILCA, where Losey also had been a long-time member. The rest, as they say, is history.

Losey, designer and sustainability director, marketing/social media coordinator and partner for Ringers Landscape Services, not only became the committee chair, but also is heading the Impact Conference committee.

Initially, the Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Committee was focused on creating guidebooks for landscape contractors who wanted to incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses. Their materials covered everything from rain gardens to general roadmaps for landscape contractors.

When MELA became part of ILCA, its conference came with it. “MELA always had put on a conference,” says Losey. “We decided to put on our own.”

This year marks the third year for the ILCA Impact Conference.

A graduate of Iowa State University’s landscape architecture program, Losey was particularly intrigued when he began studying prairie plants. “It started me down the track of learning about landscaping in a more ecological and sustainable way,” he says.

Growing up, he worked in his parents’ garden, but chose Iowa State because of its design program.

Landscape architecture was one of the options under that program. “I’ve 28

always been an artist and loved the outdoors,” says Losey.

It began with a trip down the Mississippi river, looking at the native

Brandon Losey

plants. “I sketched the whole time,” he says. “I documented everything.” Not only did he draw, but he wrote explanations for a report on the trip. He considers the ability to draw and write, an advantage. “I can express what I’m trying to do.”

When, during his senior year, he was required to write a case study, he chose Ringers Landscape Services, run by his old high school buddy, Erik Ringstrand, and the place where he had spent his summers working. He looked at how the business could be changed to become more sustainable and when Losey graduated, the two became business partners.

Using what he learned, as well as his writing and drawing abilities, Losey created an internal presentation for Ringers’ employees, so that they understand what they are trying to do.

Losey is married to Laura, Ringers office executive. They have a two-yearThe Landscape Contractor October 2019

old daughter, Quinn, with a second child on the way and live in Barrington.

“We try to have Quinn out in the yard as much as we can.”

A self-described “music junkie,” Losey plays piano and guitar, often jamming in his basement with friends who also are musicians.

He has been an amateur beekeeper for the last seven years and has a couple of hives at his home, but also set up some at the Ringers’ shop. The honey goes towards Smart Farm, a local group that grows and donates fresh produce to food pantries. “We donate time and material,” he says.

He hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm for sustainable and natural landscaping.

“We want people to think of the landscape as dynamic and ever changing,” he says. “We want them to find beauty in the diversity.”

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

33

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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Los árboles son los elementos estructurales más caros y valiosos y con frecuencia son incomprendidos para su detrimento y nuestra pérdida.

Si bien los paisajistas profesionales trabajan siempre con y alrededor de árboles, muchas ideas equivocadas sobre los árboles con frecuencia hacen que se descuiden sus necesidades básicas. Esta sesión aclarará las cosas sencillas que podemos hacer para proteger, conservar y sostener árboles, dándoles oportunidades de crecer.

Aprenda de los árboles las ideas equivocadas que permiten una serie de abusos, con frecuencia en sus partes más vulnerables y ocultas, las raíces. Esta presentación tiene el propósito de proporcionar información básica sobre cómo conservar y proteger a nuestros amigos los árboles durante las fases de planificación, construcción y cuidado de la instalación y mantenimiento de espacios verdes, corrigiendo errores fáciles de prevenir para asegurar que los árboles sobrevivan mucho tiempo después de completado el trabajo.

Pullman Room

Arreglando el suelo Dan Nielson, Biogreen Organics ¡Suelo sano!... ¡Plantas sanas! - eliminando las conjeturas del análisis de los suelos y aportes para mejorar el suelo... ¡de forma orgánica, sensata y fácil! En esta sesión, los asistentes aprenderán los elementos básicos de las micorrizas. También examinaremos por qué los niveles de nutrición deben satisfacer estándares mínimos y los “signos de alarma” que se deben buscar en los resultados de las pruebas del suelo.

