The Landscape Contractor magazine SEP.23 DIGITAL EDITION

Fire + Ice

Babylon Chicago

MIDWEST NATURAL GARDEN

For 70 years, the The Natural Garden (now known as Midwest Natural Garden) has been a place of passion, learning, and discovery.

Horticulture industry professionals are invited to an Open House honoring the nursery’s 70th Anniversary.

SCAN TO FOR MORE INFO OR VISIT MIDWESTGROUNDCOVERS.COM

P: 847-742-1790

mgsales@midwestgroundcovers.com midwestgroundcovers.com

Clockwise from left to right: Stephen’s Cottage, customers touring the native gardens, and sales yard photo from the historical archives.

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

Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www.ilca.net

Volume 64, 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: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632

SEPTEMBER

Turf Education Day (TED)

September 21, 2023

NIU Naperville Naperville, IL

ILCA Staff

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

Statewide Director of Development

Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@ilca.net

Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net

Office Manager

Alycia Nagy anagy@ilca.net

Membership & Marketing Manager

Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net

Magazine Staff

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

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

Meta Levin Feature Writer meta.levin@comcast.net

Nina Koziol Feature Writer n.koziol@att.net

Heather Prince Feature Writer princeht@sbcglobal.net

Patrice Peltier Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

Becke

EditorialAssistant

Women’s Networking Group

October 5, 2023

Chandler’s Chophouse Schaumburg, IL

Young Professionals Event

October 12, 2023

Midwest Groundcovers St. Charles, IL

Foremanship & Crew Leader Workshop

October 17 & 18, 2023

NIU Naperville Naperville, IL

The Impact Conference

October 20, 2023

NIU Naperville Naperville, IL

From Where I Stand —

with high end cooking than, “chef.” The word is obviously French, but has no direct ties to kitchen or food. It is the French word for “head” or “chief” or “boss” or “leader.” In restaurants, the term was originally “chef de cuisine” or kitchen head. Over time, it was abbreviated to just chef. Its use fell out of favor in other trades, and in the end, the term is still used for skilled cooks all around the world.

Ask anyone to close their eyes and envision a “chef” and it’s easy. Most would picture some form of Gordon Ramsay, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Julia Child, or Chef Boyardee. They are wearing a gleaming white chef’s jacket, silly hat, and have knife skills that rival any surgeon.

If anyone has ever worked in a kitchen or known a professional chef, you know to stay away from that knife. I worked as a waiter in a restaurant that had a Head Chef. His name was embroidered on his double-breasted chef’s coat. He was an absolute tyrant.

He spent his days screaming at his kitchen staff, screaming at the waiters, or screaming at vendors for being late with his mussels. He always looked annoyed that customers wandered into the restaurant that evening. He would curse audibly at no one in particular. His response to a waiter if a guest asked for a recipe was, “You start with 6 years of culinary school...” Chef calmed his nerves by smoking cigarettes and staring off into the distance. Long before I ever laid eyes on Chef Gordon Ramsay, I knew a Chef Gordon Ramsay. As a waiter, I’d go home frustrated and angry. I didn’t understand why a chef had to be treated with the same level of respect as a Supreme Court Justice. But I wasn’t a cook, and all the other cooks in the kitchen loved him.

manager, pastry chef, line cooks, sauté chef, seafood chef, butcher, and so on. This system is how many kitchens still operate almost 150 years later.

If this sounds militaristic, it is. Escoffier spent 7 years in the army during the Franco-Prussian war. He understood rank and efficiency and order. One primary difference is that a corporal can’t untie his apron and walk off in disgust after a stressful battle. Escoffier realized he needed a system based not on rank and indentured servitude, but off teamwork, pride, respect, communication, responsibility, and authority.

Yes, Chef!

On “The Bear,” the head Chef requires anyone who works in the kitchen to be called “Chef.” No names, just “Chef.” If you touch food, even scraping it off a plate into a sink drain, you are referred to as “Chef.” This is a common trait you see on the Food Network or challenge shows like Chopped and Kitchen Nightmares. When speaking to a Chef, you address him or her as Chef. When the chef speaks to the contestant, regardless of skill level or experience, he or she is also referred to as “chef.” It is the absolute base term that brings everyone back to the same level of respect. It does not matter if you have Michelin stars or cook in a hairnet. If people are paying you to eat food you cook, you are “Chef” and you should be treated as one.

