The Landscape Contractor magazine SEP.20 Digital Edition by Association Publishing Partners

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September 2020

CONTENTS

Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Fall Projects and Plants Late Summer Sensations Plant geeks share their fall flora

8 10

Hardscaping: Trellises and Panels 20 Elevate your designs with vertical features Irrigation: Fall Shut-Downs 26 An early sign of fallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival New Board Member Profile 30 Jim Cirrincione, Hinsdale Nurseries

Paths and Walkways 32 A new approach to a common landscape need

EN ESPAĂ&#x2018;OL

Cierre de riego Irrigation: Fall Shut-Downs

Perennials for Fall Color Surprising color from smaller plants

Lighting Up the Landscape with Chartreuse Plants 48 Bringing lighter colors to darker spaces

New Member Profile 54 Acuna Landscaping, Inc.

Diseases & Pests 56 Webworms and Downy Mildew on Basil Hidden Landscape Gems 62 Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens On the cover... Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. received a Gold award for this 2019 Residential Landscape Construction project titled Down a Slippery Slope.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

48 3

CONTENTS

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

ILCA Awards Committee 8-9 Ashley Marrin Susy Stone Scott Mehaffey Brent Horvath .

1, 10 10 12 14-15

A Note about COVID-19 Readers of this magazine should not think we are trying to avoid dicussion of the COVID-19 pandemic. That information has been extraordinarily presented with the COVID-19 daily email from Scott Grams and the dedicated COVID-19 ILCA Facebook page. The Landscape Contractor magazine will continue to focus on its normal landscape design/construction/maintenance/ and general business content. We hope this approach provides a brief respite from the stresses of the day.

4 5 7 58 61

Kyle Lambert Leo Kelly Keith Allen Jim Cirrincione Acuna Landscaping Nicholas Conservatory

Calendar

16, 18 20-22 21, 24 30 54 62

OCTOBER

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

October 8, 2020 Women’s Networking Group Webinar Living & Loving the Career & Life You Deserve Helping Women LeadHERS grow & find their purpose, passion, power & path inlife

Volume 61, Number 9. 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:

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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

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Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

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

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

October 20, 2020 The Impact Conference

Meta Levin

at dotynu rseries.co m to recei ve our

Feature Writer

meta.levin@comcast.net Nina Koziol

dotynurseries.com

Feature Writer

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Heather Prince

ILCA

princeht@sbcglobal.net

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

Patrice Peltier

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Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

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

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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From Where I Stand — The week of August 17th, I took my first

family vacation since Covid-19 started. Previously, we had gotten away for one weekend back in June, but this was the first time I was taking off work for five days straight. My wife was doing the same. Mentally, we both needed some time off. The stresses of the last few months coupled with the daily decisions on returning to school begged for some much needed family time. I know this sounds like a strange vacation spot for most, but my family loves southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. To us, renting a small lake house, coupled with daily hikes into the forest is our slice of heaven. Previously, we had done the Garden of the Gods and Rim Rock Trails so we decided to cut even deeper into the forest. Our kids are older now so we aren’t in constant fear of them careening over the edge. Speaking of careening over the edge, the last 6 months have been hard on all of us. In a survey completed by The Commonwealth Fund, the US led the industrialized world in our percent of adults who reported experiencing stress, anxiety, or great sadness since the outbreak started. 1 out of 3 Americans said that to be true. Many people feel physically and emotionally isolated and do not have the traditional outlets of friends, community, and yes, vacations. It’s impossible not to walk through the woods and reflect on the past 6 months. The highs and lows. My family puts me on “spider web detail” which means I go first and either clear the visible spider webs with a stick or my face. This allows my family to walk paces behind me and never have to make the “pfft, pfft” noise as they dig a silky strand off of their tongue. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can’t think of a better metaphor for the past 6 months than walking in the woods on an overgrown trail. Yes, I have some semblance of where we are going, I tried to arrive prepared, but the trail is winding and overgrown and there are threats. I look over one edge and see a 100’ fall. I look over the other side and see snakes and salamanders darting across the rocks. Yet, it’s my job to lead. So I strike down the next spider web and tell my tired and hungry family, it’s probably right over the next ridge. I know that bluer skies lie ahead. After our hike, we will return to the house and swim in the lake. I’ll crack open a Miller Lite and float on a pool noodle. We will laugh and splash and jump off the pier. Later that night, I will grill burgers and brats and we will talk on the deck until the stars come out. I’ll carry the exhausted kids to bed and my wife and will collapse on the couch for a glass of wine realizing how lucky we have it in that moment. If any landscape professional is reading this and can smell the lake water and taste the freshly grilled cheeseburger piled high with fixings, you need a vacation. One of the blessed aspects of the past six months is that landscape companies have been working. Landscape employees didn’t have to worry about hitting the unemployment lines. Owners didn’t have to consider tough cuts to personnel. Our internal poll of ILCA members showed most companies are up 5%-15% with some companies reporting increases as high as 20-25%. This, added to the PPP, has at least removed the financial insecurity felt by so many Americans right now in industries that are just inappropriate to bring back at the moment - namely, bars, restaurants, hospitality, sports, and entertainment. It may be a year before those industries can hum again.

With that said, money can’t buy happiness. Being declared essential and seeing a year of record profits is a double-edged sword. Not only is there more work to be done, but employees do so under the constant threat of contracting a disease that seems to be unpredictable as it is dangerous. Let’s face it, if COVID-19 only impacted people in their 90s, we would’ve been back to living our lives in June. It is the indiscriminate and silent nature of COVID that makes it so scary and makes returning to normal like easing into a lake rather than jumping off the edge of the pier. My eyes were opened to the mental impact of Covid during a recent “Coffee Talk” hosted by the Women’s Networking Group. We had a nice cross section of industry women to simply chat about life in the landscape industry during these times. We had women who had been working from home since April and those who report to work each day. It was fascinating hearing from both of them. One of the women in production (I will not use her name or company name) opened up about how mentally and physically challenging the last 6 months have been. She was eternally grateful she had a job, but explained the daily fear of going into the workplace and coming home. She monitors herself for symptoms and watches her employees like a hawk for the same. She said she totally understood why the company only had essential workers coming into the shop, but it was impossible not to feel jealousy for those who were able to work from home. There was a deafening silence on the call. We all empathized, but didn’t really know what to say or how to help. Finally, one of the other women spoke up and asked how the situation could improve. She was candid in her response, she said she just wanted to make sure her owners take the time to recognize and value the mental health impact and physical health risk their employees are taking. She wasn’t looking for a raise or hazard pay, she was looking for her ownership to recognize everyone on the production end for the sacrifices they were making. There are probably 100 different free to low cost ways that could happen. It could range from free breakfast or lunch for the team to simply a Day of Appreciation to a forced mental health day (or days) off. This isn’t just for those in production either. Mental health, like covid, is unpredictable and indiscriminate. Everyone is impacted differently and there isn’t some handy-dandy test that proves you have a problem. There isn’t a 14-day quarantine until your symptoms subside and we can return to work. Mental health is chronic to many and has been amplified during a year like 2020 where threats are involved in every once-normal interaction and society can’t seem to agree on anything. We need to be honest with ourselves that we all need some rest and relaxation. The landscape season doesn’t allow for many week long vacations. Most contractors and suppliers schedule their entire lives around the hectic pace of the landscape season. There are unsaid “blackout dates” for vacations and personal time off. This has been complicated by an extremely busy late summer where in a typical year, demand would die off as families plan vacations before school starts. Now, with schools going online for the fall, families continue to look at ways to improve their homes and landscapes. That is great for bottom lines, but bad for employees who need those 6-8 weeks to take a deep breath before finishing strong.

A Little R&R

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

From Where I Stand — So with 2-3 months left in the season, what can be done about the state of our mental health? First, employees at all levels should circle a few days to a week to take some time off. It has been scientifically proven that you are actually happier planning and looking forward to a vacation than actually being on that vacation. The earlier out you schedule and start planning, the more enjoyment you derive. It’s like a life-hack for happiness. So sit down with the family this week at dinner and talk about a fall or winter vacation. Step outside of your comfort zone and remember the purpose is to recharge your batteries and make a clean break from the world for a few days. Also, don’t forget the pool noodles and Miller Lite. Second, as owners and senior managers, we need to find a way to recognize the sacrifice of our employees, especially those who have been working non-stop in the shop since the pandemic began. Of course they are grateful to be working, but that gratitude is fleeting and doesn’t paint over the emotional distress and physical exhaustion many are feeling. There are ways we can thank them and care for them. This can be public acknowledgment of their efforts individually or collectively. Employers can treat them to breakfast or lunch for a few days. Employers can even do the unthinkable and give everyone a 3-day weekend just out of the blue or cut everyone a few hours early. A savvy employer should ask a handful of the production staff what would make a difference in their lives right now and follow-through. I would be remiss not publically acknowledging my own staff. Given our ability to hold large, in-person events has been strangled, we have been working round the clock to reinvent our educational programs and member services. We are tightrope walking without a net as we have brought numerous live and recorded educational events to the membership since July 1st. Education Manager AnneMarie cutting videos at 3am the night before Turf Education Day went live. Terre scrambling to offer a smaller, legally compliant golf event. Marissa doubling down on membership as it becomes the cornerstone of our 2020-2021 budget and growth plans. Alycia being the administrative spine for all of us while also running committees and launching an apprenticeship program this fall. I have an amazing team and I probably don’t think enough about their own physical and mental health over the past six months. During our hike, my family and I entered a clearing and sat down on a log to drink some water and have a few handfuls of trail mix. I wiped another spider web from my face and bare arms. We came across a small swimming hole. Without speaking, we stripped down to our bathing suits and dashed into the water. We splashed and dove deep. The sun broke through the trees and warmed our shoulders. In that moment, it reminded me that although the trail is long and exhausting, there is always time to take a moment to find refreshment. When you don’t exactly know where the trail is leading, you may as well do your best to enjoy the journey. Regards, Scott Grams Executive Director, ILCA August 24, 2020