11:10 AM - 11:20 AM — Descanso 38

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

11:20 AM -12:35 PM

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

SESIONES SUBSIDIARIAS

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Alsdorf Auditorium

Inundación y sequía: Uso de criterios de SITIOS sostenibles para paisajismo residencial en un Sponsored by— área nueva Julia Bunn, The Spirited Gardener ¡Explore un proyecto que obtuvo el estatus Platino Residencial LEED debido a decisiones que se tomaron con respecto al sistema LEED 3.0! El foco de atención fue más allá de esos criterios para incluir aún más de los objetivos de los SITIOS sostenibles que nuestra industria necesita para adoptarlos en todos nuestros proyectos. Vea cómo se usaron los principios de los SITIOS sostenibles durante el inicio de un proyecto y ahorraron dinero al cliente al final.

Pullman Room

Una nueva visión para permacultura y paisajismo Ken Williams, Horticultor AnnaMaria Leon, Permaculture Chicago Teaching Institute

Sponsored by—

Asista a esta sesión para repasar las diferencias entre paisajismo sostenible y paisajismo ecológico. Usted conocerá ejemplos de cómo los paisajes regenerativos crearon comunidades y pueden aprovechar el renacimiento económico. El público discutirá cómo participar en el desarrollo de paisajes integrados que provean para las necesidades de hoy sin comprometer el potencial de mañana.

12:35 PM - 2:00 PM - Lunch at McGinley Pavilion

Meet with the following sponsors in the exhibit hall:

VENDOR FAIR IN NICHOLS HALL —

Alsdorf Auditorium Mantenimiento de la infraestructura verde: Estándares y lecciones aprendidas Alyssa Schmitt, Stormwater Solutions Engineering, LLC El tema de si la infraestructura verde (GI, por sus siglas en inglés) “vale la pena” puede causar divisiones. Los proponentes afirman que la GI es más económica que la infraestructura gris y ofrece muchos beneficios. Sus oponentes argumentan que el mantenimiento de la GI es muy complicado y un succionador de tiempo que no pueden costear. En un intento de sanar la división como parte de sus esfuerzos de lograr un aumento económico y en gran escala en la infraestructura verde en su área de servicio, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (Distrito Metropolitano de Alcantarillado de Milwaukee) celebró un contrato con Stormwater Solutions Engineering, LLC (SSE) para desarrollar estándares para drenajes sostenibles, techos verdes, jardines infiltrantes, pavimento poroso, árboles de aguas pluviales, cisternas, paisajismo nativo y enmiendas del suelo. En esta sesión interactiva, compartiremos estos estándares de mantenimiento, “lecciones aprendidas,” y pediremos a paisajistas profesionales ideas para que las comunidades hagan lo correcto.

Pullman Room

Aves en el jardín: Creando un oasis para aves ecológicamente sano Pam Karlson, Waxwing Studio, Inc. Invitar a las aves nativas a los jardines es una forma agradable de conectarse con la naturaleza y ayudar a sostener las poblaciones de aves. Habiendo documentado más de 110 especies de aves en el hábitat de las aves de Chicago que ella creó, Pam Karlson habla sobre mejoras al paisajismo y prácticas ecológicas para atraer aves residentes y migratorias. Con la población de tantas aves nativas en dramático declive, crear un hábitat atractivo es una forma en la que todos podemos ayudar a sostener las poblaciones de aves.

Esta presentación con muchas fotos, incluye fotografías de Pam de muchas aves visitantes, polinizadores y las plantas que los atraen y soportan. Los consejos incluyen mejoras del paisaje, prácticas ecológicamente sanas y selección de plantas, con énfasis en plantas nativas/cultivares nativos. También trata sobre la importancia de Chicagoland a lo largo de la ruta migratoria, la diversidad de las especies de aves, dieta/búsqueda de comida, anidamiento, agua/ alimentación complementaria y ciencia ciudadana.

3:00 PM - 3:10 PM — Descanso The Landscape Contractor October 2019

39

Enfoque: Sección en Español

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

03:10 p.m. - 04:10 p.m.

ORADOR PRINCIPAL Alsdorf Auditorium

Premier Sponsor

Diseño con mantenimiento en mente Julie Snell, TEND Landscapes, Inc. Los espacios ajardinados no se cuidan solos.