This plays out on “The Bear” with hilarious results. Some of the more seasoned cooks understand this. The Latina prep cook is confused as to why everyone starts calling everyone “Jeff” and begins to refer to the head chef as “Jeff.” Some of the cooks love being viewed as peers while others feel they do not deserve the title or respect. The characters who struggle the most are the ones who don’t understand their role in the Brigade.

Hulu has an original comedy series called “The Bear.” It is the story of a Michelin-starred chef who returns to Chicago to take over his deceased brother’s Italian Beef stand. Being a chef at a high-end restaurant, working under his own tyrant, burned the main character out. There, he was made to feel small and disrespected as he used tweezers to assemble plates that would be sold to foodies for hundreds of dollars. At his new restaurant, he thin-slices seasoned beef, dunks it in jus, and sells it for $9 - hot or sweet. He’s happier, but the work is no less stressful or demanding.

When he arrives, the entire operation is in complete disarray. The kitchen staff is a collection of barely-trained line cooks, dishwashers, and inept family members. The restaurant is dirty, the books are dirtier, and if they make it a few more months, it will be a miracle.

One of the first concepts he introduces is the Brigade System. For those not familiar with the back-of-the-house operations of high end restaurants, a Brigade System was developed by master chef Auguste Escoffier. He developed a kitchen system that compartmentalized every task of food service and then matches the right person to that task. The Executive Chef (the chef Chef) then oversaw those “stations” and created expectations and a communication model for each. The stations include the Sous Chef (Assistant Chef), pantry

I have always seen a crossover between restaurants and landscaping. It was one of the reasons we booked Chef Charlie Trotter as the very first keynote at iLandscape. Both are high stress, fast-paced work environments with oodles of competition. They employ a wide range of professionals from those with advanced degrees, licenses, specialties, all the way down to immigrants and first generation Americans with blue collar backgrounds. Everyone has a specific job to do and the most disarray comes when those jobs are poorly defined. The work environments are dangerous without proper training. Both professions scrape and claw for margins and deal with finicky clientele. Some of those clients care deeply about the ingredients while others will never appreciate the ingredients, just the experience they provide. Hours and shifts are long. Wages are tight. Finally, an incredible amount of teamwork is required to accomplish anything. But oh, the magic they create.

The concept of using the term “chef” and the Brigade system is born out of efficiency. However, the reason it flourishes is because of the respect and pride of ownership baked into it. If we start with the premise that every single person who works for a landscape company is a landscape professional (let’s call them “Pro,” for lack of something snappier) the workplace dynamics change dramatically. There is no reason a Brigade system could not use first names, but the intent is that every person in that kitchen has earned the right to be there. Since they all have a task, they also have authority and dominion over

There are few words more synonymous

From Where I Stand —

that task. Since that task is essential to kitchen operations, the work of that professional mastering their task is essential to the success of the Brigade. Experience, pedigree, education, age, and gender do not matter, everyone is “chef.”

Imagine an Owner, a Production Manager and a Crew Leader all referring to each other as “Pro.” It’s subtle, but it changes the entire workplace dynamic. There is an immediate leveling of respect. It does not mean the hierarchy goes out the window, in fact it is quite the opposite. It just means that everyone in the hierarchy has recognized value and everyone has to stay in their lane to succeed. The business can’t function without the diversity of its Pros and the Pros will leave if their stress loads are not met with mutual respect.

Anyone who has worked in a restaurant understands there is a pecking order and the executive chef is the boss. It is impossible to work a week in that environment and not see people get upset or a chef lose his or her mind. So why do people come back? This is a profession where you slide past one another holding sharp knives and hot pans, you sweat over a hot cook top for a double shift, you are deafened by the endless clatter of steel on steel, and your passion project gets thrown back into the Expo window because it’s too spicy by a waiter who’s pissed you just cost him his tip.

Stress is inevitable in the restaurant industry. The reason people love it is because they feel their inputs have value. Burnout and turnover occur when the stress load is not matched with feeling respected for your hard work. Escoffier and thousands of other chefs have learned the best way to build a workforce is to give people authority and treat them like peers who belong there.

