PRO GROW NEWS Spring 2019 by Association Publishing Partners

pro grow news

pro grow news Spring 2019 board committees

PRESIDENT

Tim Hay, MCH

Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.

Tel: (508) 845-2143

VICE PRESIDENT

Peter Mezitt, MCH

Weston Nurseries, Inc.

Tel: (508) 435-3414

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Chris O’Brien, MCH

Howard Designs, Inc.

Tel: (617) 244-7269

PAST PRESIDENT

Jim Stucchi, MCH

Stucchi Landscape and Design, LLC

Tel: (774) 233-2151

DIRECTORS

Deborah Trickett, MCH

The Captured Garden

Kerry Preston, MCH

Wisteria & Rose, Inc.

Steve Charette

Farm Family Insurance Family

David Vetelino, MCH

Vetelino Landscape, Inc

Jean Dooley, MCH

Mahoney’s Garden Centers

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Kathy Bergmann, MCH — Chair

Bergmann Construction

Tel: (508) 435-3414

FINANCIAL COMMITTEE (FINCOM)

Steve Corrigan, MCH — Chair

Mountain View Landscapes & Lawncare, Inc.

Tel: (413) 536-7555

Chuck Baker, MCH — Vice Chair

Strictly Pruning

Tel: (508) 429-7189

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Chris O’Brien, MCH — Chair

Howard Designs, Inc.

Tel: (617) 244-7269

HISTORY COMMITTEE

Philip Boucher, MCH — Chair

Elysian Garden Designs

Tel: (508) 695-9630

Skott Rebello, MCH — Vice Chair Harborside P.S.

Tel: (508) 994-9208

MAGAZINE COMMITTEE

Gaele McCully, MCH MCLP — Chair

Mahoney’s Garden Center

Tel: (781) 729-5900

MASSACHUSETTS CERTIFIED HORTICULTURIST BOARD (MCH)

Jack Elicone, MCH — Chair

John R. Elicone Consulting

Tel: (617) 527-5706

PRODUCTS COMMITTEE

Peter Mezitt, MCH — Chair

Weston Nurseries, Inc.

Tel: (508) 435-3414

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIRECTOR

Jason Wentworth

Tel: (617) 417-4050

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rena M. Sumner

Tel: (413) 369-4731

Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association P.O. Box 387 Conway, MA 01341 mnlaoffice@aol.com www.mnla.com www.PlantSomethingMA.org www.mnlafoundation.org www.mnla.com pro|grow|news

WeAnd Spring Is Here Again

ByTim Hay, MCH

know spring will come every year. It seems that the downtime between the holiday rush and the spring rush just keeps getting shorter, or maybe I am just getting older, or both. I do know that there is no longer downtime in our industry. The green industry is a 12-month journey through organized chaos. Hopefully, MNLA can help you keep it better organized.

The Education Committee and the MCH Board did an outstanding job putting the Winter Forum and Job Fair together. The education and networking were top notch. As MNLA continues to be your “Resource for Success,” education is always at the top of the list. I hope you all will be able to attend the Down to Earth Summer Conference in July. We will be back at a member location in Westport, Massachusetts. Thank you to Sylvan Nursery for hosting us. There will be plenty of time for catching up with colleagues as well as some great educational opportunities.

I will not take too much thunder from Jason, but Mass Ag Day was a great success this year. MNLA leadership attended meetings with the Senate president, the House speaker, and other

Mark Your Calendar

Meet your Board of Directors at

July 25, 2019 - Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show, hosted by Sylvan Nursery, Westport, MA

August 7, 2019 - MCH EXAM Elm Bank, Wellesley, MA

August 21, 2019 - Plant Geek Day, Location to be confirmed

November 6, 2019 - Plant Healthcare Day at Elm Bank, Wellesley, MA

February 25 & 26, 2020

Dreams & Solutions Winter Forum & Trade Show

Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel Marlborough, MA

key committee chairs. Keeping a face with a name is so valuable when dealing in politics. I encourage you all to contact your local representative and senators. Many do not realize what the green industry contributes to the state’s economy and job market.

As we journey through organized chaos, remember to take a few minutes to breathe deep and find a special moment that reminds us why it is we love what we do. Take time to admire that finished project, the blooming of your favorite tree, warm sun on your face, the newborn goat running in the barn, or whatever can bring that “this is why I do this every day” feeling to you.