Diseñar con el mantenimiento en mente significa darse cuenta de que no existe ningún espacio ajardinado que no necesite mantenimiento. Así como usted no compraría un auto nuevo sin cambiarle el aceite nunca y esperar que el motor perdure, usted no puede esperar que un espacio ajardinado funcione y provea belleza y beneficios ambientales sin planificar su mantenimiento. Generar un cambio en la forma de pensar y en la práctica es un desafío para cualquier industria. ¿Cómo elevamos los estándares? ¿Cómo aumentamos el valor percibido y real del mantenimiento, especialmente cuando esperamos más de los espacios paisajísticos construidos, tales como infraestructura verde en capas y la necesidad de servicios de ecosistemas en nuestros densos espacios urbanizados? Esta presentación se concentrará en desafiar estas percepciones y considerar maneras de cambiar las actitudes y las acciones para impulsar el cambio.

Session & Tabletop Sponsors

Session Sponsors

04:30 p.m. - 06:00 p.m.

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

1st Place — Kyle Trippeer, Jay Zumbahlen, Paul Nobis,

Allan Jeziorski.

2nd Place — John Johnston, Phil Anello, Matt Sobacki, Bob Atwater.

50/50 Prize winner was John Daniels from Illinois Masonry.

3rd Place — Brent Hueber, Mark Ringhouse, Randy Panzer, Brad Slutz.

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

45

iLandscape 2020 —

46

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

iLandscape

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the illinois + wisconsin Landscape Show

Making Connections

by Meta Levin

Every year Tina Scanlan-Turner leaves iLandscape

with at least one new friend, which is why she is particularly enthusiastic about this year’s theme: “Making Connections.”

The 2020 iLandscape Show is set for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 29-31, 2020 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center.

Turner, who is chairing the iLandscape 2020 Experience Committee, also points to the educational opportunities, both formal and informal. “I learn something new each year.” She knows of what she speaks. For the last three years of MidAm, she was on the Education Committee. Once ILCA started iLandscape, about six years ago, she became a member of the Experience Committee, where she has served ever since.

Getting the conversation started

This year there will be some creative opportunities for iLandscape attendees to meet and chat. The committee came up with different ways to get people to be more active, from short TED type talks to a 20-foot-long Foosball table, meant to let 10 people to play at once.

Of particular interest are the MicroGreen presentations, mini-TED type talks with opportunities not only to ask questions of the speaker, but also to divide into small groups and continue the conversation with other attendees afterwards.

“The theme is ‘Making Connections’ and we wanted to offer more opportunities for networking,” says Ashleigh Ewing, a member of the day-time entertainment/diversion subcommittee. Once the more formal presentation is finished, the staff will rearrange seating to allow for small conversation groups. (continued on page 48) The Landscape Contractor October 2019

47

iLandscape 2020 — (continued from page 47) Using suggestions from ILCA members and staff, the committee identified speakers who had something relevant to say that they thought would be of interest to attendees.

A new twist

Planners couldn’t be more pleased.

They hope that attendees share their excitement. “This is a trial year (for the concept),” says Chris Walsh, director of fine gardening at Topiarius Inc. and associate chair of the iLandscape Experience Committee.

For personal reasons, Walsh is particularly excited about two of the planned MicroGreen speakers: Laura Ekatseya, director and head horticulturalist at the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park, and Austin Eischeid, of Austin Eischeid Garden Design, an independent garden design consultant. Both are scheduled for Thursday of the show.

Ekatseya and Eischeid have a connection to Piet Oudolf, a well-known Dutch garden designer, who is at the forefront of the New Perennial Movement and designed the Lurie Garden, among other

This is a hot topic... high-profile places. Walsh, who connected with Oudolf during a garden tour of the Netherlands and Germany, points not only to Ekatseya’s work at the Lurie Garden, but to Eischeid, who serves as a contractor for Oudolf in the United States. “Oudolf has a big following in the United States,” he says.