Like landscaping, talented and loyal chefs move up the ladder quickly. Some are promoted to higher stations internally, while others leave to find those opportunities elsewhere. With each new opportunity, they are greeted and treated as chefs. It is common for many businesses to view employees as temporary caretakers of parts of the business — that the business is greater than the sum of its parts. Escoffier would argue the opposite. All the parts matter. If you take talented people, put them in the right spot, give them responsibility and authority, and demand they be treated with respect, even the most stressful work environments can excel and retain superstars.

The landscape industry doesn’t need more account managers, laborers, or entry level designers. The landscape industry needs more Pros. Account Managers manage accounts, laborers labor, and designers design. Pros, on the other hand, respond to systems that are orderly and efficient. Pros want to confidently share ideas with a receptive manager. Pros wants to feel part of a team or they will leave and find a system that is less antagonistic to feedback. Pros will celebrate the task no matter how big or how small. Pros are thanked and valued by their colleagues and managers. Pros create the magic.

Whether or not “Yes, Chef”, “Yes, Pro”, “Yes, Grower” or “Yes, Contractor” make their way into the lexicon is immaterial. Respected professionals organized into specific and useful roles can conquer any challenge. Let it be said, and Escoffier would agree, the problem is not too many cooks in the kitchen, it’s not enough chefs.

Sincerely,

Scott Grams, Executive Director August 15, 2023

President

Ashley Marrin

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

Vice-President

Jim Cirrincione

Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Secretary-Treasurer

Kim Hartmann

Rosborough Partners 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net

Immediate Past President

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

Directors

Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com

Ryan Heitman

The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com

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

Michael Massat

The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com

Nikki Melin Midwest Groundcovers (847) 742-1790 nmelin@midwestgroundcovers.com

Kevin McGowen Kaknes/SiteOne (630) 416-999 kevin@kaknes.com

Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com

Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

President’s Message —

For the past 10 years,

I’ve worked alongside my parents learning the nuts and bolts of how our design-build-maintenance company operates, how to make difficult decisions, and how best to work together. There are many challenges but I approach each one as an opportunity. Technology is a major opportunity—I want to implement as much as possible with an online calendar and crew schedule, a computer design software program, estimating software, and converting our paper files to digital. And, there are technological advances each year with equipment. All of these things can help us manage the day-to-day tasks—usually faster and more efficiently—and in the long run that saves money.

My parents and their peers who began their careers 30 or 40 years ago were comfortable using a paper calendar and dry erase board, hand-drawn landscape designs, and printed documents. It’s a generational thing and can be trying at times — but both methods work and sometimes it seems easier and more comfortable to do what’s been done in the past. In the tech centered world, many employees are recent college grads with a wealth of understanding about computer processes and labor-saving technology. But most other businesses like the landscape industry have multiple generations working together. Have you heard — or perhaps said —“We’ve always done it that way”?

My advice, no matter what your age or how long you’ve been in the industry, is to be a good listener, practice patience, and have respect for each other. Experienced team members are a wealth of skills — they are the mentors. Their knowledge is valuable even if they do things differently. Younger employees can offer new ideas and perspectives—potential labor-saving ideas that could affect your bottom line in a very positive way. Give them a chance—remain open to new ideas and the excitement that comes with them. We’re all looking to achieve the same goal: success. For owners and seasoned employees, consider your experience as generational wealth—not just a financial asset—but the knowledge you’re passing down to the next generation each and every day. As Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Let’s go forth and thrive!

Sincererly,

Ashley Marrin

Durante los últimos 10 años, he trabajado junto con mis padres aprendiendo los elementos básicos de cómo opera una compañía de diseño-construcción-mantenimiento, cómo tomar decisiones difíciles y cómo trabajar mejor juntos. Hay muchos desafíos, pero enfrento cada uno como una oportunidad. La tecnología es una oportunidad importante—deseo implementar lo más posible: un calendario y horarios de trabajo en línea, un programa de diseño informático, software de cálculo de costos y convertir nuestros archivos impresos en digitales. Y cada año hay avances tecnológicos con los equipos. Todas estas cosas pueden ayudarnos a gestionar las tareas diarias— usualmente de forma más rápida y eficiente—y a la larga, ahorrar dinero.