MNLA is a member-driven association. I encourage you to attend, participate, and get involved. MNLA is always striving to be that “Resource for Success” for each member.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any question, concerns, or just to catch up.

Tim Hay, MCH Bigelow Nurseries, Inc. MNLA President

Advocacy: Make Your Voice Heard

Finding common interests among a wide swath of agricultural commodities in Massachusetts can sometimes seem like a daunting task. However, on Agriculture Day at the State House, MNLA President Tim Hay, Government Affairs Committee Chair Chris O’Brien, and I walked the hallways with our counterparts from forestry, aquaculture, cranberries, dairy, and other agricultural stakeholders to advocate for policies that overlap within a wide array of Massachusetts agriculture.

We visited with House Speaker Robert DeLeo; Senate President Karen Spilka; Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Committee Senate Chair Anne Gobi; Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Michael Rodrigues; Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr; House Minority Leader Brad Jones; Representative Brad Hill; and staff from the offices of House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michelwitz and Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture House Chair Smitty Pignatelli. One of our members’ key requests was to support the institutions that support our industry. Whether that is a government agency like the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) or UMass Extension, Massachusetts agriculture and horticulture needs the strength, knowledge, and support our Commonwealth can provide. In return, we continue to employ thousands, add to the tax base, and beautify the world around us. Not a bad trade-off.

While it was a generally positive, albeit exhausting day, I noticed a juxtaposition that was probably right in front of my face in past Ag Days. Throughout the Great Hall and walking the halls, I noticed many friends and acquaintances from agriculture. Salty veterans of Ag Day, they knew exactly where to go and when without being prompted. This advocacy has become a seasonal inevitability, and they have long ago come to grips with the importance of speaking truth to power. On the other hand, I noticed the young Aggie students and Future Farmers of America walking around with a palpable enthusiasm. For some, it may have been the first time they set foot in the State House. I hope it was a powerful and instructive moment in making their voices heard as a citizen.

Those two groups are important for the future of agriculture and should continue to be engaged. What I would like to see in MNLA members in the coming years is the same level of enthusiasm as those students combined with the wisdom and understanding that can only be achieved through hard work and sacrifice. Basically, we need more of our MNLA members to walk those halls and speak truth to power.

It’s a lesson that my dear friend Henry Gillet espoused incalculable times: The legislator doesn’t want to hear from me, but from you. If you own a business or work in a legislator’s district, there is an instant connection waiting to be made. If you’ve tried your hand at being an advocate for the industry in the past only to be left with a sour taste, why not try again?

State House people and personalities are always changing, and I am happy to help make introductions.

If you’re reading this article, you are part of an association that is bigger than the individual. Let’s use that platform to the fullest. Legislators spend significant amounts of campaign money trying to figure out what their constituents think about issues. Bring your voice to them, and they’ll remember that.

Neonic Review

It’s a process seemingly as old as time, or at least older than me: As the tulips of Massachusetts begin to emerge and stretch to meet the sun, so too does the Great and General Court. With committee appointments made, offices assigned, and the promise of warm weather to come, the Massachusetts legislature once again takes up annual budget appropriations legislation. It’s a process that began with the governor, but truly heats up in the House of Representatives in April. After the House released its version of the Fiscal Year 2020 budget bill, individual members were able to file amendments for consideration. Most amendments dealt simply with adding or adjusting line items to the budget. Some were outside sections that intended to use the budget legislation to change policy. As usual, the vast majority were not adopted (i.e., attached to the final bill).

Only one of the amendments that could impact our members was adopted. Representative Michael Finn’s Neonic Review amendment calls for a scientific review of neonicotinoids by the Pesticide Board Subcommittee and administered by MDAR. The amendment adds and appropriates $100,000 to MDAR’s budget for this study. Like many MNLA members I’ve spoken to, I have mixed feelings on this effort.

In a perfect world, the agency and government structure tasked with making policy on pesticides would make those decisions based on a combination of new and existing scientific study, and the decision would be accepted by all stakeholders. This has always been the path I’d prefer. Wherever we are on the political spectrum, I’m sure we can all agree that the world of 2019 we live in is not perfect. Some pollinator stakeholders are skeptical of MDAR’s impartiality. I wouldn’t have believed it unless I heard it, but some have said MDAR favors policies that aid pesticide companies. I don’t know where this comes from, but I wholeheartedly disagree with that opinion. In my time at MDAR, I learned quite a lot about the pesticide enforcement team. Regardless of where in the Commonwealth they were directed, they followed every lead and answered every complaint. They took various actions, some that were not looked at kindly by some in agriculture, and were not punitive but thorough.