That doesn’t detract from the other MicroGreen speakers. Jeff Gibson from Ball Seed, will take attendees through the process of developing the Beacon Impatiens, designed to be resistant to Plasmpara obducens, which causes Impatiens downy mildew. “This is a hot

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

topic,” says Walsh. “an exciting development.”

LaManda Joy, president of City Grange in Chicago, believes, says Walsh, that “the world would be a better place with more gardeners in it.” In addition, City Grange offers United We Blossom™, a job training program in conjunction with

an exciting development. the Get Growing Foundation, designed to provide marketable skills and employment opportunities in the retail gardening and horticulture industry.

Don’t forget the fun

Planners invite participants to have fun, not only at the giant Foosball table, but getting together to compete in the oversized Connect Four, as well as a huge Jenga. “it’s a way to meet new people,” says Mike Wesley of Illinois Landscape

Supply and chair of the iLandscape Daytime Entertainment subcommittee.

So is the giant bean bag toss, and the equally oversized pong (using a beach ball) in the Garden Stage.

The Garden Stage also will host a mixologist and MicroGreen Food demonstration, not to mention M.G. Bailey, a one-man band, and Steve Haberichter, the String Band Duo. “We want to provide different ways to meet each other using new and fresh ideas,” says Wesley. Committee members also are intent on make sure “attendees have a good time while they are at the show.”

As in the past, there will be music, but perhaps less of it. A woodcarver, Art in the Wood, will showcase his talents Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the lobby. Later some of his work will be auctioned off. Feeling a little tense?

There will be a message therapist in the Ballroom Wednesday and Thursday. (continued on page 50)

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iLandscape 2020 — (continued from page 49) Try a henna tattoo Wednesday or Thursday morning in the lobby. Perhaps a little Extreme Football is more to your liking. That will be available in the Ballroom Greenway on all three days.

Play three arcade games in the lobby on all three days.

Musical offerings will range from

the One-Man Band to Eric Quigley, an acoustic soloist, and Shady Play, a jazz trio. Or eat lunch Friday to the sounds of The Hopfielders, a Bluegrass Trio.

There should be something to tickle everyone’s fancy. “It will be fun and entertaining for all of the attendees,” says Wesley.

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Turf Education Day 2019

by Rick Reuland

It was another

success story for the ILCA Turf Education Day (TED).

An attendance record of more that 300 registrants was achieved in this 11th edition of the popular program. This year the TED program was moved to August 29 from its traditional date of mid-September.

The event was held at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

It’s no surprise that the event attracted a record crowd. Some of the top experts in the field were featured during the day long series of lectures and seminars. “ Russo Power Equipment was TED 2019’s premier sponsor. Session sponsors were: Rainbow Treecare, KO Supply, SavATree, Steel Green Manufacturing and Weed Man. Tabletop sponsors included: Advanced Turf Solutions, American BioChar Company, Arborjet/Ecologel, BASF, Conserv FS, Corteva AgroScience, EC Grow, Foliar Pak, Helena Agri, National Seed, Nufarm Americas, Inc., PBI Gordon, Power Equipment Distributors, SiteOne Landscape Supply, The Service Innovators, Quali-Pro, Soil Tech Corp., Syngenta, and Stihl.

Jason Fausey

Dr. Aaron Patton

Chip Houmes

Mike Reed

Dr. Ben Hamza

Dr. Roch Gaussoin

Doug Owens 52

Tom Voigt

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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Shane Griffith. TED Chairman

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

53

Diseases & Pests —

Pest of the Month: Spruce Spider Mites Disease of the Month: Landscape Sanitation

by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Spruce Spider Mites

As temperatures cool, spruce spider mites become active on various evergreens including spruce, pine, and juniper. These tiny mites suck the plant fluids causing a brown stippling on needles and also spin a fine silk along twigs. From a distance, needles appear to be turning bronze. To Spruce Spider Mites determine the presence of spider mites, try the paper test. Hold a sheet of blank white paper beneath the branch. Give the branch a sharp blow, allowing material to fall onto the paper. Grab your hand lens and see what has dropped off the tree. The mites are about the size of a grain of pepper and should be green or red. Green mites are herbivores and are eating the plant. Red mites are carnivores and are eating the green ones among other things. Take a look at the numbers of each to determine if treatment is necessary. If you have a high number of red mites, they may do the job for you. If there is an abundance of green mites, it may make sense to treat them.