Mis padres y sus colegas que comenzaron sus respectivas carreras hace 30 o 40 años, se sentían cómodos usando un calendario de papel y un tablero de borrado en seco, diseños de paisajismo hechos a mano y documentos impresos. Es una cuestión generacional y puede resultar fastidiosa algunas veces—pero ambos métodos funcionan y algunas veces parece más fácil y más cómodo hacer lo que se ha venido hacienda desde el pasado. En el mundo de los centros de tecnología, muchos empleados se han graduado recientemente de colegios universitarios y tienen muchos conocimientos de procesos informáticos y tecnología que ahorra mano de obra. Pero la mayoría de los demás negocios, como la industria del paisajismo, tienen generaciones múltiples trabajando juntas. ¿Ha escuchado—o quizá dicho—“Siempre lo hemos hecho así?”

Mis consejos, independientemente de su edad o cuánto tiempo tiene de estar en la industria, son saber escuchar, tener paciencia y practicar el respeto mutuo. Los miembros de los equipos con experiencia tienen una gran riqueza de habilidades—son los mentores. Sus conocimientos son valiosos, aunque hagan las cosas de diferente manera. Los empleados más jóvenes pueden ofrecer nuevas ideas y perspectivas—ideas que pueden ahorrar trabajo y pueden impactar el balance final de forma muy positiva. Deles una oportunidad—permanezca abierto a las nuevas ideas y las emociones que las acompañan. Todos deseamos lograr el mismo objetivo: tener éxito. Para dueños y empleados experimentados, considere su experiencia como riqueza generacional—no solo un activo financiero—sino los conocimientos que está transmitiendo a la próxima generación día tras día. Como dijo Sócrates, “El secreto del cambio es centrar toda tu energía no en luchar contra lo viejo, sino en construir lo nuevo”. ¡Avancemos para prosperar!

Atentamente, Ashley Marrin

Ashley Marrin

Hursthouse, Inc. • Bolingbrook

Mid-Century Textures

With the use of clean lines and strategic material selection, the tired back yard was transformed into a versatile extension of the home with a modern touch. The conveniences of home cooking are extended to the outdoors with the help of an extensive kitchen complete with a wide range of appliances. The large roof structure provides ample protection from the elements for both the dining and outdoor kitchen areas.

Can lights within the structure and low voltage lighting throughout the outdoor space provide added functionality and ambiance. The outdoor season is extended with the addition of heaters mounted to the structure’s ceiling, along with the incorporation of a natural gas fire pit. Planting beds framing both sides of the patio provide seasonal color throughout the year.

Focus — Fire + Ice

Smokin’ hot products, plows, plants and presentations generate cool vibes

by Nina A. Koziol

The Ice Man Cometh. And he wears a blue polyester suit. That would be Scott Grams, ILCA’s executive director who traded his other persona (Johnny Ilca) to be “Ice,” the dude, who with his sidekick “Fire” (aka Wes Arnold from Purple Wave Auctions), moseyed through this year’s Landscape and Snow Expo at Ball Horticultural in West Chicago where they gave out cash prizes and had fun with the attendees.

There were walking tours of Ball’s many displays, presentations and demos under the tents, and 60 exhibitors that ran the gamut from plants and mowers to snow plows and software systems. And, back by popular demand — axe throwing—and a beer tent sponsored by The Tree Connection! What more could one ask for from this “mini”

summertime version of iLandscape?

“This is a wonderful event,” said Pat Buescher, owner of Premium Travertine in Chebanse, Illinois. “The vendors, the talks and Ball’s gardens — they were all great.” It was the second time attending for Sandy Schweitzer of Bruss Landscaping in Wheaton. “We went as a group — sort of a company outing — and had a lot of fun,” Schweitzer said. “Plus, being at Ball gave us a chance to see lots of gorgeous plants, which is always a shot in the arm when the season starts to run down. I was really impressed by it all — that’s such an undertaking and so much energy — both in the planning and the execution.”

Attendees ranged in age from 20-somethings just starting the green industry to those with five decades of work experience.

(continued from page 11)

Focus — Fire + Ice

(continued from page 11)

Staff from small to large landscape companies, nurseries and garden centers, park districts and forest preserves were well represented. “The show has grown since last year,” said ILCA’s events manager Terre Houte. “Our grand total was 862 attendees.”