However, the reality is that in 2019, people sometimes become frustrated by the pace and direction of government and take it into their own hands. I’ve already heard that the gears are moving in preparation for a ballot petition to ban neonics if the legislature does not restrict them this session.

What would that mean? Well, don’t just throw science out of the window. Throw debate and compromise out, too. If there was a question on the ballot titled Act to Protect Massachusetts Bees, does anyone doubt that the question would win in overwhelming fashion? Anyone who doubts this need only look back a few years to the animal-cruelty ballot question that created statutes with far-reaching implications, especially for out-of-state agriculture bringing products into Massachusetts. The fact that the practices outlined in the ballot petition did not reflect practices in Massachusetts was immaterial in the eyes of the voter (or at least the ones who read the language). If you think this won’t happen with neonics, you haven’t been paying attention.

MNLA and the Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association support Rep. Dykema’s legislation because it represents a compromise. It is a restriction that would enable professionals in our industry to maintain this important tool in their toolboxes. It just takes it out of the hands of Joe Public, who probably doesn’t read the warning labels. Does maintaining the use, albeit restricted, of these products seem better than an outright ban? Many on the board feel it is better, and I’m inclined to agree with them.

UMass Extension Soil Lab

As we move toward Senate budget at the end of May, we maintain hope that positive amendments like the UMass Extension Soil Lab, which was not adopted in the House, will be filed and adopted. It was an amendment without any opposition, and it also dovetails back to our key advocacy point of supporting the institutions that support our industry. The Commonwealth should continue to invest in agriculture and horticulture, not just in the short-term, but for the long-term viability of our industry. Therefore, I ask my friends and MNLA members to renew your investments of time and resources toward advocacy. Help our great association shape policies that will ensure that viability.

Jason Wentworth MNLA Government Relations Director

By Leonard Perry, PhD

for Gardening2019Trends

Each year for the past couple decades, experts from the Garden Media Group — a marketing firm for the home and garden industry — identified key gardening trends for the coming season. For 2019, they’ve pegged eight trends based around the overall theme of people reconnecting with the natural world.

Gardening is one way many are awakening to connect with nature, often to combat work, stress, and excessive internet time. The report’s authors state that these trends will create new environmentalists awakened to our responsibility to save the Earth. According to author Michael McCarthy, a modernday Rachel Carson, “finding joy in nature will help save the environment, and in turn, save us.” The report describes this as a trend from self-care to care for Mother Earth; a trend from ME to SHE.

More people are gardening — and gardening more than ever before — according to the National Gardening Association’s annual survey. Many of these people are millennials (also called Gen Y) born roughly between 1981 and 1996. “Average households set a spending record of $503, up nearly $100 over the previous year,” the survey states. “Almost a third of all gardening households were those 18 to 34 years old — another record.” Within gardening, one of the hottest trends is sustainable landscapes using native plants.

Trend 1

The first of the specific trends pegged for 2019 is the “Indoor Generation.” This generation consists of nearly 90 percent of people worldwide who spend at least 22 hours a day inside. Americans spend most of their time (93 percent) either indoors or in vehicles. Children spend less than one hour daily outside, which is

50 percent less than their parents did as children.

The result of all this time inside is higher rates of obesity, high cholesterol, and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Yet there is hope as the indoor generation brings nature indoors in the form of houseplants. Last year, 30 percent of households bought at least one houseplant, with terrariums, cactus plants, and tropical plants among the top sellers. Previously considered old-fashioned, houseplants have become the new connection with nature, with about one third of purchases by millennials.

Trend 2

The second trend, “Screen Age,” refers to too much time in front of computer screens and similar devices, an addiction that can cause physical and psychological problems. “Blue light from screens can cause lack of sleep, obesity, stress, and depression,” the report states. One fact from this report is that adults now spend, on average, 11 hours a day looking at screens, and they check their phones every 10 minutes.