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

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

866-627-4264

September 2020

President’s Message — In times of isolation

President

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

Vice-President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

Immediate Past President

Jose Garcia Natural Creations Landscaping, Inc. (815) 724-0991 info@naturalcreationslandscaping.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 Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .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

and social distancing, I think it is normal to feel alone. We are an essential business and a lot of companies have been back to work since the get go, but the feeling is different. You miss the smiles when you greet your co-workers because of masks. The morning coffee and doughnuts are absent due to worry of spreading a deadly disease. I have a recommendation to those that want to connect, especially within our industry. Reach out to those around you. If you’ve never done so before, look through those business cards that we collect in excess at trade shows and seminars. Pick out three professionals that you might have wanted to get to know better... then email them. “Hey, remember that seminar that we went to and we talked, nodded heads at the same advice from the speaker? I would love to talk further.” I can attest to the power of this thing they call networking, but it is so much more. I’ve never shied away from sharing information about process and policy. What is the harm in helping raise up others in the industry even if we are competitors? I don’t define it as being magnanimous, I identify it as collaborating to achieve a greater good. Imagine if you could help someone who used to be just like you, feeling lost while figuring it out. I’ve had that specific experience when I was 25. It changed my drive and perspective. I will never forget it. It will better your career, which is essential to improving yourself, your motivation, your company and help to inspire your coworkers. It will also enrich your quality of life by building not only confidents you trust, but building lifelong friendships as well, which is quintessential to happiness. I’d like to point out a few people that have been more than generous with not only information, feedback, tough love and friendship. My gratitude goes out to Bob Bertog, Laura Gianorio, Tim Tacheny and both Lisa Fiores. You have all been invaluable to me. (Hugs) So, try this, think of that last networking event and seminar. Who did you connect with? Is there someone you sat next to that was nodding at the same information you were, or voracious about similar information and you had a dialog about it? Grab their business card, please, we all have hundreds of them. Call them, email them, connect with them on LinkedIn. But take a leap at connection, ironically, during a time when it is so difficult. I promise you won’t regret it. You will begin to depend on it. Sincerely, Donna Vignocchi Zych President Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Reflections Water Gardens • West Dundee Beach Vacation at Home

The homeowner remembered the enjoyment of growing up

near a large pond by his parents’ home in Northbrook. Years later, with the tear-down and rebuild of his new forever home, he could finally use a portion of his property to recreate the enjoyment of pond life that he loved as a kid, while leaving a legacy for his family. The 20,000-square-foot pond is pastoral, with 16,000 feet of usable water space and a private, 46- by 23-foot sandy beach. Instead of ramping up the liner to form the beach space, it was kept flat with the sculpted shelving and held in place with a retaining wall. The space was back-filled with several semi loads of sand and tapers into the water, making it comfortable to swim into the pond as the grade slopes to its deepest depth of nine feet. Built to swimming pool code for diving, the recreation pond’s shape emulates a clover leaf with the retaining wall around the entire perimeter. The retaining wall also provided definition for the pond’s inner contours and a marking point in planning for depth. Glacial erratic boulders dot the shoreline and various areas within the pond. Contouring and sculpting the inner pond was not without its challenges. While digging for mechanical and PVC plumbing installation, the crew uncovered a sizable surface space of bentonite clay, which they soon found

extended to a depth of about eight feet. On the surface, the clay area looked like just a rough spot on the bottom of the pond, but they quickly discovered that the 10- by 10-foot area was not drivable with the skid steer, which began to sink into the soil. Crushed stone and gravel were laid to help stiffen the clay, but that didn’t provide much help either. Eventually, the entire space was dug out by machine and filled with crushed stone. Liner was then laid over the entire bottom surface of the pond and a big loader back-filled the area with gravel by conveyor belt. The bottom of the pond and base for the retaining wall were covered within four hours. The pond is a self-contained system with an efficient, 4,000-squarefoot filter zone located off to one side and dotted with walkable boulders and aquatic plants. Above-ground mechanicals were installed on the opposite side of the pond and hidden from view among plants and shrubs. Today, the serene, pastoral four-season pond is reminiscent of a Northwoods lake, surrounded by trees and plant life, and providing a home for fish and wildlife. Pour a cup of coffee and sit a spell on the Adirondack beach chairs or grab a pair of binoculars and bird watch from a nearby bench. This peaceful place is now enjoyed by at least two generations of the homeowner’s family – and likely more as he recaptures a fond memory and shares it as a legacy with those he loves.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

Late Summer Sensations Plant Geeks Share Their Favorite Fall Flora

By Nina A. Koziol

It’s just about time for The Late Show — that

time of year when the annuals are still strutting their stuff but many of the perennials have petered out. It will be weeks before trees and shrubs put on their splendid autumn performance. However, there are many late-season perennials and annuals that can provide texture and pops of color now as we move into autumn. Here are just a few. Ashley Marrin of Bret-Mar Landscape in Homer Glen likes native switchgrass for its flowers and blue-green foliage, but the plants tend to be incredibly tall and can splay open, weighed down by heavy seed heads. Totem Pole switchgrass grows in a very erect column of steel blue foliage with powdery blue stems. In early fall, golden panicles appear just above the foliage. “I love how it is so upright,” Marrin said. The narrow base of the plant makes it an ideal candidate for small spaces that need height and vertical structure.

Totem Pole switchgrass On the opposite end of the spectrum is the petite Japanese forest grass. Aureola (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’) is one of the many clump-forming cultivars that excel in moist, well-drained soil and shade. “So many people are looking for grasses for shade,” says Susy Stone of Hinsdale Nurseries. “I like hakonechloa for its texture and color.” In the cooler days of autumn, the golden foliage becomes infused with shades of pink and red. The plant’s cascading habit in which most of the leaves arch in the same direction looks like a golden waterfall. When grown in part shade, the yellow tones in the foliage will be most pronounced. In deep shade, the variegation will be lime green. Plant this grass where it can cascade down a slope or drape over a low stone wall. (continued on page 12) Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ 10

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 10) “Fall is my favorite season,” says landscape architect Scott Mehaffey. “There are some great combinations of woody, herbaceous and annual plants—and bulbs, like autumn crocus—that bring the landscape to life from September through November and sometimes even later, depending on the weather. I like Allium ‘Ozawa’ and Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’ and just about every aster there is,” Mehaffey says.

Colchicum speciosus ‘Conqueror’ With its true blue flowers, Conqueror autumn crocus (Colchicum speciosus ‘Conqueror’), is a bright accent among autumn hues. These fall beauties are best planted in a protected, well-drained, sunny location like a rock or herb garden, or blooming through light mulch, a chemical free lawn, or in a ground cover. (continued on page 14) Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 12) Landscape architect Mary Allen uses drifts of annuals between perennials in her garden in St. Charles. “I like all the alliums, but Windy City from Brent Horvath at Intrinsic Perennial Gardens is outstanding and should be used more. The flower color is a deep purple like none other.” Windy City allium has tight, deep green foliage and purple-violet flowers on semi-sterile plants. Allen pairs it with a dark-leaved annual, Purple Prince alternanthera. The allium’s seed heads add texture while the alternanthera’s foliage performs until frost. When it comes to autumn containers and bedding plants, annuals, like gomphrena and kale take the spotlight. The brilliant violet flowers and bluepurple foliage offer a nice counterpoint to trees and shrubs cloaked in red, russet and gold. Gomphrena and kale

Windy City Allium 14

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

For your adventurous clients, especially those who have cottage-style gardens or plantings for their children, there are several cultivars of amaranthus, including â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dreadlocks,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which produces giant magenta blooms that dangle on long stems. Wooly-textured ropes of flowers develop fully in summer and begin to trail downward when the plants reach about three feet tall, creating a fountain of bright color. For clients who enjoy making flower arrangements, the stems are a great addition to a vase. (continued on page 16)

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The Landscape Contractor 15 September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’ (continued from page 15) “Carex is great as a living mulch,” says Kyle Lambert, perennial manager at The Growing Place. One of his favorites is Ice Dance sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’). With its wide, strappy leaves, this carex makes a bold statement in the shade garden. The leaves are dark green with bright white variegated edges that tend to keep their color well into winter, adding to the plant’s ornamental value. This variety will grow in many conditions, from nearly full sun to shade in average to moist soil. It wouldn’t be fall without plenty of yellow and rust-colored chrysanthemums. But when the trees display those colors, it’s nice to have something with a contrast. For something completely different, try Clara Curtis chrysanthemums in pots or in a border. The low, compact plants are smothered in pink, single daisy flowers that bloom from late summer on. (continued on page 18) 16

Clara Curtis chrysanthemums The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Fall 2020 — Introducing our new Henning’s Choice Landscaper Series

In our 32 years of business we have trialed thousands of mum varieties. In this time we have found that one of the keys to providing top quality is good genetics. Because of this, we have spent endless hours trialing every commercial mum variety available. In our newly developed Chicago Landscaper Series, we specifically targeted varieties with characteristics that meet our landscapers needs. Our selections are made with flower uniformity, shape, and size in mind. Our Landscaper series will look healthy and vibrant from plant to pull. Your mum planting will outshine others with these varieties. We can efficiently grow and trial hundreds of varieties side by side. Save time, money, and energy by letting Henning’s do the trialing for you! Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions about garden mum varieties or needs.

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 16) Ornamental grasses come into their own in autumn. Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) does it in a big way. This warm season grass blooms from late summer through early fall. Late in the season, the plant produces fluffy bottlebrush plumes within and just above the foliage. Purplish-red when they first open, the seed heads age to greenish-tan. Your clients can cut a few for bouquets as they remain open and feathery even when dried. This grass is also somewhat shade tolerant, which is unusual for a larger flowering grass. Grown in full sun, the habit will be tighter and the flowering will be more profuse. Goldenrod Late summer and fall would not be complete without goldenrod. Most goldenrods bloom from midsummer to autumn, providing a good late-season display as well as food for birds and insects. Richard Hawke, manager of plant evaluations at the Chicago Botanic Garden, examined more than 25 species and garden hybrids. Some, like Fireworks and Solidago caesia bloomed well into October. See the full evaluation here: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/ no15_goldenrods.pdf

Korean feather reed grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha) Lambert also likes ‘At Last’ rose, a robust, disease-resistant shrub rose that produces clusters of fragrant flowers over a long season. Petals fade over time to a soft yellow tinged with apricot. The blossoms appear in flushes against a backdrop of healthy, dark-green leaves on vigorous, bushy plants.

‘At Last’ rose 18

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

The Artful Trellis

Custom crafted, these vertical features can elevate your

Nina A. Koziol Editor’s note: This is part of the ongoing series featuring design and marketing ideas for hardscape elements.