“What stood out for me was the energy,” said ILCA board member Kim Hartmann. “Vendors and attendees were upbeat, excited and enthusiastic. While the demand for landscaping services and nursery products is not quite as strong as during the pandemic, many agree we are getting to more manageable levels of work and demand. Availability of products has improved, labor is more available and prices are stabilizing.”

This was the first time at the event for Joey Matusik of The Tree Connection in Rochester, Michigan. “It was amazing and very well run,” Matusik said. “I enjoyed how well everything flowed with the setup, the amount of entertainment options and how helpful the staff was with our setup and teardown. The booth traffic was amazing and we did end up attracting new clients as well.”

Mike Halloran of Halloran Power Equipment in Palatine was one of the vendors demonstrating battery operated mowers and blowers. “We had a great turnout in the morning with a lot of people asking questions.” As more municipalities require electric equipment, there’s been an increasing interest in battery operated devices, how long they’ll hold a

(continued on page 14)

Trading Bagging Plant

Trading Mix Plant

Focus — Fire + Ice

(continued from page 12)

charge and, of course, the cost versus benefits. (More on that in a future issue.)

“I liked the energy that Scott had with the megaphone—it set the tone for the rest of the program,” said arborist Charlie Keppel, past president of ILCA. “The vendors liked the energy level and the interest in some of the new equipment. The economy is picking up and a lot of landscapers are looking for equipment that will reduce their reliance on labor. ILCA has been very successful having so many volunteers.”

Hartmann also enjoyed seeing so many suppliers. “You can keep building relationships, see products, and share experiences. Hoffie Nursery consistently stands out because of their branding, displays, and unique plant varieties. They have fun while representing great plants.”

“I loved the axe throwing event and thought it was so much fun to compete against my friends on the Young Professionals Committee,” said Elaina Blankenhagen of Plandscape. “It was the ideal environment for forming new connections. “It’s not too early to think about attending iLandscape or some of the many other upcoming events— https://ilca.net/ilca-events/

Focus — Fire & Ice

Big Thanks to all our sponsors

Preview

Bees, mosquitos and turf. Oh, my!

by Meta L. Levin

And that’s just the beginning for the 2023 Turf Education Day (TED). There’s a new venue, too: Northern Illinois University (NIU) Naperville, 1120 E. Diehl, Naperville, IL.

TED 2023 is scheduled for 8:15 am through 3 pm, Thursday, September 21, at NIU Naperville.

Why the change from the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, the site of TED for years? “We are hoping it will draw more people who found it difficult to come up to the Chicago Botanic Garden,” says Shane Griffith, TED committee chair and COO of Weed Man FRI Group. The new venue is familiar to ILCA. “It’s a spacious facility and it has hosted several other ILCA events.” This is the first time TED planners have tried a new location and they are, says Griffith, interested in seeing the attendee and vendor response.

Griffith is excited about the line-up. “We are drawing from expertise in the golf world, and how it can be transferred into care of residential lawns, athletic fields and parks,” he says. Speakers also will focus on sustainability and technology.

Griffith pointed to a “strong vendor response.” They will be located in the atrium, which should, he believes, lead to more interaction than in the past.

Keynote speaker Daniel Potter, PhD, professor emeritus

from the University of Kentucky, will take attendees through why bees and other pollinators are in danger, as well as the role of insecticides and other factors in this situation. Dr. Potter will discuss how to safeguard pollinators when managing lawn and landscape pests.

Later, Dr. Potter will cover “Managing Lawn Insect Pests: It’s Getting Easier to be Green,” during a 10 am breakout session. In this talk, he will discuss diagnosis and control of common insect pests in the Midwest, using reduced-risk insecticides and non-chemical strategies, focusing on those that are most effective. Dr. Potter will include tips for safeguarding beneficial insects and how to best communicate with the public about modern insecticides.

Also, during the 10 am breakout session, Rusty Stachlewitz, sales manager of Advanced Turf Solutions, will discuss which species and varieties of turf work best in different landscape types. Stachlewitz is a return speaker from 2021.

(continued on page 20)

Turf Education Day 2023

disease. He also will talk about the best ways to collaborate with the NSMAD and other public health organizations.