Treatment:

When controlling for spruce spider mite, a miticide is best. Some chemical miticides include acequinocyl, bifenthrin, fenazaquin, or spiromesifen. Mites can also be controlled with insecticidal soap or summer oil. Miticides will kill both herbivorous and predatory mites, so you may want to consider letting nature take its course if you want to encourage an existing population of predatory mites.

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

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Disease Practice of the Month: Sanitation in the Landscape

Although there are differing schools of thought on fall clean up of plant material, if you or your client has been dealing with fungal problems or pest issues, sanitation may make

sense. There are many foliage diseases that overwinter on fallen leaf litter such as apple scab, cytospora on spruce needles, tar spot on maple, etc.

Cleaning up diseased plant material considerably helps stave off further infection the next year. If you are dealing with pine diseases, clean up the pinecones this fall. Diplodia tip blight overwinters on cones and by disposing of them, you significantly reduce the infection the following spring. Some pests can be controlled by pruning off the egg masses. With viburnum leaf beetle, eggs are laid on the top 6 to 8 inches of the twigs. A fall pruning may sacrifice some berries, but you take the bug away from the plant, ensuring less pesticide use the following year.

Additional resources:

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

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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

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Today Blu Petroleum has 34 employees, 15 trucks and As a member of ILCA, Poole is looking forward to becoming more than 600 customers. more active. In the last few years, he spent so much time growThe company offers all grades of gasoline, diesel, bioing his business, that he felt he did not have the time, but now he diesel, kerosene, ethanol and E85, as well as engine oil, antidoes. “You only get out of it, what you put in it,” he says. freeze, gear lubricants, greases, hydraulic oil, industrial oil and Poole’s wife, Karen, who has teaching and business expetransmission fluid. They also sell tank monitors, fuel control rience, became active in Blu Petroleum as it grew. “She is systems and card lock systems. In addition, they offer bulk oil the brains of the organization,” he says. “She is the glue that and sell and install above and under-ground tanks. keeps everything together.

While building up his business Poole operated on and still Together, they are raising an active blended family. Their oldadheres to the mantra: “This is a relationship business.” He est son plays triple A baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks. means that relative to his customers, his suppliers and, espeNext comes a 23-year-old, studying for his CPA and a 22-yearcially, his employees. “Without my employees, I wouldn’t be old who works in the commercial film and media field. The in business and we wouldn’t be where we are.”

20-year-old is studying to become an elementary school teacher Poole is proud of the fact that he tries to empower his employand the 19-year-old is at Iowa State University working to ees. He tells them to ask themselves, “what would I do to make become an aerospace engineer. Their youngest, a 17-year-old, is sure my customers are satisfied, if I owned the business?” still in high school, but wants to be an doctor. “We’ve allowed To stand out, Poole believes, he must provide something the kids to find their own paths in life,” says Poole. unique and better than his competition. “Gas is gas; fuel is In following his own path, Poole recently started a new fuel,” he says. “What makes us stand out is that we provide division of Blu Petroleum, called Blu Events. It focuses on the best service.” Most of the clients are landscape contracserving large special events that need generators and the types tors, golf courses and municipalities. of products that Blu Petroleum handles. To that end they He also is flexible, making sure he and his staff can recogalready have worked PGA tournaments and festivals, such as nize and adapt to changes. During the economic downturn, he Riot Fest, Lollapalooza, the Chicago marathon, Naperville’s noted that a lot of businesses made decisions based on cost. This Rib Fest and other events. included his competitors, as well as his customers. He decided “People have known and trusted us for a long time,” he says. that they could not cut customer service. “We had a core group of 56

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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Are you a people person? Do you like putting smiles on faces? We are seeking an organized and motivated person to work with our maintenance clients. Job duties will include providing exceptional customer service, site visits, site inspections and quality control, providing our clients with additional products and services to solve their needs, maintaining and providing Landscape Management Proposals and renewals each year.