It’s been nonstop talk about the pandemic

this year, but there is something else that’s been happening. Home and garden renovation has been booming. Stuck at home for weeks on end, not taking vacations or eating out as much, many homeowners have been focused on what needs fixing—including their landscape. You may have noticed that Menard’s, Home Depot and other stores were running out of hoses, wheel barrows, soil, and potting mix, this summer and the seed racks were practically empty. Thankfully, many ILCA members have been extra busy because some homeowners are not do-ityourselfers. “It has been nonstop and we can’t catch up so we are following the mantra ‘one day at a time,’” says Leo Kelly, president of Kellygreen Design in Palatine. Designed by Leo Kelly 20

Keith Allen of Garden Structures in St. Charles has faced the same predicament. “Because of the pandemic, many people are home and improving their property. It has been very busy for many contractors,” Allen said. Both men are landscape architects who specialize in custom-made wood structures for residential and commercial landscapes. I spoke with them recently about designing, installing and selling trellises to clients. Yes, trellises — but not those flimsy things made overseas and sold at big-box stores. Custom trellises are great design features that are often overlooked on landscape projects, but they stretch garden space and provide a host of vertical design possibilities. They can serve as focal points or backdrops. They can screen unwanted views or provide privacy. And, they are an extra source of revenue on a project. Here’s what the two pros had to say.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

designs and bottom line

What’s the value of adding trellises into a residential landscape design? Leo: They’re a phenom-

enal item in the landscape and they’re underused. There’s a design opportunity for one on every job. As a landscape architect, I see opportunities for these things all over the place, but they’re rarely used, or they’ve used one that’s inexpensive and cheaply made.

Keith: A trellis is

another design element. It is an excellent way to Designed byKeith Allen create an outdoor room and provide privacy without feeling too enclosed. They can screen a view by distracting the eye, rather than blocking it and, they are very effective where space is limited. Trellises, unlike solid fences, are neighbor-friendly.

How might you justify the expense of including these structures in a design? Leo: It’s a niche feature and it’s overlooked. It’s a landscape feature for everybody from the very high-end projects that we do to the average urban and suburban homes. They’re a

great opportunity because there’s an aesthetic value to them. Every project can justify one and if you design a custom one, you can make it unique for the house. We’ve had some projects [pergola, arbors, trellises] that were over $20,000. But, we can make a good custom, one of-a-kind trellis for $600 to $1,900 that greatly enhances a landscape for an average home. For example, let’s say you’re bidding on a new suburban home. There are three models in a 500-home development and every lot looks the same. If your competitors give the client a $3,000 foundation planting bid and their designs are basically all the same, you want to distinguish yourself and your work. If you can include a nice wall trellis near the entry, or a custom planter box, you put one or both of those into the design, and you come up with a $3,700 entry proposal. You’ve separated yourself from the others and your client’s landscape is unique. It’s all about up-selling yourself and your work and helping the client’s home stand out from the rest.

Keith: Sometimes a structure is simply the best solution for

the space depending upon the situation. Other times it’s the (continued on page 22)

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 21) extra design element that sets your design apart from the rest. Clients typically come to us already wanting or needing a structure. They are just not sure exactly what the structure needs to be. The choice of materials, size and amount of detail can affect the cost of the structure. That is where I might need to justify any extra expense.

How about the materials? Keith: Most clients prefer cedar, but pressure-treated lum-

ber can work just as well. Both will require a certain amount of maintenance to extend their life. I have both cedar and pressure-treated trellises that are 25 to 30 years old and still in good condition due to routine maintenance.

Leo: I prefer western red cedar because of its long-lasting

durability. It’s stable in our midwestern environment. It can be stained beautifully or left to go to a soft gray. And when it’s kept clean, it can last for a long time.

Where do you get inspiration for your designs? Leo: The best trellises are ones that take cues off the resi-

dence you’re working on, even on a tract home. For example, the muntins on the windows — is it rectangular or a square pattern? Is there a transom window over the entry way? Those shapes, even on a tract home, will give you cues on how to create something for that property. On a Victorian house, where there may be many elements, it can look busy. You have to put in a little time and thought as to how to complement the architectural features.

Keith: I pick up architectural details from the house, like the rafters or details on the gable. Many clients have their own ideas. It’s often something they have seen on Pinterest. The most successful designs are the result of a joint effort.

How would you convince a client that their landscape could benefit from a trellis? Leo: Look at the practical application first. Let’s say you’ve

got a portico on the front of the house and a garage that comes forward towards the street, and a walkway that goes from the drive to the front door. Along the garage wall, if you have three feet to work with there, you’re lucky. The cautious designer will make a straight walkway with only 18 inches of planting space. A shrub would push into the walkway and (continued on page 24)

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 22) you’d have to prune it or make it into a standard. You have the ability to get that vertical element in there, making it six to 10 feet tall. That’s where a custom trellis is most effective and almost every property has a place like that.

Keith: It will vary from client to client. For some, it is a

need and for others it is that extra touch. Some may already have the desire for a trellis, and some might never have thought of one. Some clients want one specifically to grow vines or climbing roses, others to screen views or create space. A trellis can be very versatile and work in almost any landscape plan.

How about the plants? Keith: Clematis varieties are a great choice. They are light-

weight, fast growing and the flowers add color to your setting. Planting a couple of varieties on one trellis can extend your bloom time. Climbing hydrangea and wisteria get really woody and as they mature pulling the lattice apart.

Leo: How many plants can you fit in a three-foot space that will get seven feet tall? You’re limited. I like Mandevilla vines (a tropical/annual). That plant goes all season long

and it’s an instant flower show for July 4th festivities. Your clients can water it each week and just stand back. It’s not rocket science.

Do you have any advice about trellis ‘fails’? Leo: Most often we can mount them right on the house

or support it on the house. Never attach a trellis to a fibercement-sided home, like Hardie-Board siding, or a Dryvitsided house—that’s fraught with disaster. I won’t touch those because you get one shot with each. Hardie can crack easily, and Dryvit is difficult to seal up and you can have water penetration, which can cause molding and rotting issues.

Keith: I would not recommend putting cedar posts in concrete, especially 4x4s. It’s a recipe for rot. Cedar posts are better set in pea gravel. Check out their web sites: KellyGreen Design: www.kellygreendesigninc.com Garden Structures: www.gardenstructuresinc.com Designed by Keith Allen

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

Irrigation Shutdowns by Meta Levin

Due to COVID19

, irrigation shut-downs, just like everything else this year, will be normal and not-sonormal. Crews are wearing protective equipment both for their own and customers’ safety; they are taking pains to clean everything and some customers are doing certain tasks on their own. “Whenever we shut down, we need to turn off the water and the shut off valves are inside the house,” says Brett Gold of American National Sprinkler & Lighting. That means that either irrigation technicians must enter customer’s homes or they do it themselves. Most irrigation contractors are offering residential customers the option of shutting off their own water. Allowing the contractors to do it, as has happened in the past, the clients would need to allow technicians access to the home, be it the basement, the garage or wherever the water shut-off valves are located. Last spring, Alex Mayfield of JM Irrigation LLC, estimates that 5 to 10 percent of his residential customers opted to do it themselves and he expects about the same number will want to turn off their own water. “They prefer that we don’t come into the house,” he says. Gold estimates that 10 to 15 percent of his customers chose the do-it-yourself method. To make things easy, American National Sprinkler & Lighting posted a how-to video on its website to tell customers how to properly turn on/off the water. The video showed customers what to look for and 26

where to find it. “Most took it in stride,” says Gold. When turning the water off, they must also drain the pipes. Irrigation contractors can explain that process and answer any questions. Mayfield notes that his commercial customers usually know what they’re doing and can shut off the water themselves. Once the water is off, the next steps are just as straightforward. Crews disconnect the RPG (backflow prevention device) and either bring it inside the house or let the homeowner do it. In the latter case, the irrigation team can leave it in a designated spot and the homeowner can take care of stowing it indoors for the winter, says Mayfield. These RPGs must be protected from the cold weather that can cause damage. If, however, homeowners choose to allow the crews to take care of the shut-off, irrigation contractors are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety and health of their customers and crews alike. As a matter of course, “our techs wear masks and gloves,” says Gold. So do Mayfield’s. The contractors are careful to clean all equipment between jobs and some wear booties over their shoes if they must enter the home. “We spray everything with an anti-viral spray before and after each site visit, and wipe equipment with paper towels after spraying,” says Gold. “We do a thorough cleaning (continued on page 28)

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

Irrigation Shutdowns (continued from page 26) between jobs,” says Mayfield Once the water is off, the pipes drained and the RPG removed, the crews still must use an air compressor to blow water out of the pipes zone by zone. While doing that, they check the system for any damage or breakage, “so that we can properly repair or replace it in the spring,” says Mayfield. Customers with damage or breakage are notified, so that they can schedule the work for the spring. Contractors often rent larger compressors for big jobs and smaller, lighter weight ones for such things as Chicago roof-top garden systems. “Ninety percent of our jobs use a standard compressor,” says Gold. Some residential properties, however, have “acres and acres and, we have to use major commercialsize compressors.”

Mayfield instructs technicians to take notes of anything they find during a shut-down, so the information can be entered into the database. “We want to ensure everything is up-to-date,” he says. Still, there can be surprises in the spring. “Sometimes homeowners put in end-of-the-year landscapes in midNovember,” says Gold. That can involve such things as new perennial beds. “Most of the time’ we find out when we get there to open up the system in the spring.” Then, they must schedule new work to make sure the irrigation system is appropriate for the new landscape. Timing is important. The work should be done before the first hard freeze. For residential customers that usually means everything is shut down by Halloween – October 31. Large commercial customers have a little more leeway, but most irrigation contractors would like

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

to have everything finished before midNovember; Thanksgiving at the very latest. “Last year, we had our first freeze on November 1,” says Gold. “If there is water in the line, it can cause damage to the pipes and back-flow preventers. That is expensive.” A hard freeze can even damage the sprinkler heads themselves. August is scheduling time, or at least, reminding time for those who scheduled shut-down appointments early. “In late August we send out reminders for those customers, who already scheduled a shut- down,” says Mayfield. Both Mayfield and Gold note that in this fast-changing environment, they do not know how next spring will play out. In any case, they are staying flexible and ready to meet any challenges the pandemic, weather, or anything else may throw at them.