Dan Dinelli, Golf Course Superintendent: Agronomy, Resource & Turf Management, Ecology, Landscape Maintenance at North Shore Country Club, will review testing organic amendments at North Shore Country Club. These include compost, biosolids and biochar. These include focusing on sustainable inputs to improve soil ecology and function for long-term plant health.

(continued from page 18)

Derek Settle, PhD, Senior Director of Turfgrass Programs for the Chicago District Golf Association, will speak about, “Diseases of Turf – Those We Can See and Those We Cannot (Roots).” Settle will focus primarily on cool-season lawns, including above ground diseases that are relatively easy to identify, and below ground diseases, including those that are more chronic and perennial, making them more difficult to identify because they are below ground, such as fungal root rots and plant parasitic nematodes. He will take attendees through identification, as well as what they can do about them.

The 11:15 am sessions cover a wide range of related topics.

Dave Zazra, Communications Manager for the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD), will explain NSMAD’s integrated pest management methods of controlling mosquitoes, while minimizing the risk of vector-borne

Brad Beaver, Acting Bureau Chief, Illinois Department of Agriculture, will update attendees on Illinois Department of Agriculture pesticide programs, including changes to the licensing and certification system, as well as online options for training and testing. He also will cover pesticide misuse, posting and notifications.

At 2:00 pm, Nikki Hendrickson, a Sales Representative with Advanced Turf Solutions, will delve into pest biology, scouting methodology and how to control turf pets.

None of this would be possible without the TED sponsors. This year they include Russo Power Equipment, premier sponsor for the 12th year and sponsor of the Daniel Potter keynote and Ben Etsinger presentations; Arborjet/ Ecologel, breakfast sponsor; TruGreen, lunch; Rainbow Ecoscience, tabletop; KO Supply Company, Brad Beaver presentation; and Contour Landscaping, Dan Dinelli presentation.

PURPLE PILLAR ®

Santiago’

Narrow | Heat Tolerant | Durable

USDA

Purple Pillar® hibiscus brings the durable easy growth of rose of Sharon to skinny spaces. Large, semi-doubled flowers adorn a fastigiate habit, creating unlimited landscape potential: narrow hedges, screens, formal gardens, entryways, and even decorative containers.

Hibiscus syriacus ‘Gandini

PP#25,568; CBR#6178

by Nina A. Koziol

ILCA Visits with Scott Jamieson

When Scott Jamieson was growing up in Gary, Indiana, he spent time exploring the nearby Indiana Dunes and that wild, wooly site inspired his career as an arborist. “I was fascinated by the ecology,” says Jamieson, who is Vice President of Bartlett Tree Experts, a family owned international tree care firm. “I went to Purdue for wildlife science. Urban forestry would be my focus and my career was tree work in Chicago.”

When he and his wife Diane moved to Arlington Heights about 25 years ago, the quarter-acre property featured a couple of aging crabapples. “It was a typical suburban property with nothing much and an old wooden deck. We loved the neighborhood and decided this was going to be our forever home.” The evolution of the garden is the result of Jamieson’s love of trees and his longtime friendships with other industry pros. “It’s the partnerships and collaborations I’ve had within the industry and the relationships,” Jamieson explained, that make his garden special.

His career began with the Care of Trees company in Chicago. At the time, it was Hendricksen the Care of Trees, which became simply The Care of Trees where he served as president and CEO. He’s been with Bartlett Tree Experts for over 15 years. We had an opportunity to chat during ILCA’s design tour in Chicago last year.

Laying the Groundwork

A few years after moving into the home, Jamieson worked with designer Tim Thoelecke Jr., former owner of Garden Concepts. “We took out the old deck and the patio was first. He designed it and put in a real simple recirculating fountain that makes for a nice splashing sound in the back yard.” He credits Thoelecke for connecting him with the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. “He got me involved in that organization and for many years Bartlett was a sponsor.”

Landscape architect Doug Hoerr also had a hand in transforming the property, too. “I’m not really a design guy,” Jamieson admits. “I’ve been more about plants, especially natives. Doug helped me with the front and did design work with a fothergilla hedge that looks awesome in the spring with its bottlebrush flowers and great fall color.” With his interest in natives, Jamieson also (continued on page 24)

“People will nerd-out about plants and get into the science about them, but to me it was always about the connection between the plants and the people, plants that memorialize someone, remind them of someone. It serves as a connection.”