The ideal person should have a customer services, sales and horticulture back ground. Understanding of landscape design a plus.

Full time position – salary and bonus compensation package with company car allowance. We offer medical and dental insurance, employer match 401K, generous personal and vacation time program, company profit sharing plan.

Email Resumes to Gene Grant. Genegrant@ grantandpower.com

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

Stuber Land Design, Inc. has an opening for Landscape Maintenance Foreman in Tremont, IL. Our company has successfully served a large geographic region of central Illinois for 25 years and we are looking forward into the future. We enjoy a positive work environment and many loyal employees with over 10-20 years of service. Come join our team of professionals!

This full-time position would lead a maintenance crew, interact with designers, the manager, and have direct contact with our current customers as well as our growing list of new clients. Our maintenance crews are involved with landscape property maintenance including landscape and hardscape, but no turf management or mowing. Extensive horticulture knowledge is required.

We provide health insurance, paid holidays and vacation, retirement plan, and overtime pay. Pay is commensurate with experience.

Please email your resume to info@stuberlanddesign.com Account Manager Brighter futures start here. BrightView takes pride in providing consistent, high-quality landscape services with a dependable service commitment.

As the nation’s leading landscape services company, BrightView provides, through its team of more than 18,000 employees, services ranging from landscape maintenance and enhancements to tree care and landscape development for thousands of customers’ properties, including corporate and commercial properties, HOAs, public parks, hotels and resorts, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, educational institutions, restaurants and retail, and golf courses, among others. BrightView takes care of its employees, customers, and communities while delivering exceptional landscapes that positively impact millions of lives every day.

A brighter future is in your hands. We’re currently seeking an Account Manager (AM) at our Long Grove, IL location. The Account Manager (AM) serves as the primary contact for BrightView’s clients. They build and sustain long-term relationships, focusing on both client retention and ancillary sales, while providing oversight for field operations. The Account Manager supervises the Production Specialist, who directly manages the field operations.

What you’ll do: • Develop and maintain long-term relationships with customers, focusing on both the main contact as well as the next level above and below.

• Develop and maintain a schedule to perform “site walkthroughs” during formal meetings with customers to ensure quality and service expectations are met.

• Lead and facilitate or assist in the resolution of customer problems or concerns.

• Proactively present site enhancement ideas to existing customers.

HELP WANTED • Ensure renewals of each current account within the customer portfolio.

• Identify and pursue opportunities to sell ancillary services.

• Ensure a safe environment for employees, customers and the general public.

• Generate referrals from existing client base and communicate to Business Developer.

• Develop accurate estimates and takeoffs for both new and existing clients as needed.

• Supervise the Production Specialist in conduct of field operations.

• Communicate regularly with the Production Specialist to ensure client needs and expectations are consistently met or exceeded.

• Manage service delivery to specified scope of work.

• Ensure branch financial goals met by maintaining acceptable gross margins for both base contract work and ancillary services.

• Coordinate consistent and timely site visits with Production Specialist.

• Participate in branch meetings and assist Branch Manager or Assistant Branch Manager in overall leadership of branch.

• Maintain satisfactory Accounts Receivable levels.

• Coordinate with Branch Administrator to ensure branch databases consistently updated with current client information.

Skills we’re seeking: • 1 year of supervisory experience in the landscape or service industry.

• 5 years of prior customer service, management, and leadership experience within an organization, the landscaping industry or local marketplace.

• Ability to coach and develop teams.

• Must be able to travel.

• 2 or 4 year degree in a business-related field or equivalent experience in a service industry.

Send resumes to: stephanie.burrell@brightview.com Kemora Landscapes is a dynamic residential design and build landscaping company located on the north side of Chicago. We’re currently seeking an experienced Landscape Designer/Architect with an interest in urban design, often in smaller spaces.