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he Landscape Contractor September 2020

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a lot,” says Jim Cirrincione of Hinsdale Nurseries about his new position as a member of the ILCA Board of Directors. Cirrincione, who at the time of this article was so new he had yet to attend a board meeting, in person or virtually, already has learned a lot in his years in ILCA. In fact, his early introduction to the association came when he attended some training sessions, followed by a few years on the education committee. Three years ago, Jin Cirrincione ILCA Executive Director Scott Grams and ILCA Past President, Tom Lupfer, approached Cirrincione about accompanying them on a trip to Springfield. They were planning to talk with State Rep. Jim Durkin, Illinois House Minority Leader, and several other lawmakers. “They needed someone who lived or worked in his district to talk with him,” says Cirrincione. That trip led to a stint on the Political Action Committee. “I’ve been helping raise money since then.” It came as no surprise when he was approached about joining the ILCA Board of Directors. “Tom Lupfer has been trying to talk me into it for the last two years,” he says. “Lupfer wanted someone representing a company about the same size as his to take his place when he went off the Board.” This year, he agreed to seriously consider it, calling Grams to find out more before agreeing to join the board. The Landscape Contractor September 2020

A native of LaGrange and a graduate of Lyons Township High School, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Marquette University and an MBA in business management from Loyola University Chicago, Cirrincione started out as a pension consultant, but was laid off following 9/11. He was no stranger to the green industry. During high school and college, he had mowed lawns for a small lawn maintenance company. During his job hunt following the post-9/11 layoff, he was introduced to the Hinsdale Nurseries owner, who offered him a job working on a crew. From there he rose to landscape maintenance manager, eventually rising to production manager, then general manager and in 2008, president — a position he now holds. Cirrincione enjoys his job. “Every day is different,” he says. He is married and the father of two children, ages 10 and eight. His background will be helpful in working on the Board, he says. “I am doing crisis management in one form or another. I think that will help me on the Board.”

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

Paths and Walkways: by Heather Prince

Be they utilitarian or filled with mystery, paths take-

us on a journey through our myriad landscapes every day. As designers and contractors, we have the opportunity to create a journey from here to there and perhaps make it more meaningful by our materials and plant choices. We talked with Julie Moir Messervy, renowned landscape designer of a long list of dynamic public and private projects as well as author of nine books. The owner of Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio, a landscape architecture and design firm in Vermont, she is also the founder and president of Home Outside, which offers online landscape design services as well as apps homeowners and contractors can use to design properties. Paths and walkways play a particularly important role in Messervy’s work. “As I wrote in Home Outside, a path moves you from one area of your property to another and creating a sense of flow makes the transitions feel seamless and harmonious. A path is a physical journey from Point A to Point B—yet it also takes you on a mind journey, as you glimpse what’s ahead or pause to take in a view or focal point,” commented Messervy. When approaching an existing site, including ways to move through the space can be a part of the site analysis. “It’s helpful to start by mapping the desire lines — the routes people naturally take around the property: between the driveway and side door, for example, or from the back door to the dining terrace,” observed Messervy. “Look for the worn paths through the grass that show where people tend to travel. Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is the ideal place for a path, but you’ll often want to add interest to the journey or create some breathing room with a longer, curving path.” By detailing the ways people already use the property, it can set walkways or reinforce elements to change foot traffic. As you set out to design paths, there are many elements to consider. Client needs and wants come first, of course, but there are some things to remember as you sketch out your ideas. Is more than one person using the path? Should it feel enclosed or open? Are folks with special needs using the path? Are garden machines like mowers or snowblowers going to be employed? “For residential paths, try pushing a wheelbarrow down the path—if it’s easy to navigate, then the path is wide enough, and the curves will feel gracious rather than abrupt,” commented Messervy. This is also important if people will be traveling along it together instead of single file. She also added, (continued on page 34)

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

: Creating a Journey

This small school garden has a beaver theme, with a concrete path mimicking a stream running through a meadow and ending at a beaver lodge structure for gatherings and outdoor classes. Design by JMMDS. Beaver lodge and tunnel by wood artist Mark Ragonese. Photo courtesy of JMMDS.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 32) “Consider the views all along the path, and design intermittent highlights that lead one farther along.” This is an opportunity to create surprises or mini destinations along the way to break up or enliven the journey. “Create thresholds, using plants, walls, and structures, or even the material of the path itself, as I did with the concrete eddy at the Toronto Music Garden,” she suggested. Thresholds not only mark transitions from one place to another, they also provide an opportunity to pause, enjoy a moment, or reorient yourself on the journey. They can also be a place to gather, rest, or relax into the space. What happens at night? “Light the path with in-ground light fixtures set among groundcover plants along the way,” recommended Messervy. Lighting not only adds safety, but charm, elegance, or a personal touch to the path. No one likes to stumble around in the dark and a thoughtfully lit path invites you along the journey without tripping or getting lost. Material choices are key to creating the atmosphere and reinforcing the aesthetics of your design. From stone to ceramic to mulch to concrete, the choices are limitless. Think about your clients’ personalities and if there are elements from their lives that are important to include like grandchildrens’ footprints or beach stones from a memorable trip. Concrete offers myriad solutions, but Messervy gravitates to “Crushed stone, natural flat stepping stones, steel edging, granite edging.” As materials choices expand, sustainability can be an important consideration for clients. “Clover seed (for mowable paths), reclaimed granite, iron, blackened steel, local fieldstone and gravel, solar-powered marine-grade wall lights,” she commented, are all favorites for more sustainable options. Think about practicality on the job site as well. You may love the look of slabs of natural stone, but will the budget and timeline allow? “Large, thick slabs of heavy natural cleft stone are difficult to move and can be tricky to shape to fit with the adjacent stone,” observed Messervy and may limit how much you can include in your project. (continued on page 36)

R: Square bluestone pavers set on the angle give a lively rhythm to this sideyard path; the geometric shapes are softened by ruffly, billowy foliage. Design by JMMDS. Photo by Susan Teare.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

35 The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

(continued from page 34) As you attempt to narrow your materials choices, what are your aesthetic goals? Do you want to warm up the space for entertaining? Cool down the experience for peace and serenity? For warming, “Try natural wood; self-weathering steel; clusters of potted plants in corners, on stairs, and along paths; vines on structures; warm-hued flowers; heavily textured stone; and brick,” suggested Messervy. To calm things down, “ I like white paint; dark gray-black painted walls/ fencing; smooth stone or tile; stuccoed vertical surfaces; bluegray gravel; white, blue, purple blossoms; dark green foliage; galvanized steel; recirculating water; shade cloth; and widecanopy deciduous trees for shade.” Be creative and have fun! “One really fun project that we created was a design for Shore Country Day School in Beverly, Massachusetts,” recalled Messervy. “The school’s mascot was the beaver, so we made the path like a stream that meandered through a beaver meadow, winding up at a beaver lodge that served as an outdoor classroom.” Sometimes a challenging space can be one of the most magical. “A really interesting residential property we designed had a narrow, shady side yard that required a path to the kitchen door and a deck beyond. We used square cut bluestone pavers set on the diagonal like diamonds, interspersed with rectangles that served as thresholds or pausing places. The angular pavers were softened with lush plantings of billowy groundcover plants. It turned a utilitarian space into a beautiful, contemplative experience where people love to pause and look about them.” No matter the project, paths and walkways give you an opportunity to create a journey and tell a story. A detailed site analysis and client communication can offer ways to stretch your creativity and utilize the many sustainable materials choices available to elevate the project and delight the property owner.

R: In the Prelude section at the beginning of the Toronto Music Garden, a public garden inspired by Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1, circular eddies are etched into the path, while groups of boulders line the banks like island shores. Design by JMMDS. Photo by Adrian Holmes.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Cierre de riego Por Meta Levin Debido al COVID19, los cierres de riego, como todo lo demás este año, serán normales y no tan normales. Los equipos de trabajo están usando equipo protector tanto para su propia seguridad como la de los clientes; se esfuerzan por limpiarlo todo y algunos clientes están realizando ciertas tareas ellos mismos. “Siempre que interrumpimos el riego, tenemos que cortar el suministro de agua y las válvulas de cierre se encuentran dentro de las casas”, afirma Brett Gold de American National Sprinkler & Lighting. Esto significa que los técnicos de riego deben entrar en las casas de los clientes o los clientes deben hacerlo ellos mismos. La mayoría de los contratistas de riego están ofreciendo a los clientes residenciales la opción de cortar su propio suministro de agua. Para permitir que los contratistas lo hagan, como ha ocurrido en el pasado, los clientes deben permitir a los técnicos acceso a sus hogares y dejarlos entrar en el sótano, el garaje o dondequiera que se encuentren las válvulas de cierre. Alex Mayfield de JM Irrigation LLC, calcula que la primavera pasada del 5 al 10 por ciento de sus clientes optaron por hacerlo ellos mismos y espera que aproximadamente el mismo número corten ellos mismos sus propios suministros de agua. “Prefieren que no entremos en sus hogares” dice. Gold calcula que del 10 al 15 por ciento de sus clientes prefieren el método de hacerlo ellos mismos.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Para facilitar las cosas, American National Sprinkler & Lighting publicó en su sitio web un vídeo de cómo hacerlo para informar a los clientes cómo abrir el suministro de agua debidamente. El vídeo mostró a los clientes qué buscar y dónde encontrarlo. “La mayoría lo tomó con calma”, afirma Gold. Al cortar el suministro de agua, deben drenar los tubos. Los contratistas de riego pueden explicar ese proceso y contestar cualquier pregunta. Mayfield señala que sus clientes comerciales usualmente “saben lo que están haciendo” y pueden cortar ellos mismos el suministro de agua. Una vez que se ha cortado el suministro de agua, los siguientes pasos son igualmente sencillos. Los equipos de trabajo desconectan el RPG (dispositivo de prevención de reflujo) y lo llevan dentro de la casa o dejan que el dueño de casa lo haga. En este caso, el equipo de riego puede dejarlo en un punto designado y el dueño de casa puede hacerse cargo de guardarlo adentro durante el invierno, dice Mayfield. Estos RPG se deben proteger del frío que puede dañarlos. No obstante, si los dueños de casa deciden permitir a los equipos de trabajo encargarse del corte, los