Gardening is recommended to counteract the screen age, especially for younger generations. It can teach many skills and habits, from responsibility to patience, trust, confidence, and good earth stewardship. The report suggests several means to engage youth, including choosing colorful fruits and vegetables and planting containers with kid-friendly plants such as compact berry plants.

Established in 1910, Cavicchio Greenhouses is a fourth-generation New England farm working more than 250 acres in Sudbury. As a horticultural grower and landscape distributor, we cultivate and supply an extensive variety of annuals and perennials, nursery stock, stone, masonry and landscape materials. With a hard-earned reputation for service, quality, selection and sustainability, we work with professionals and garden centers throughout the area to keep our region beautiful.

Trend 3

The third trend — “Golden Hearts” — refers to “the new environmentalist…looking for fulfillment outside of themselves and turning to caring for the earth.” A study by Unilever found that about one-third of people worldwide “choose brands for their social and environmental impacts.” Volunteerism among millennials set a record, beating the national average. Generation Z — those born after the millennials in the late 1990s and early 2000s, currently roughly 12 to 21 years old — are becoming the new environmentalists. They’re involved in environmental movements and are choosing schools based on sustainability.

Trend 4

Trend 5

“Root to Stem,” as the fourth trend is called, refers to waste that has previously ended up in landfills now being upcycled or eliminated entirely. It can be as diverse as brewery grain flour or plastic straws.

“Zero Waste,”

“Recommerce,” and “Conscious Consumption” are other terms for this trend. Globally, one third of all food is wasted each year.

Each American wastes 4.4 pounds daily, or the weight of a 22-foot U-Haul truck each year.

Only nine percent of plastics are being recycled, with eight million metric tons dumped into the oceans each year.

In response to the 500 million plastic straws discarded daily, plastic bans are spreading nationwide. Major corporations are committing to products such as single-use plastics and practices such as zero-emission deliveries. At homes, composting is the new recycling, and it can reduce household waste by up to 40 percent. Food is the largest waste in landfills, “more than diapers, Styrofoam, and tires combined.”

“Silence of the Insects” refers to global insect collapse, why this is important, and techniques to reverse this fifth trend of 2019, including defensive gardening and changing habits. This trend is dangerous, according to a Harvard biologist: “Insects are the foundation of our ecosystem.” The plight of pollinators is one example familiar to many gardeners, with 40 percent — particularly bees and butterflies — risking global extinction. Invasive species of plants and insects are one reason for this pollinator decline. The National Wildlife Federation reports that 42 percent of threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species. Early detection, rapid response, and preventing the spread of invasives are the main ways to deal with this threat. Planting insect gardens; selecting insect-friendly native trees, shrubs, and flowers; adding a compost pile; being mindful of pesticide use; adding a pond or water feature; and letting some of your landscape go wild are all means to help reverse the decline of beneficial insects.

Trend 6

“Robo Gardening” — the sixth 2019 trend — refers to the increased use of technology in gardening. High-tech tools can free gardeners from unpleasant or boring tasks, or just make them better gardeners. Smartphone apps help organize plant information, a solar-powered robot can weed whack for up to three hours, wireless plant sensors and sprinkler systems often water more effectively. Experimental mini-drone bees have been 37 percent successful in pollinating flowers. Drones are being used to monitor crops for pests, and to apply controls.

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Trend 8

Trend 7

The “Moon Struck” seventh trend refers to our reconnection with the moon, from its appearance on watches to wedding gowns. The saying “what goes around comes around” applies to moonphase gardening — the idea of timing planting, pruning, weeding, and harvesting based on moon phases — an idea as old as agriculture itself but being rediscovered. More gardeners are installing moon gardens — those with white flowers or light colors that reflect moonlight such as lamb’s ear, night-blooming fragrant flowers such as evening primrose, and flowers such as nicotiana for night-time or crepuscular pollinators.

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Finally, the experts note the trend of vintage, cool mint green making a comeback both indoors and out. This neomint is the new neutral. If you wonder why this color, the report explains: “This oxygenating, fresh tone of mint harmonizes science and technology with plant life and nature.” In addition to mint-colored accessories and plants, the herb mint is multifunctional — good for drinks and cooking, of course, the flowers are attractive to pollinators, deter biting insects, and have been used since ancient times for various healing benefits. Horticulture, through these eight trends the report explores, can help solve climate change, stop biodiversity loss, and provide urban eco-system services. Consider which of these you can incorporate into your own gardens, landscapes, and even interior living and work spaces.