Jamieson

— Scott Jamieson

Focus — The Pros at Home

(continued from page 22) worked with Jack Pizzo, owner of The Pizzo Group in Leland.

Jamieson also credits Leo Kelly of Kellygreen Design for solving a sight line issue. “He’s another connection and I’ve known him for years. We have a six-foot fence ordinance here and we didn’t want a big fence, but we wanted a screen to block the neighbor. His craftsmen built six trellis panels — architectural panels —eight feet tall. Your eye goes to the panels and you can see through them.” The freestanding panels get around the height ordinance because it’s not a fence. “Leo did a great job and it’s been awesome.”

Commemorative Plants

It’s the woodies on the property that carry very special meaning for him. “Trees especially mark time in ways that other plants don’t,” Jamieson explains. “It’s pretty important to have trees associated with my kids and the professionals I’ve known over the years. For me it’s more about the indi-

vidual plant, representing the kids, or the big aspen trees. I had a man leave a note saying his wife always liked the aspens with lights during the winter. The landscape is a story. It’s about all the people I’ve been associated with over the years.”

A 30-foot-tall weeping Alaska white cedar came from Rich and Susie Eyre at Rich ’s Foxwillow Pines. The two quaking aspens on the side of the house came from Possibility Place Nursery in Monee. “My daughter was one year old and we went to see Connor Shaw at the nursery. Now the trees are 40 to 50 feet tall.” Cars often slow down to admire their fall color.

Commemorating births and other events play into the plant selection. “There’s a Prairifire crab apple that I planted for my daughter when she was born and she’s 26. I planted a chinquapin oak for my son when he was born.” With his interest in natives, Jamieson also worked with Jack Pizzo, owne r of Pizzo and Associates in Leland.

There’s a ‘Gentsch White’ hemlock with creamy white tips that make it

appeared to be covered with a dusting of snow. There’s a European beech that Jamieson says started out looking like a bonsai. “It’s a big sprawling thing but I prune it every other year.” He credits Dean MacMorris (recently retired) of Night Light, Inc., for doing an outstanding job of lighting the mature trees. “We put some lights in a big old Scot’s pine that was here when the house was built in the 60’s. The lighting has been really striking especially with snow.”

Ashe’s magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla var. ashei) is another fascination for Jamieson. It’s typically thought of as a southern tree. “A good friend, Andrew Bunting (author of The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias), was giving a talk one day and said Ashe’s magnolia used to be native—its range is in our zone. That plant existed up here before the ice age. He mailed a sample of the magnolia to me and I’ve had it for six seasons. It was a pretty fascinating story—the tree maintained that genetic ability to withstand the cold.”

(continued on page 26)

Focus — The Pros at Home

pest free and doesn’t drop branches. It’s like a bulletproof tree.”

Plant Palette

Drifts of astilbe, ligularia, hostas and ferns flow through the borders. “We had rudbeckia, but some of it died out,” he said. “It was part of the original design — intended to be lower maintenance. I’ve had a lot of coneflowers and things like that, but as they died out I didn’t put them back. I don’t have a lot of perennials to be honest. Being a woodies guy, a tree guy, I lean more toward woody plants.”

Into the Future

(continued from page 24)

Tropical looking native paw paws (Asimina triloba) gift him with many pounds of fruit each year.

“You need a male and a female tree. It’s always a race between letting the fruit ripen on the tree and keeping the raccoons out.” Diane makes paw paw pudding and paw paw bread. “The flavor is a weird cross between a mango and a banana. You can eat the ripe pulp but there are a lot of seeds in each fruit.”

Sweet birch (Betula lenta) grows alongside the house. “It’s got a really nice scent—like wintergreen when you scrape the bark—and it’s almost a cinnamon color. It turns a great fall color bright yellow when the light comes through it in our bedroom window. It’s

It’s time for a change and Jamieson has plans to renovate the garden. “My current landscape is more woodsy and I am

working with Doug [Hoerr] to make it more of a California vibe courtyard garden in its next life.”