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contratistas de riego toman precauciones adicionales para asegurar la seguridad y la salud tanto de sus clientes como de sus equipos de trabajo. Como asunto de rutina, “nuestros técnicos llevan puestas máscaras y guantes”, afirma Gold. Lo mismo hacen los de Mayfield. Los contratistas limpian cuidadosamente todos los equipos entre cada trabajo y algunos usan cubiertas protectoras (“booties”) sobre sus zapatos si deben entrar en las casas. “Rociamos todo con un spray antiviral antes y después de visitar cada sitio y limpiamos los equipos con toallas de papel (después de rociar)”, asegura Gold. “Hacemos una limpieza completa entre trabajos” asegura Mayfields. Una vez que se ha cortado el suministro de agua, drenado las tuberías y quitado los RPG, los equipos de trabajo todavía deben usar un compresor de aire para soplar agua fuera de los tubos, zona por zona. Mientras hacen eso, revisan el sistema para detectar posibles daños o roturas, “para que podamos repararlo o reemplazarlo en la primavera”, informa Mayfield. Se notifica a los clientes con sistemas dañados o rotos para que puedan programar el trabajo para la primavera. Los contratistas con frecuencia alquilan compresores grandes para trabajos grandes y compresores más pequeños y livianos para cosas como los sistemas de jardines en azoteas de Chicago. “Para el noventa por ciento de nuestros trabajos usamos (continúa en la página 40)

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

(Viene de la página 39) un compresor estándar”, informa Gold. No obstante, algunas propiedades residenciales son muy extensas y tenemos que usar compresores de tamaño comercial”. Mayfield ordena a sus técnicos tomar nota de todo lo que encuentren durante un cierre de riego, para que la información correspondiente se pueda ingresar en la base de datos. “Queremos asegurarnos de que todo esté al día”, dice. Con todo, podría haber sorpresas en la primavera. “Algunas veces los dueños de casa ponen elementos de paisajismo de fin de año a mediados de noviembre”, informa Gold. Eso puede implicar elementos tales como nuevos arriates de perennes. “La mayor parte del tiempo nos damos cuenta cuando llegamos ahí para abrir el sistema en la primavera”. Entonces, ellos deben programar nuevos trabajos para asegurar que el sistema de riego sea adecuado para el nuevo terreno ajardinado. La programación oportuna es importante. El trabajo se debe realizar antes de la primera helada dura. Para los clientes residenciales, eso usualmente significa que todo se cierra temporalmente para Halloween – el 31 de octubre. Los clientes comerciales grandes tienen un poco más de margen, pero a la mayoría de los contratistas de riego les gusta tener todo completado antes de mediados de noviembre, a más tardar para el Día de Acción de Gracias. “El año pasado tuvimos nuestra primera helada el 1 de noviembre”, informa Gold. “Si hay agua en la línea, puede dañar las tuberías y los dispositivos de prevención del reflujo. Y eso es caro”. Una helada puede incluso dañar los

cabezales de los rociadores. Agosto es el momento para programar o, al menos, tiempo para recordar para aquellos que programaron sus citas para cortes de riego tempranamente. “A finales de agosto enviamos nuestros recordatorios a los clientes que ya han programado un cierre”, informa Mayfield. Tanto Mayfield como Gold señalan que en este entorno rápidamente cambiante, no saben cómo resultará la próxima primavera. En cualquier caso, se mantienen flexibles y listos para hacer frente a cualquier desafío presentado por la pandemia, el clima o cualquier otra circunstancia que pueda surgir.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Fall Projects and Plants

Perennials for Fall Color by Heather Prince

Days shorten, temperatures cool, and hopefully

rain returns to bring the splendor of autumn color to the Midwest. While we look up at maples, oaks, ginkgoes, and all the other trees turning brilliant colors, or soak in the wonder of the showy plumes of grasses, perennials are also strutting their stuff. Yet, sometimes we forget to look down and notice the caramel, red, orange, or purple of our shorter plants. Keep your layers dynamic and lively with these ten options for beautiful fall color that can be subtle or show-stopping.

Amsonia sp. or bluestar

Size: 2 to 3 feet high and wide Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to well-drained Fall Color: The bluestars give us a brief show of pretty pale blue flowers, then fresh green architecture in summer, but fall is when they truly take the stage. With several species and cultivars available with foliage varying from crisp narrow leaves to almost needle-like, there are many options for notes of billowy grace. Amsonia turns rich shades of butterscotch, amber, and gold in fall, giving you sweeps of textural color that blends effortlessly with woody shrubs and evergreens.

Photo courtesy of Brent Horvath

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The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Bergenia or pig squeak

Size: 12 to 18 inches high and slowly colonizing Sun: part shade Soil: average to well-drained Fall Color: The large, coarse leathery leaves of Bergenia can be a groundcover or weave through the shade garden. After their tall clusters of pink flowers in spring, their shiny foliage blends into plantings. With frost, their edges turn maroon and the entire leaf gradually turns a rich mahogany. Pair with golden fall colors and asters for a saturated autumn show.

Photo courtesy of Mark Dwyer

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides or plumbago leadwort

Size: up to 6 inches high and spreading Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to well-drained Fall Color: This slow-moving groundcover blooms cornflower blue in September and keeps flowering as its spoonshaped leaves turn a rich, deep wine-red. Elegant at the edge of a border, it tends to take its time coming up in spring, so makes a wonderful cover for a spring bulb display. Plant where it will be noticed in fall in all its multi-colored tapestry. Consider it for a long-lasting container display with kale, cabbage, and grasses. (continued on page 44)

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 43)

Epimedium or bishop’s hat or barrenwort

Size: 12 inches to 2 feet, depending on cultivar Sun: part shade to full shade Soil: average to drought-tolerant Fall Color: The clustered heart-shaped leaves of Epimedium turn shades ranging from blonde to deep red, depending on the cultivar. In spring, wiry stems produce tiny orchid-like flowers before the red-tinged foliage appears. This elegant drought-tolerant shade perennial will slowly become a large clump and pairs beautifully with taller architectural Solomon’s seal.

Photo courtesy of Mark Dwyer

Gentiana sp. or gentian

Size: 18 to 24 inches high and wide, although cultivars may be shorter Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Fall Color: Contrasting its stunning true blue clustered flowers on upright stems in late summer through fall, gentian’s lance-like leaves turn a rich red. This clumping perennial does best in a rich soil where it can receive consistent moisture. Try it with late blooming black eyed Susans for a long-lasting combination. Our native Gentiana andrewsii is a favorite of late-season bumble bees who will force their way through the closed petals in search of nectar.

Photo courtesy of Brent Horvath

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Geranium sp. or cranesbill

Size: 3 inches up to 2 feet depending on type Sun: full sun to full shade, depending on cultivar Soil: average to well-drained Fall Color: Perennial geraniums come in many shapes and sizes from thick groundcovers to loose, billowy mounds. In May and June, their cheerful white, pink, blue or purple flowers bloom for weeks and weeks. Their fall color ranges from oranges to reds to deep wine, often on the same plant. Some may sporadically rebloom through autumn, especially the cultivar ‘Rozanne’. Plant these low-maintenance rabbit resistant hardy cranesbills where they can be easily seen and their fragrant foliage touched.

Photo courtesy of Brent Horvath

Penstemon digitalis or foxglove beardtongue

Size: up to 2 feet high and wide Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: average to well-drained Fall Color: Penstemons delight in June with tall stalks of white, lavender, or pink flowers beloved by hummingbirds. However, in autumn, they can steal the show with clusters of mahogany seedheads and rich red foliage. There are excellent cultivars available for a range of red and purple leaves and lavender flowers during the growing season. You may cut back the flower stalks after bloom for a tidy clump of foliage or allow the seeds to form to the delight of birds. (continued on page 46)

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 45)

Polygonatum sp. or Solomon’s seal

Size: 3 inches up to 3 feet, depending on type Sun: part shade to full shade Soil: average to drought-tolerant Fall Color: Solomon’s seals offer architecture in the shade garden. The tall varieties arch elegantly over hosta, geranium, and sedges for subtle structure while early hummingbirds sample their bell-like flowers. There are several cultivars in a range of sizes, including diminutive ‘Fred Case’, only a few inches tall, that gently spreads as a unique groundcover. These tough as nails plants turn a creamy blonde in autumn and can charmingly offset the rich reds of shrubs and the fiery oranges of trees. Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ or stonecrop Size: 3 to 6 inches high and 12 to 18 inches wide Sun: full sun Soil: well-drained to dry Fall Color: During the growing season, Angelina delights with brilliant-glowing golden needle-like succulent leaves in a tidy, low-growing clump. It pairs beautifully in sunny containers or as a groundcover in a hot, dry spot. In autumn, it turns a bright pumpkin orange that is especially dramatic backlit by the low fall sun. Try it as an accent plant in creative succulent combinations with pumpkins and gourds.

Photo courtesy of Mark Dwyer

Photo courtesy of Brent Horvath

Not an ILCA Member? This is the time to join! Call Marissa at 630-472-2851 for membership information. It will be your best investment in 2020! 46

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Sedum kamtschaticum or Russian stonecrop

Size: 3 to 6 inches high and spreading Sun: full sun to part shade Soil: well-drained to dry Fall Color: Russian stonecrop is an easy-going charmer of a groundcover with bright-green succulent leaves and carpeted in golden yellow flowers in July and August. It steals the show in fall, however, with fire-engine-red foliage. This tough perennial thrives in dry, rocky, or poor soils and tolerates light foot traffic. A terrific choice for the edges of walkways, paths, and driveways where it can sizzle and shine. Try in containers with other succulents and grasses for a striking fall combination.