Leonard Perry, PhD, served as an extension horticulture specialist at the University of Vermont for 35 years until his retirement in 2016. He continues to teach online courses as horticulture professor emeritus. He was familiar to home gardeners from his frequent television appearances on the regional “Across the Fence” program, periodic radio interviews, monthly news articles, and local and regional gardening tours. As a professor, he led a research program on all aspects of perennial production and overwintering, and continues to collaborate with Burlington Parks and Recreation on the Waterfront Display Gardens. Perry is the author of The Fruit Gardener’s Bible — a total revision of Lewis Hill’s Fruits and Berries for the Home Garden He also serves as horticulturist in residence for the King’s Garden at Fort Ticonderoga and has become known across North America and globally for Perry’s Perennial Pages, which features information, links, news articles, research, and more on herbaceous perennials.

Transitioning Container-Grown Plants to the Landscape

By Mandy Bayer, PhD

The arrival of the spring planting season is a great time for a refresher on best practices for planting and establishing container-grown plants in the landscape. It is important to keep in mind how production impacts plants when installing them in the landscape. Irrigation frequency during production, soilless substrates, and circling roots should all be considered when transitioning container-grown plants to the landscape.

Container plant production is a resource-intensive process, with water and fertilizer generally applied in large amounts. The soilless substrates used in containers are meant to be lightweight, making them easier to handle and transport. The materials used in these substrates, such as bark, peat, and perlite, are meant to aid drainage, but their water- and airholding capacities can be highly variable. Daily (or up to several times a day) irrigation is common. The combination of soilless substrates and frequent irrigation during production can result in increased water stress during landscape establishment.

Although producing plants in containers benefits the grower and consumer, the container itself can create plantgrowth problems because containers have limited rooting volume. In the ground, roots can grow horizontally, anchoring the plant and providing water and nutrient uptake. In a container, roots reach the side of the container and begin to circle around the pot. Failing to address circling roots before installation in the landscape can result in stem-girdling roots that disrupt water and nutrient flow in the xylem and phloem. Over time, this causes crown dieback, early fall color, canopy thinning, and eventual death. Newer containers such as fabric containers and containers with air holes help reduce circling roots. Root issues such as circling or girdling should be addressed during planting. Circling roots should be cut, shaved, or teased apart. Stem-girdling roots should be removed.

Root establishment is important for plants to succeed in the landscape. For a container-grown plant to maintain its growth, it must receive similar irrigation in the landscape (i.e., daily irrigation). This is generally not realistic, but should be kept in mind, as irrigation frequency will determine how vigorously the plant grows. Irrigation should be monitored closely during the first growing season and adjusted according to rainfall and again as plants become established. Keep in mind that more frequent irrigation (around every 4 days) will result in more vigorous plant growth and that applying large volumes of water will not make up for infrequent irrigation. Less frequent irrigation can be adequate depending on rainfall, but will impact how rapidly the plant grows. As roots grow out into the native soil, irrigation demand lessens, and frequency should be reduced. It

can take months for a plant to become established in the landscape, and larger plants take longer to establish. Directed irrigation applications, via drip irrigation or hand watering, should be used to ensure water is applied to the root area. Overhead irrigation often falls on areas with no plants roots or is intercepted by the plant canopy, not making it to the root area where it is needed.

The trunk flare on trees should be located to ensure trees are not planted too deeply. Buried trunk flares are unfortunately common and are a major reason for tree decline or death. The planting hole should be 2–3 times wider than the root ball and 1–2 inches less than the height of the root ball. The hole should be backfilled with existing soil. Do not overcompact the soil when backfilling, as this removes all air pockets. Water can be used to help settle the backfill,

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eliminating large air pockets without over-compacting.

Mulch should be applied at a depth of 2–3 inches and should be kept away from the base of trees and shrubs. Mulch provides many benefits including maintaining soil moisture, preventing erosion, and controlling weeds.

A little extra effort will help ensure that container-grown plants become healthy, established landscape plants and will help improve landscape sustainability.