EXPERIENCED LANDSCAPE DESIGNER Responsibilities: • Meeting with residential clients, listening to their needs and providing an accurate assessment of the scope of customer project • Confidently providing innovative design solutions, plans and recommendations to sell landscape jobs • Drafting design plans by hand or electronically via AutoCAD or SketchUp • Project coordination from initial design and sales process to successful follow through and installation • Clearly communicating with clients in order to form positive, long term relationships

HELP WANTED Qualifications: • Minimum of 3 years of landscape design or landscape sales experience • Established background in landscape design, or degree in landscape architecture, horticulture or similar field • Familiarity/knowledge of local plants and hardscape materials • Motivated self-starter who enjoys working both alone and with a team • Exceptional customer service skills • Outstanding organizational and time management skills to balance multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment • Must have a reliable vehicle

HELP WANTED services, servicing the customers’ needs and providing open lines of communication to potential and existing clients. Provide input and collaborate with all sales team members and mentoring of new members as required. Minimum five years’ experience in sales. Qualifications: 2 yrs’ experience in field landscape maintenance procedures/sales or equivalent.

2 yrs’ experience in field construction procedures/ sales or equivalent. Degree in horticulture related field or extensive horticulture training. Benefits include health/dental/disability insurance and 401k plan. Please send your inquiry and resume today to gkruckenberg@balancedenvironmentsinc.com or call Gayle at 847-395-7120.

Bruss Landscaping of Wheaton is looking to add Candidates interested in applying should send another talented landscape professional to our team. resume and work samples to info@kemoralandWe are an award winning firm that has been providscapes.com. ing high quality design/build services to DuPage and

eastern Kane counties since 1952. If you are skilled Kemora Landscapes is a dynamic residential in residential design and sales, have a proven sales design and build landscaping company located on record, are self-motivated and focused on excepthe north side of Chicago. We’re currently seeking tional customer service and quality we would like to an entry level Landscape Designer with an interest meet you. in urban design, often in smaller spaces.

Requirements: - A 4-year degree in Landscape Design and/or ENTRY LEVEL LANDSCAPE DESIGNER Architecture - A minimum of 3 years professional work experiResponsibilities: ence with proven sales history • Collaborating with Senior Landscape Designers - Strong plant and construction knowledge to draft plans and do material take offs by hand or - Driver’s license and good driving record electronically via AutoCAD or SketchUp - Professional appearance and demeanor • Taking measurements of client spaces - Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite • Creating estimates for clients - Proficiency in Dynascape • Collecting information for residential landscape permit process Ideal candidates will be detail orientated, logi• Great opportunity to grow into a more direct sales cal thinking, conscientious, professional and most and design role importantly, maintain a high level of honesty and Qualifications: integrity. Bruss is a relaxed work environment, • Established background in landscape design, or although seasonally hectic, with competitive saleducation in landscape architecture, horticulture or ary and commission plus a strong benefit package similar field including vehicle, insurance, 401k, generous vaca• Ability to estimate projects accurately tion allowance and reduced winter hours.

• Motivated self-starter who enjoys working both Contact Eric Bruss, ebruss@brusslandscaping.com, alone and with a team (630) 665-1600.

• Outstanding organizational and time management skills, comfort working in a fast-paced environment -CLASSIFIED ADS What Kemora Offers: CLOSING DATES & RATES • Competitive salary based on experience • Paid time off November 2019 issue ads: October 15, 2019 • Health insurance contributions December 2019 issue ads: November 15, 2019 • Mileage reimbursement PLEASE NOTE: • Positive, inclusive work environment “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Candidates interested in applying should send resume and work samples to info@kemoralandMagazine Cost is $5 per line scapes.com.

Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Development Director Balanced Environments, Inc. is looking for a Director of Business Development to expand and grow our client base by attracting new customers. Maintain and expand corporate image of excellence through sales of quality products and

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

59

Special 10th Anniversary Edition Don’t be left out of this exhaustive reference guide.