Photo courtesy of Brent Horvath

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Focus — Fall Projects and Plants

Lighting Up the Landscape wit by Heather Prince

As we explore and utilize the broad

palette of flowering plants in our landscapes, how often do we have to remind clients that green is also a color? From pale yellow to deepest blue, green can warm the eye or cool down the scene. One of the most surprising and delightful shades of green is chartreuse or lime. This bright shade can highlight, warm up, dazzle, or add a shimmering rhythm to plantings. You can find chartreuse in flowers and foliage for sun or shade to add sizzle to your designs. One advocate of chartreuse in the garden is renowned landscape designer and author Julie Moir Messervy. The owner of Julie Moir Messervy Design Studio, a landscape architecture and design firm in Vermont, she is also the founder and president of Home Outside, which offers online landscape design services as well as apps that homeowners and contractors can use to design properties. With nine books and a lengthy list of exciting projects, Messervy has found

that chartreuse is a vital element of her plant palette. Among her favorite uses, Messervy recommended, “I always use perennials in drifts and swathes, avoiding the polka-dot effect of a single plant. Masses of chartreuse plantings can brighten a dark corner, illuminate the edge of a shady path, or contrast with the shaded base of a taller, dark green shrub or tree. They complement plants with blue-green foliage and lend a pattern of highlights to a garden of green foliage.” Adding chartreuse is not without its challenges. “If in full sun, pair with dark green plants for high contrast so the chartreuse isn’t lost in the bright light,” suggested Messervy. The hot midday sun can wash out the look you’re going for and create a brassy effect instead of a highlight. Unless using a specimen tree such as a Japanese maple or limey redbud, remember repetition to show design intent. “Use enough of them to integrate the color into the overall scheme so they don’t stand out unnaturally; repeat the use of chartreuse three or more times throughout the landscape.”

Photo courtesy of Angus Bremner 48

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

th Chartreuse Plants The quality of the foliage or flower is also important as plants come in a range of lime and gold. “Lime and gold are two different tools; try not to use them together. Choose one or the other,” commented Messervy. Combined, they may shout too loudly instead of accent. Chartreuse isn’t just about foliage, either. “Of course, there are many stunning plants with chartreuse foliage, but there are some gorgeous chartreuse flowers as well, including lady’s mantle and many hydrangeas and euphorbias,” enthused Messervy. As you’re considering adding lime green to your planting plans for a design, don’t forget the surrounding structures. “Consider the adjacent colors of the house. Darker greens go with everything, but chartreuse can clash with terracotta and some reds, pinks, and yellows.” Working with complementary colors is very important. “Coordinate with the colors of the home. Chartreuse will pair better with darker colors, blues, dark grays, browns, or a bright white; avoid pairing with yellows or tan, for full dramatic effect, be sure to place them against a backdrop of a darker color or shadow,” observed Messervy. Think about these color combinations with garden structures, too, including pergolas, sheds, walls, trellises, and garden art. Chartreuse can be an exciting subtle contrast like golden hops on a blue painted trellis, but it might be too harsh with a display of terracotta pottery. To spark the imagination, we asked Messervy to recommend some of her favorite plants in shades of chartreuse and lime.

Perennials

These are easy-going plant options that pile on the impact with minimal fuss. For sun try:

Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’s Teacup’ or ‘Lemon Ball’ Height and width: 3 to 5” spreading 12 to 18” wide Light: full sun Soil: well-drained to drought tolerant Flower: yellow in late summer Suggested uses: Angelina’s Teacup is a more spreading groundcover, where Lemon Ball is tighter and bushier. Both are excellent edging plants in dry situations, tolerate some foot traffic, and are exceptionally hardy. Try them in containers with succulents for a unique splash of lime with a zip of orange. Agastache rugosa ‘Golden Jubilee’ Height and width: 2 to 3’ high by 1 ½ to 2’ wide Light: full sun to light shade Soil: well-drained to dry Flower: violet flower spikes July to September Suggested uses: Beloved by pollinators, this Agastache offers a bold bushy habit in good drainage and blooms for months. The fragrant foliage is softly chartreuse and is a lovely foil for the sturdy lavender flower spikes. Euphorbia polychroma – cushion spurge Height and width: 12 to 18” high and wide Light: full sun Soil: well-drained to dry Flower: brilliant yellow bracts April into May Suggested uses: An heirloom favorite, cushion spurge thrives in rocky poor soils, its showy yellow bracts lasting for weeks. Play up its drama with blue flowers or cool it down with pastels. It may reseed if happy. Euphorbia x martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’ Height and width: 18 to 24” high and wide Light: full sun to part shade Soil: average to well-drained; drought tolerant (continued on page 50) The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants (continued from page 49) Flower: clusters of cream, lime, and green bracts in spring Suggested uses: Terrific in containers where its variegated foliage with notes of blush and pink can mix and match with dark foliage and flowers. Requires excellent drainage to overwinter successfully in colder zones. Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’ Height and width: 2 to 3’ high and wide Light: full sun Soil: well-drained to dry Flower: tall creamy white panicles of flowers in July Suggested uses: The creamy gold variegated foliage gives this yucca drama in the landscape and containers and a unique spiky texture.

For shade try:

Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ Height and width: 3 to 6’ Light: part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: white flower spikes July to September Suggested uses: This big bold-textured perennial can light up a shady corner and offer berries for birds. Try it in a dark corner to add some drama.

Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ Height and width: 18 to 24” high and wide Light: part shade Soil: average to wet Flower: brown flower spikes in early spring Suggested uses: A brilliant gold clumping sedge with airy fine-textured foliage to light up moist shady areas. Try it in containers as well for a dynamic texture plant. Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ Height and width: 12 to 24” high and wide Light: part shade to full shade Soil: moist well-drained Flower: airy flower heads in late summer Suggested uses: The soft cascading texture of Hakonechloa invites you to let it spill over walls and drift in broad swathes in any moist shady spot. Hosta ‘Sun Mouse’ Height and width: 6” high by 12” wide Light: part shade to full shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: lavender flower clusters in summer Suggested uses: A brilliant yellow miniature hosta that holds its distinctive color well through the heat of summer. Try it at

Photo courtesy of Susan Teare 50

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Photo courtesy of Angus Bremner the front of the shade border or in among flagstones where it can light up a shady spot. Heucherella ‘Eye Spy’ Height and width: 8 to 12” high and wide Light: part shade to full shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: bubblegum pink flower spikes in spring Suggested uses: Amber yellow foliage emerges in spring and deepens to chartreuse with an attractive deep rose splotch in the center of the leaves. Intersperse it with hosta and sedges for interesting textures in the shade. Alchemilla mollis or lady’s mantle Height and width: 12 to 18” high and wide Light: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: lime green frothy flowers in June last for weeks Suggested uses: Plant this easy heirloom to soften edges and bring bright clouds of chartreuse flowers in late spring that are also ideal for cutting. The velvety leaves hold beads of rain or dew and charm any gardener.

Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’ Height and width: 2” high and spreading Light: full sun to part shade Soil: moist well-drained to wet Flower: cup-shaped bright yellow flowers June to July Suggested uses: This brilliant groundcover thrives in moisture and is a common container plant for spilling over edges. Tolerant of light foot traffic, it can be used between stepping stones in moist areas. In wet soils it can be aggressive.

Trees and Shrubs

Woody plants are dramatic in sweeps but may also be an excellent option for a specimen or focal point. Messervy recommends these particular favorites. Acer palmatum ‘Green Star’ Height and width: 10 to 15’ high and wide Light: part sun Soil: average to moist well-drained Suggested uses: An upright to rounded Japanese maple with starry leaves emerging bright chartreuse and maturing to bright green. Fall color is golden yellow with touches of orange. Use as a specimen tree where its changing foliage may be readily enjoyed.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Focus — Fall Projects and Plants Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ Height and width: 15 to 20’ high and wide Light: part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: reddish flowers in early spring Suggested uses: The broad leaves of golden fullmoon maple emerge bright yellow with touches of red before maturing into chartreuse. Use as an elegant focal point in a protected garden. Caryopteris incana “Sunshine Blue II’ Height and width: 3’ high and wide Light: full sun Soil: average to drought tolerant Flower: Misty blue flower clusters in September along stiff stems Suggested uses: Bred for hardiness, Sunshine Blue II offers vivid gold foliage for seasonal interest in full sun and then is covered in soft blue flowers beloved by pollinators in September. It thrives in hot, dry situations and can provide a vivid focal point or eye-catching sweep.

Cercis canadensis ‘The Rising Sun’ Height and width: 10 to 12’ high and wide Light: full sun to part shade Soil: average to moist well-drained Flower: Bright pink pea-like flowers cover the twigs in early spring Suggested uses: A smaller form of redbud, The Rising Sun features chartreuse leaves with new growth in shades of orange. A terrific specimen option for small landscapes.

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Festivus Gold’ Height and width: 3 to 4’ high and wide Light: full sun Soil: average to drought tolerant Flower: white flower clusters in May Suggested uses: A tidy, compact ninebark with brilliant gold foliage that adds zip to landscape plantings. Tough and drought tolerant, this new cultivar has improved disease resistance. Try it in containers too.

Ginkgo biloba Height and width: 50 to 60’; cultivars will vary from shrubs to columnar tree forms Light: full sun Soil: average Suggested uses: There is nothing quite like a ginkgo in its full golden autumn glory. Look for smaller shrub forms like Jade Butterflies or Mariken for intimate landscapes.

Sambucus racemosa ‘Lemony Lace’ Height and width: 3 to 5’ high and wide Light: full sun to part shade Soil: average to wet tolerant Flower: Occasional flat clusters of small white flowers in spring Suggested uses: This architectural shrub’s lacy foliage emerges bright yellow before deepening to lime green. It’s a good option for a part shade moist situation to brighten and offer elegant textures.

Photo courtesy of Angus Bremner 52

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Spiraea japonica ‘Lemon Princess’ Height and width: 18 to 24” high and wide Light: full sun Soil: average to well-drained Flower: Flat clusters of pink flowers in May into July Suggested uses: Happiest when hot and dry, this dwarf spirea offers soft lemon yellow foliage in a tidy compact form.

A couple of Messervy’s favorites that may require special care to thrive in Illinois: x Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Gold Rider’ or Gold Rider Leyland cypress Height and width: 20 to 30’ high by 10 to 15’ wide Light: full sun Soil: average to moist well-drained Suggested uses: Leyland cypress is hardy to zone 6, so special siting may be required in northern Illinois. Feathery evergreen branches are bright gold at the tips, deepening to chartreuse toward the interior. A graceful elegant evergreen option for a specimen planting. Illicium parviflorum ‘Florida Sunshine’ Height and width: 5’ high by 3’ wide Light: part shade Soil: moist well-drained Suggested uses: This tropical evergreen lights up the shaded landscape with bright glossy yellow leaves. In Illinois, try it as a dynamic container plant that may be overwintered indoors.