Mandy Bayer, PhD, is Extension Assistant Professor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Resources

Gilman, E.F., A.L. Shober, K.A., Moore, C. Wiese, M. Paz, and S.M. Scheiber. “Planting Shrubs in Florida Landscapes.” UF/IFAS Extension ENH1129

Gilman, E.F., A.L. Shober, K.A., Moore, C. Wiese, M. Paz, and S.M. Scheiber. “Establishing Shrubs in Florida Landscapes.” UF/IFAS Extension ENH1130

Green Industry Economic Outlook

By Chris Laughton

For businesses in the green industry (nurseries, greenhouses, landscapers, and garden retailers), three things seem to matter most: weather, the overall economy, and consumer spending. It’s difficult to forecast the weather, but we can make some predictions about the economy and consumer spending.

The US general economy has shown strong performance lately. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2018 was 2.9 percent, a healthy rate for a developed economy such as ours, and significantly higher than 2017’s 2.2 percent growth. One consequence of this economic growth has been a tightening labor market. The US added more than 2.6 million jobs over the course of 2018, and unemployment fell to below 4 percent, a level many economists consider full employment.

Source: US Department of Commerce

This trend, of course, is a knife that cuts both ways. While a robust labor market is good for consumer spending, which creates demand for plant materials, it makes it hard to attract and keep good workers in our businesses. This was especially true in Massachusetts, where the unemployment rate fell from 3.8 percent to 3.3 percent over the course of 2018. This means virtually everyone who wanted to work had a job.

Inflation is beginning to show up in the economy. After an extended period of very low inflation, inflation rates have hovered around 2 percent for the past couple of years. While still not a major concern from a macroeconomic standpoint, it means your costs, particularly labor costs, are increasing, which can squeeze margins.

Consumer confidence in the economy has been strong, which in turn has led to robust consumer spending. As seen below, US consumer confidence has pretty much steadily increased since 2010, reflecting the general economy.

Source: The Conference Board

Consumers also put their money where their mouths are. Overall retail spending grew by roughly 3 percent in 2018. While this figure includes everything from automobiles to dinners out, lawn and garden spending increased as well. Across the country, 95 million households reported participating in yard and garden activities, averaging more than $500 in expenditures per household. While married 45- to 64-year-olds spent the most, expenditures among the 18-34 millennial generation also increased, which bodes well for the future of our industry as they begin to get married and purchase homes.

The green industry is strongly influenced by housing markets; home construction and renovation are major drivers for lawn and landscape spending. The US Census Bureau reports that housing starts came in at slightly over 1.2 million in 2018, a healthy rate for the US housing market (for reference, during the unsustainable housing bubble of the 2000s, housing starts topped 2 million annually). In the largely built-out North-

east, home renovation and remodeling are equally important. Harvard University’s Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity projects we will see in excess of $350 billion in remodeling activity nationwide in 2019, a 5 percent increase over 2018 spending.

Things look pretty good for 2019: strong economic growth, robust employment levels, an upbeat consumer willing to spend money, and forecasts for growth in remodeling and renovation. But there are also reasons to be cautious. Trade wars and stock market volatility may not directly impact the green industry, but they certainly influence the general economy and give investors pause, and this trickles down to consumers. Rising interest rates have led to a slight cooling off of real estate markets. And while consumer confidence remains high, the Consumer Expectations Index, which represents consumers’ view of the future, has fallen over the past year. Consumer spending accounts for roughly 70 percent of our economy, so consumer dial-back on spending can create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This brings up the issue of recession. While we may not see one this year, a recession is inevitable. Historically, recessions or economic corrections occur every few years. The current economic expansion (2009–present), is one of the longest cycles we have seen since World War II. So by histori-

cal standards, we’re due. My projection is that we’re unlikely to see a recession in 2019, but economic growth may slow toward the end of the year. By 2021, we could find ourselves in an economic slowdown or mild recession.

All-in-all, it looks like 2019 (weather permitting) will be another good year for the Massachusetts green industry, but it’s unclear what the future will bring in 2020 and 2021. There are reasons to believe we are better positioned to withstand a coming recession than we were the last time around. For one, the industry’s production capacity has been reduced. Many green industry businesses, large and small, downsized or went out of business following the Great Recession of 2008–2009. In retrospect, we were probably over capacity as an industry, and indications are that productive capacity is in closer alignment with today’s demand. Businesses that survived the last downturn are generally better positioned to deal with a slowdown this time around.