Call Debbie today 817-501-2403

debbie.landscapecontrator@yahoo.com

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Attention Advertisers:

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817-501-2403

Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ........................................51 Homer Industries ...................................................17 Iron Rental .............................................................29 Lafarge Fox River Stone ...........................................23

Attention Landscape Contractors:

Longshadow Planters ............................................15 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants .........................................................36

Remember to Support ILCA Supporters!

Martin Implement ..................................................14

These include:

McGinty Bros. ......................................................48 Midwest Groundcovers ..........................................2 Midwest Trading ....................................................30 North Shore Truck ..................................................57 Rocks Etc. ..............................................................47 Spring Meadow Nursery .......................................13 The Care of Trees ..................................................14 The Mulch Center .................................................19 Turtle Creek Nursery ..............................................48

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

Where will you find them?

• ILCA Membership Directory & Buyer’s Guide

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

sponsor acknowledgments

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

Contractor & Suppliers to the Trade

Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64 Xylem .....................................................................47

The Landscape Contractor October 2019

61

Revisiting Your Plant Palette —

Dodecatheon meadia

By Patrice Peltier

Spring is the perfect time to appreciate one of

Kathy Freeland’s recommended plants: Dodecatheon meadia, commonly known as Shooting Star.

In spring, this small, North American native happily grows in a variety of sites with its distinctive flowers. In the wild, look for it in prairies, forest openings, river bluffs, fens and even abandoned fields!

“Shooting star is an appropriate name, as the flowers have been compared to cyclamen,” Freeland wrote. “The stamens come to a sharp point and seem to be shooting ahead, while the petals fall behind like the trails of a comet. The flowers represent every color from white to purple, each having a yellow circle in the middle.” An ephemeral, this plant’s attractive basal rosettes of lance-shaped foliage disappear after the plant flowers.

Shooting stars like moist, rich soil but also require good drainage, according to Freeland. She noted that clumps can be divided in summer or fall. Root cuttings can also be taken at these times. “Plants will develop slowly and take several years to bloom.” Once established, they will flower in late spring for about a month. Flower clusters can include more than 20 flowers!

Freeland’s employer, Midwest Groundcovers, didn’t sell Dodecatheon when Kathy wrote about this plant in 1998. The company began carrying it in 2006 and has been selling 3,0004,000 plants a year ever since, according to Shannon McEnerney, product manager.

Trish Beckjord, native plant consultant for Midwest Groundcovers, always recommends adding this beautiful spring native to your garden. “Why do we always think of daffodils instead of Shooting Star…” she wonders. I always carry this image in my mind when I think of this plant. I took it in May 2010 in the Chicago Botanic Garden Native Prairie Garden. What a perfect combination this is with Prairie Dropseed! Shooting Star has a perfect place to shine in the early spring and as it dies back in June, the dropseed matures into its graceful summer form.”

The other fun note is that Shooting Star is buzz-pollinated by bumblebees. It is really fun to hear them hard at work while out enjoying the garden. All pollinators collect only pollen as Shooting Star does not offer a nectar reward. Add them to any garden; their spring blooms will always bring you joy!

These native North American plants are wonderful in rock gardens, at the edge of a border or in a naturalistic setting,” Freeland wrote. “In a shade garden, combine them with Jacob’s ladder, ginger and ferns.”

Dodecatheon meadia

Common name: Shooting Star Height: 12-18” Spread: 6-8” Bloom time: April-June Bloom color: White, pink, purple with yellow center Foliage: Basal rosette of lance-shaped foliage disappears by summer Culture: Part to full shade in moist, rich soil. Does not tolerate poor drainage.

Editor’s Note: Honorary Lifetime ILCA Member Kathy Freeland, a certifiable plant geek, was a regular contributor to The Landscape Contractor starting in the late 1990s. She introduced readers to strange and sometimes exotic plants, frequently offering suggestions on how they might be employed in the landscape. In a world of euonymous and impatiens, she offered a path less travelled. Twenty years later, we offer a look back at how some of her recommendations have stood the test of time.

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The Landscape Contractor October 2019

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