No an ILCA Member? This is the time to join! Call Marissa at 630-472-2851 for membership information. It will be your best investment in 2020! The Landscape Contractor September 2020

New Member Profile Snapshot

Acuna Landscaping, Inc. 375 Hawthorne Lane Des Plaines, IL 60016 (847) 759-0011 rrracunanf@comcast.net

by Meta Levin

In 1986, at 18-years-old, Roberto Acuna entered the

green industry, going to work for Asahi, a landscape contractor who specialized in designing and installing Japanese gardens. Five years later, the owner decided to return to Japan and asked Acuna if he wanted to take over the company. He did. Sort of. Unsure if he knew enough to do the design work, in 1992, Acuna took over just the maintenance portion, changing the company name to Acuna Landscaping, Inc. “I learned the basics from him,” says Acuna. “He took me under his wing.” Acuna learned some design fundamentals, as well as the names of plants and under what conditions they grow best. “I wanted to be an engineer or an architect,” he says. “I always was looking at books and I learned that way.” For the first few years after taking over the business, Acuna maintained existing Japanese gardens, but there are not so many left now. Still, he has clients who are related to those original customers, many of whom have moved away from the Japanese style. The time Acuna spent working for Asahi gave Acuna more than just landscape lessons. “We would celebrate Japanese festivals at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Japanese garden,” he says. “My children would participate in the celebrations.” Acuna’s oldest son, Rafael, now serves as his foreman, one of four employees. He oversees all the maintenance. “He is my right-hand man,” says Acuna, who focuses on the landscape and hardscape design/build. “This is a family business,” says Acuna. “We are honest people and really care about our customers and their safety.” He works to ensure that everything is done right, even if it takes a little longer. He is proud of the fact that they often go the extra mile for their customers. Recently, his son was working at a client’s home when the homeowner backed out of the driveway and drove away. Acuna’s son then saw a lug nut from a car wheel 54

lying on the driveway. He called his father, who called the customer. The man checked his own wheels, but found nothing amiss. He did, however, ask that Rafael check his wife’s car. He did and found that a wheel was loose and there was one lug nut missing. “We concentrate on landscaping, but we pay attention to things when we are there,” says Acuna. “We help as much as we can.” Acuna joined ILCA at the behest of one of his suppliers, who had been suggesting he join for several years. Acuna became even more interested when the supplier suggested that he might be interested in the education sessions at iLandscape. “I wanted my son to learn,” he says. Both Acuna and his son learned a lot during iLandscape. In addition to his son, Acuna also has two daughters. One, Azalea, is a social worker, and the other, Aide, is a first-grade teacher. His wife, Rocio, works hard and helps with the business. In whatever free time he has, Acuna plays basketball, often in his driveway. More than that, he loves motorcycles and owns a Harley Davidson. Weekends, he and his wife often jump on the motorcycle and go for a ride. They are planning a longer trip toward the end of the season. Acuna Landscaping’s customers appreciate their work. “Thank you for transforming our backyard into the perfect place to spend time as a family,” one wrote in a note accompanying his payment. “Your vision, skill and professionalism are amazing.” That kind of reaction is what keeps Roberto and his team going.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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Diseases & Pests —

Disease of the Month: Downy Mildew on Basil Pest of the Month: Fall Webworm by Heather Prince

Disease of the Month: Downy Mildew on Basil

Basil downy mildew is caused by Peronospora belbahri and is host specific. It flourishes in cooler, wet weather. Symptoms first appear as diffuse yellow areas on the top of leaves, then produces spores on the underside, giving them a dirty appearance. Under magnification, undersides of leaves appear to be covered in grey fuzz. The disease progresses quickly, with affected leaves turning brown and falling; defoliating a plant within a few days. According to Dr. Babadoost, a professor in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois who specializes in diseases of vegetable crops, this disease is serious for Illinois growers.

Pest of the Month: Fall Webworm

Fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea) are communal leaf-eating caterpillars that spin silk tents at the tips of branches. They prefer crabapple, redbud, sweetgum, maple, and oak. As the caterpillars finish the leaves within the Fall Webworm web, they expand it every week or so, building a 2 to 3 foot haven. There are two races of fall webworm found in Illinois. The northern race caterpillars Treatment: have yellow-gray bodies with red Downy mildew is thought to overwinter in greenhouses or heads and all white moths. The travel in on basil cuttings. Spores can travel large distances southern race caterpillars have by wind and a small number will spread exceptionally fast. yellow-green bodies with black This pathogen develops resistance to fungicides quickly, so heads and adults are white with chemicals with different modes of action are required. For small black spots on the wings. commercial producers, there are a few chemical fungicides Adults emerge late spring to that are very effective against this pathogen. They require a Downy mildew on basil midsummer and begin to deposit pesticide applicator’s license and up to 17 applications per season. hairy egg masses on the underside of leaves in their preDr. Babadoost recommends alternating the following fungicide combiferred species. A few days later, the larvae hatch and begin nations at weekly intervals: to build silken webs over the ends of branches. You may • Azoxystrobin (Quadris 2.08SC (15.5 fl oz/A)) + potassium begin to see their tent-like webs when Hydrangea panicuphosphite (ProPhyt SC (4 pt/A)) • Cyazofamid (Ranman 400SC (3 fl oz/A)) + potassium lata is blooming. As larvae feed, they leave the large veins phosphite (ProPhyt SC (4 pt/A)) or midribs behind. While fall webworms may cause client • Revus 209SC (8 fl oz/A) plus potassium phosphite alarm, their damage is more aesthetic than life threatening ProPhyt SC (4 pt/A)) as they have many natural enemies. We do not have effective compounds for managing downy mildew in organic basil production. Treatment: For homeowners, chlorothalonil and copper fungicides demonstrate If control is desired, prune branches to remove the web minimal effectiveness. Removing and destroying infected plants is and dispose. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) treatments best. Inspect plants before purchase. Full sun, good air circulation, may be sprayed when webs appear on trees. The webs are and watering the base of plants are good preventative measures. water resistant, so tear open the web before application. Resistant basils may be infected in optimal conditions. Dr. Babadoost Treatments effectively target caterpillars, but not adults, so reports that basil downy mildew is less virulent in red or purple basils. be sure to spray when caterpillars are active.

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

Additional resources:

The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/ 630-719-2424 The Landscape Contractor September 2020

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

Classified Ads HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Landscape Account Manager

Commercial Account Sales – Snow & Land

Landscape Maintenance Sales Team Member

Enhancing lives through beautiful landscapes requires a unique passion for a special career. James Martin Associates, Inc. is looking for someone who is ready to dig in, cultivate, and grow the love of enhancing the natural beauty of our clients’ property. Working with our team of professionals in landscaping and snow services, you will live out your passion while building your client list, loyalty and satisfaction. What you will be doing... Account management, client retention, enhancement sales, new contract sales, business development, production layout and overview, along with winter responsibilities for our snow operations team. This opportunity might be right for you if: You consider yourself an expert on landscape maintenance standards, and have a strong knowledge of plant material and installation standards. Excellence is #1 and you are proud to communicate the benefits of our superior services to existing clients and to convince new clients how we can improve their “point of view”. You are energized for success and want to earn it by following your passion, commitment to your goals and conviction that James Martin Associates, Inc. is the place where you will realize the best opportunity to achieve and grow your career. Preferred Experience and Education • Degree in, or equivalent and demonstrated knowledge of landscape management or horticulture. • 5 years’ experience with landscape maintenance • Excellent verbal and writing skills • Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office programs Please send resumes to: b.mcelroy@jamesmartinassociates.com

PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

Department: Western DuPage Landscape Services Reports to: General Manager Experience / Education: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with minimal supervision. Must possess an intermediate level of horticultural knowledge plus 2 - 4 years of green industry experience in sales, primarily serving commercial maintenance and snow customers. Purpose: Engage new commercial maintenance and snow accounts. Principle Duties: • •

Prospect for commercial maintenance and snow clients: Prepare land and snow proposals

•

Present land and snow proposals

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Maintain relationship with key contacts.

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Have regular, planned contact with prospects and key clients.

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Attend client meetings and functions.

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Respond to all customer quote requests in a timely manner.

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Work with general manager on maintenance sales and snow opportunities as you develop them

•

Prepare all appropriate paperwork to ensure proper documentation and effective handoff to supervisors.

•

Quality control during snow removal operations.

Key Skills to Fulfill Job Requirements: •

Prospecting

•

Sales

•

Knowledge of landscape maintenance best practices

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Knowledge of commercial snow and ice control

•

Superior customer service

•

Must work well with the services team

•

Excellent time management

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Excellent communication both written & verbal

•

Computer skills - MS office professional and LMN a plus

Please send resumes to: resumes@wdlinc.com

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Mariani Landscape, a leader in the residential Landscape Design, Build, and Maintenance industry for over 60 years has an immediate opening for an experienced Account Management professional. Based in our Lake Bluff, Illinois facility, this person will be part of one of the best sales and service teams in the industry. If you believe in building long-term relationships, and have a desire to provide the best service to valued clientele, we would like to hear from you. This position requires at least 3 years of client sales and service experience within the landscape industry. The ideal candidate will possess a solid knowledge of horticulture, experience communicating with Production teams, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to create beautiful landscapes through attention to details and by partnering with fellow team members and the best vendors/subcontractors in the landscape business. We seek a professional and courteous individual with superior multitasking and organization skills. Knowledge of computer based client management programs would be preferred. This full-time salaried position offers competitive wages, incentive plan, comprehensive benefits, and a spectacular corporate culture that promotes growth, learning, teamwork, and employee satisfaction! Please email your resume and cover letter to sbetz@marianilandscape.com

Horticulturist/Landscape Designer Lakeshore Seasonal Services, headquartered in Valparaiso Indiana, serves commercial and institutional clients throughout Northwest Indiana. Our clients rely on us for creative solutions for new projects, renovations and ongoing grounds maintenance, including seasonal color and holiday decor. We’re looking for a Landscape Designer and/ or Ornamental Horticulturist to work with staff landscape architects on design/build and landscape management projects. Experience with Adobe graphic software is desirable, as is a two or four degree in this or a closely related field, but most important is a willingness to learn and grow with our company. Please send resumes to hfs@lakeseasonal.com

HELP WANTED

Director of Business Development

Large Chicago Landscaping Company Looking for Multiple Positions

Landscape Foreman

Purpose: To expand and grow our client base by attracting new customers and increasing the spending of existing customers. Maintain and expand corporate image of excellence through sales of quality products and services, servicing the customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs and providing open lines of communication to our clients. Provide input and collaborate with all sales team members and mentoring of new members as required. New sales generation. Qualifications: 1. Minimum five years experience in sales. 2. Two-years experience in field landscape maintenance procedures or equivalent. 3. Two-years experience in field construction procedures or equivalent. 4. Degree in horticulture related field or extensive horticulture training. Please email resume to GKruckenberg@ BalancedEnvironmentsInc.com

2-3 years experience preferred. Basic knowledge of landscape equipment operation & installation techniques for pavers, retaining walls, and planting required; snow plow & irrigation experience preferred but not essential. A valid Indiana Drivers license, or the ability to obtain it is required. 40-55 hours per week including some Saturdays.