Chris Laughton is director of knowledge exchange at Farm Credit East. He previously was president/CEO of Laughton Garden Center & Nursery in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Chris has a BS in horticulture from Cornell and an MBA from UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management.

2019 Annual Summer Conference & Trade Show Where green industry professionals meet!

REGISTRATION 7:30am

Coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and breakfast bars available for all registrants

SESSION A 8:30am–9:30am

A Simple Recipe for Social Media Success • Susan Finn, Chief Connector, Rise Above Noise • Barn Classroom A

As a small business, social media is overwhelming and often feels like you ’ re just spinning your wheels You have to figure out where to be, how to be engaging, and how to get results all with a limited amount of time and resources In this session we’ll provide a recipe for social media that saves time and gets results to grow your business

Pest Resistant Bulbs • Brent Heath of Brent & Becky’s • Barn Classroom B

Learn about flower bulbs that naturally resist attacks by deer rabbits squirrels voles and insects Find out how to make edible bulbs like lilies tulips and crocus more pest-resistant with an assortment of remedies that make bulbs or leaves taste or smell bad to foraging pests Thwart “bulb monsters” and keep them at bay by creating physical barriers Try these solutions to enjoy your flowers and make the world a happier, more beautiful place Pesticide credit requested

SESSION B 10:00am–11:00am

Hydrangeas Pest and Disease Control • Mal Condon, the Hydrangea Guy • Barn Classroom A Walk the Sylvan Nursery, Inc gardens with Mal Condon, Heritage’s Hydrangea Curator to learn about the pests and disease issues that most commonly affect hydrangeas Learn how Heritage uses a more sustainable approach to control pest problems and how you can utilize these same practices within your systems

Pesticide credit requested

HORT OLYMPICS 11:00am–3:00pm

Join us outdoors for some fun/laughs! Prizes too!

SESSION C 11:30am–12:30pm

Non-native Shrubs in the Urban Environment • Mandy Bayer, Assistant Professor, UMass Extension • Barn Classroom A

The use of non-native plants in urban landscapes is looked at less favorably because of the belief that non-native plants do not support biodiversity and are less sustainable in the landscape We will discuss the assumed benefits and shortcomings of non-native and native plants in the landscape Factors other than nativity that influence plant sustainability in the landscape will also be considered

Storm Water Management • Trevor Smith of LandEscapes • Barn Classroom B

Water manages to be both, the stuff of mystery, and of our daily routine We use it to cook, wash dishes, and brush our teeth, but very few can stand on the beach and not lose themselves watching breakers roll in In the face of climate change, water is becoming more of an issue: we either have too much, too little, and never when we really need it Water bans, flooding, and erosion have become common Get reacquainted with water and learn simple methods to capture and reuse or slow stormwater runoff We will discuss rain harvesting, permeable pavements, green roofs and rain gardens

Solution Central • Chris Kennedy, MCH, Kennedy Country Gardens • Outdoors

Summer conference exhibitors have the tools, services, and products to help you succeed! Join Chris Kennedy, MCH, of Kennedy’s Country Gardens, as we explore what’s new, improved, and exciting for 2020

SESSION D 1:00–2:00pm

Perennial Bed Maintenance For Pros • C L Fornari, The Garden Lady • Barn Classroom B

Our clients often think that perennials are “plant and forget” but we know better Hear how to keep your customers’ flower gardens looking their best as C L gives “the need to do the nice to do and the nuts to do” about these plants Learn how to manage weeds deal with plants that are ugly after flowering and keep soils fertile and healthy Discover which perennials are less work while making your clients smile Book signing available

INTERACTIVE EDUCATION & DEMOS 8:00am–2:30pm

Plant I D Challenge & Demo • sponsored by Sylvan Nursery, Inc and the MCH board

MCHs will have a rare opportunity to take the Plant I D Challenge for an MCH recertification credit from 8:00am–10:00am Plant I D Demo will open to all attendees at 10:00am and run until 2:00pm for hands-on education

Spotting the Spotted Lantern Fly (SLF) • Javier Marin, MDAR Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator • Barn Classroom A

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that is spreading throughout the Northeast and is poised to establish itself in Massachusetts This pest feeds on over 70 kinds of plants and will affect our economy, environment and communities alike Awareness is key to early detection and management Pesticide credit requested

Designing with Bulbs “Potentials & Possibilities” • Brent Heath of Brent & Becky’s • Barn Classroom B Flower bulbs lend themselves to endless numbers of design principles that can create spectacular plantings as diverse as a naturalized meadow, to a formal knot garden, and many other designs in between We will take a trip through a number of beautiful gardens where bulbs are used in many different ways and will discuss labor-saving planting techniques to achieve these designs We will point out the most effective, long-lasting and long-lived cultivars With an unsurpassed color spectrum and numerous shapes and sizes, we can help you to envision a successful display Get your writing pads and pens ready for a host of bulb design ideas

Hydrangeas Plant Selections • Mal Condon, the Hydrangea Guy • Outdoors

Mal Condon, Heritage Museums & Gardens Curator of Hydrangeas, will review the major species and share the significant details about climatic influences and plant siting, and what you can do to enhance plant performance Specific plant selection criteria will also be discussed

Tours of Sylvan Nursery, Inc • 8:30am–3:00pm

Includes educational stops that will showcase operations, plant material, plant handling, inventory management, order & sales processing, solar systems and electric carts

Brought to you by our Solution Central Exhibitors. Check mnla.com for updates and to register.

New England Wetland Plants, Inc.

Wholesale Native Plant Nursery

Your source for...

Trees, Shrubs, Ferns, Flowering Perennials, and Grasses

Coastal and Inland Wetland Plants

Specialty Seed Mixes

Coir Logs, Straw Wattles, Blankets and Mats

820 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Phone: (413) 548-8000 Fax: (413) 549-4000

Email: info@newp.com Web: www.newp.com

How Do You Use Neonics? Please Let HRI Know!

AmericanHort and the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) seek to better understand our stakeholders’ use of the following nitroguanidine neonicotinoids:

• Clothianidin (Arena)

• Dinotefuran (Safari)

• Imidacloprid (Merit, Marathon, others)

• Thiamethoxam (Meridian, Flagship)

We anticipate that the EPA will announce proposed registration changes to these four products in the near future. Survey responses will better help us represent you and your needs.

This short survey should require no more than two minutes of your time and is completely anonymous. Take it here: www.americanhort.org/surveys/Default.asp?id=insecticides.

The Massachsetts Nursery and Landscape Association has a long history of innnovation. pro|grow|news is simply a reflection of MNLA and its position in the industry. Its purpose is to promote the environmental wellbeing of the state as well as the highest levels of business ethics within the profession.

Four Seasons Guide

The MNLA Four Seasons Guide is new publication that provides a complete up-to-date listing of MCHs and members. Plus feature articles providing gardening tips for Spring-Summer-Fall- Winter. The publication is mailed to members and distributed free to consumers throughout the year at a wide variety of garden events.

MARKETPLACE

Motz & Son Nursery

Plant for Success

Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ — Weeping Redbud

by Megan Montefusco, MCH

As a landscape designer, I am always on the lookout for small, decorative trees that provide a two-punch impact. Ruby Falls definitely delivers by shining in all seasons. From the early bloom of the lavender-red, sweet-pea-like flowers along the weeping stems to the burgundy leaves in the summer, yellow leaves in the fall, and the silhouette of the cascading branches in the winter, she does not disappoint.

This is an easy-care plant, tolerant of most soil conditions and resistant to most pests and diseases. Ruby can tolerate shade, but I find it is most spectacular in full sun. In addition to the beauty Ruby Falls adds to any garden, it is also a pollinator.

This petti-plant with its weeping habit and deep color will fit into any residential garden as a specimen plant or as an accent in a foundation planting or garden. While many residential landscape plantings seem limited to the standard planting of rhododendrons, arborvitaes, and Japanese maples, it is always my goal to find a plant that is not in the neighborhood. I have yet to plant a ‘Ruby Falls’ and not receive multiple compliments from both the client and their neighbors.

Facts and Features

‘Ruby Falls’ was introduced in 2009 by North Carolina University. Her parents are ‘Covey’ and ‘Forest Pansy.’ Her grandparent is the species Cercis canadensis, which is native to New England and grows from southern Ontario to northern Florida. I like to plant low-growing perennials or dwarf ornamental grass or an evergreen ground cover around the base to highlight the tree. Initially, this was not an easy tree to find, but as it gains popularity, it is becoming easier to purchase.