Currently looking to fill the following positions: Landscape Construction Foreman: 3 Needed. Locations: Old Mill Creek,IL , Lombard, IL, Plainfield, IL Spray Technician: 2 Needed. Locations: Lombard, IL, Plainfield, IL

Pay based on experience, ability, work ethic and congeniality. Overtime pay, health, dental, retirement & college savings plans, uniform service. Vacation & paid holidays after 3 months.

Irrigation Technician: 1 Needed Location: Lombard, IL Landscape Maintenance Foreman: 1 Needed Location: Plainfield, IL

Friendly workplace in beautiful Valparaiso, Indiana, serving commercial & institutional clients. We E-Verify & we are a Drug-Free Work Place. EOE. Lakeshore Seasonal Services, Inc. 219-462-9555 or hfs@lakeseasonal.com.

Landscape Construction Laborers: 5 Location: Old Mill Creek, IL Please send resumes to: drich@balancedenvironmentsinc.com or fax to 847-838-9290

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE HIRING OPEN POSITIONS: Residential Maintenance Account Manager Human Resources Associate

Call Maria for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers

jamesmartinassociates.com | (847) 634-1660

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Classified Ads HELP WANTED Landscape Architect/Designer Wingren Landscape Downers Grove, IL Wingren Landscape is considered one of the area’s top landscape architectural and design firms. Our goal is to create a unified and stimulating environment where your talents and motivation are rewarded. Wingren Landscape is not just a place to work; it is a place to be creative and successful while at work. Wingren Landscape, Inc. is an award winning full-service landscape company for both residential and commercial properties seeking an experienced candidate for the following full time position: Landscape Architect / Designer Position Role / Requirements: This person will be responsible for managing all phases of residential design projects of varying types and sizes from initial client outreach to project managing the job to completion. The position involves design, sales and project management. • B.S. Landscape Architecture or demonstrated experience. • Ability to produce high-quality creative designs, estimate and sell jobs. • Intermediate to advanced skill level in Autocad, Adobe Photoshop, and MS Office. Experience with Sketch Up, LandFX and Asset is considered a plus. • 3 plus years of experience preferred • Excellent communication and graphic skills Wingren offers competitive compensation and benefit packages. Please send resume and work samples to: megly@wingrenlandscape.com

Landscape Operations and Account Manager Established Residential landscape design, build, and maintenance company in western suburbs looking to add to our team. Responsibilities would be: - Scheduling and managing crews - Account management for landscape maintenance and snow service Excellent relationship skills required Great salary and benefits Come join our fun environment with friendly people! Please send resume to: cconlin@cbconlin.com

HELP WANTED

SITUATION WANTED

Landscape Architect/Designer + Sales

Landscape Architect Seeking to Support Your Design Deeds

Bruss Landscaping of Wheaton is looking to add another talented landscape professional to our team as we continue to grow. We are an award winning firm that has been providing high quality design/ build services to DuPage and eastern Kane counties since 1952. If you are skilled in residential design and sales, have a proven sales record, are self-motivated and focused on exceptional customer service and quality we would like to meet you.

Landscape Architect seeking to support your design needs by providing design assistance for your projects. I can do this under my own brand, or yours, or as a team. I have a career based in supporting others’ companies as a consultant.

Requirements: - A 4-year degree in Landscape Design and/or Architecture - A minimum of 3 years professional work experience with proven sales history - Strong plant and construction knowledge - Driver’s license and good driving record - Professional appearance and demeanor - Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite - Proficiency in Dynascape

I am happy to provide references, portfolio, or other information. THANK YOU!

Ideal candidates will be detail orientated, logical thinking, conscientious, professional and most importantly, maintain a high level of honesty and integrity. Bruss is a relaxed work environment, although seasonally hectic, with competitive salary and commission plus a strong benefit package including vehicle, insurance, 401k, generous vacation allowance and reduced winter hours. Contact Eric Bruss, ebruss@brusslandscaping.com, (630) 665-1600.

FOR SALE

Business for Sale Located in the South Suburbs for over 30 years, multi-million dollar landscape maintenance & construction company is for sale. Instant satellite office that could be added to your brand this season. Fully staffed with long-time field employees, office staff, mechanics and managers. Located near source of labor, with room to expand. 75% maintenance, 15% install, 10% snow/salt. Owner will consider carrying some financing & aid in the transition. Email retirementplan2021@gmail.com for more information.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Please go to the website, www.re-ecology.com, or email here2help@re-ecology.com, or call 312-569-0866.

CLASSIFIED ADS

CLOSING DATES & RATES October 2020 issue ads: Sept. 15, 2020 November 2020 issue ads: October 15, 2020 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

Advertisers

Attention Advertisers:

1st Choice Equipment ...........................................13 Bartlett Tree Experts .............................................46 Breezy Hill Nursery ..............................................30 Cardno ...................................................................42

offers some extraordinary MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES.

Cedar Path Nurseries .............................................35 Clesen Wholesale ..................................................28 Compost Supply.....................................................45

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

Dayton Bad & Burlap ...........................................53 Doty Nurseries LLC ................................................4 D&S Truck Center ................................................43

Call Debbie to get started!

Goodmark Niurseries ............................................25 Green Glen Nursery ..............................................63

817-501-2403

Henning’s Farm and Greenhouses ........................17 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ........................................12 Homer Industries ...................................................57 Iron Rental .............................................................31 James Martin Associates .......................................59

Attention Landscape Contractors:

Lafarge Fox River Stone ......................................55 Longshadow Planters ............................................11

Remember to Support ILCA Supporters!

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

These include:

Mariani Plants .......................................................39 Martin Implement .................................................15

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

McGinty Bros. ......................................................49 Midwest Groundcovers .........................................19 Midwest Trading .....................................................2 Spring Meadow Nursery .......................................23 The Landscape Contractor magazine ....................60 The Mulch Center .................................................27 Turtle Creek Nursery ............................................44

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

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens by Heather Prince

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens

opened its doors in 2011. Set along the Rock River in Sinnissippi Park, the conservatory shines amid lushly landscaped gardens. The 11,000 square foot conservatory soars 52 feet to accommodate large palms and tropical trees. A burbling stream musically wends its way into a large koi pond and a beautiful infinity pond seems to flow outside into the Eclipse Lagoon. Egyptian tile paths dip and weave through lush plantings dotted with tropical fruit trees. Intimate corners feature orchids, flowering vines, bromeliads, aroids, and commissioned sculptures. A spiral staircase leads you to the viewing deck, giving visitors a chance to experience the tops of the palm trees and visit the green roof. A small cafĂŠ is tucked in one corner and learning opportunities for children abound. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens takes sustainability and the environment seriously as a LEED Gold Certified building that includes a thriving green roof, bioswale, and more. A registered Monarch Waystation, the bioswale along the parking lot is teeming with butterflies flitting among native shrubs and perennials. A full calendar of events engages families including a carnivorous plant special exhibit, light shows, butterfly exhibits, concerts, tea house, and more.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, Rockford 1354 N. 2nd Street Rockford, IL 61107 https://www.nicholasconservatory.com/ Admission: check website for rates

Outdoors, a selection of public sculpture set among thoughtful plantings of colorful annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs delights visitors. The naturalistic gardens alongside of the conservatory are tucked below street level against a stone wall, sheltering you from traffic along the busy road and inviting you to linger under trees on one of the plentiful benches. A family-friendly boardwalk lets you get up close and personal with the Eclipse Lagoon and its resident ducks and swans. The Eclipse Lagoon has been a landmark since the 1920s, welcoming wildlife in summer and ice skating and hockey during the winter. Stroll along its wide paths and discover the Sinnissippi Rose Garden. Created in 1924, this All-American Rose Selection accredited garden features about 62 varieties of roses in a classical formal setting. It is one of the few rose gardens in the United States. where new cultivars may be debuted before being released to the public. In the center, it features a 32-foot floral clock. Views of the sedate Rock River are plentiful, and the gardens connect to the Rock River Recreation Path allowing easy access. You can pick up a scenic river tour or a historic trolley tour from the conservatory campus.

The Landscape Contractor September 2020

We Get You We Got You CLIENT SALES SUPPORT AND SAMPLES

EXCLUSIVE ELEGANCE™ PRODUCTS AND LABOR SAVING DEVICES

RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS CAN BE A CHALLENGE

ON-SITE TRAINING FOR YOUR CREWS

3D DESIGN TOOLS AND TRAINING

ONLINE TRAINING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH

For almost 50 years, we’ve been working with contractors like you to build the hardscape industry. As an entrepreneur himself, our founder knew how challenging it is to run your own business and was motivated to help contractors build their companies. Today, we’ve still got your back with a team of experienced in-field representatives who are ready to work with you and your crews one-on-one. Contact 1-800-UNILOCK or visit UNILOCK.COM to connect with your local Territory Manager.

The Landscape Contractor magazine SEP.20 Digital Edition

Articles inside

Diseases & Pests Webworms and Downy Mildew on Basil

New Member Profile Acuna Landscaping, Inc

EN ESPAÑOL

Irrigation: Fall Shut-Downs An early sign of fall’s arrival

New Board Member Profile Jim Cirrincione, Hinsdale Nurseries

CONTENTS

FOCUS: Fall Projects and Plants Late Summer Sensations Plant geeks share their fall flora