That may have to wait because he has been busy with the Tour des Trees, an annual week long, 500-plus mile cycling adventure that raises money for tree research. “You have to raise at least $3500 and you ride 80 to 100 miles a day. I like to road cycle but every year it’s a little more dangerous.” The first time he took part was in Oregon in 2012 and he called the experience grueling. “There were a lot of hills. That was the toughest ride—climbing the mountains—but it was really cool. We did a big circle around the state and saw five to six ecotypes.”

(continued on page 28)

Focus — The Pros at Home

(continued from page 26)

Part of the Tour des Trees training is doing long rides between events. “I have a cycling group in Arlington Heights and ride to the river and back—it’s about 53 miles. I’d do a couple of centuries (100mile bike rides) a few times in the season. The tough thing is it takes time, you have to put in the time.”

An avid birder, Jamieson looks forward to spring when he looks for migrating warblers when they stop at Chicago’s Montrose Harbor. But for now, he enjoys chilling in his home landscape. “It’s really tiny, but that’s what we like about the back.” And sitting and chilling makes one muse about what could be. So he has plans. “I’m going to redo the whole back yard,” he says, eyes twinkling. We look forward to seeing the transformation.

September 21, 2023 NIU Naperville

7:15 AM : Attendee Badge Pick Up

INTRODUCTION

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM

Auditorium

Shane Griffith, Weedman, Turf Committee Chair

ILCA ADVOCACY UPDATE

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Scott Grams, ILCA Executive Director

Auditorium IN THE WEEDS

OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION

8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Auditorium

Bees, Pesticides & Politics: Challenges & Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Landscapes

Daniel Potter, PhD, University of Kentucky

This talk will help attendees better understand why bees and other pollinators are in peril, the role of insecticides and other factors in pollinator decline, and how to safeguard pollinators when managing lawn and landscape pests. It will empower Green Industry professionals to objectively discuss this issue with the public. Pollinator conservation initiatives that can be implemented by land care professionals, garden centers, and homeowners will be discussed, as well as the best woody landscape plants for supporting bees and other pollinators.

BREAK and Visit Exhibitors — 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Room 105

Improving Rootzones Using Organic Amendments

Dan Dinelli, North Shore Country Club

A review of onsite research and demonstrations at North Shore Country Club testing various organic amendments including compost, biosolids and biochar. Focus on sustainable inputs to improve soil ecology and function for long-term plant health.

Auditorium

Managing

Lawn Insect Pests:

It’s Getting Easier to be Green

Daniel Potter, PhD, University of Kentucky

This talk covers diagnosis and control of important lawn insect pests in the Midwest using reduced-risk insecticides and nonchemical tactics, with straight talk on which approaches are most effective. It also includes tips for safeguarding beneficial insects when controlling pests, and information to help land care professionals communicate with the public about the considerable safety margin of modern insecticides.

Please see addendum for additional Breakout information

BREAK and Visit Exhibitors — 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Auditorium

Diseases of Turf – Those We Can See and Those We Cannot (Roots)

Derek Settle, PhD, Chicago District Golf Association

This session will be an overview of turfgrass diseases in the upper Midwest. The focus will primarily be on cool-season lawns. Aboveground Diseases: Some are relatively easily to identify based on the host and the symptoms we see, from spots to patches. Belowground Diseases: Others tend to be more chronic and perennial and are difficult to identify because they are belowground, from fungal root rots to plant parasitic nematodes. Attendees will learn what to look for and then what they can do, from cultural practices to chemicals.

Room 111

An Overview of the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District

Dave Zazra, North Shore Mosquito Abatement District

Dave Zazra, Communications Manager of the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD), will speak about the NSMAD’s integrated pest management methods of controlling mosquitoes and minimizing the risk of vector-borne disease in the 14 municipalities they serve in the north eastern portion of Cook County. Mr. Zazra will also present information regarding how to best collaborate with a mosquito control district or other public health entity.

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Room 105

Illinois Department of Agriculture Regulatory Update

Brad Beaver, Illinois Department of Agriculture

Join Brad as he provides an update on the Department Pesticide Programs. He will also address changes to the licensing and certification system, online options for training and testing, and more. Finally, Brad will provide updates on pesticide misuse including issues with posting and notifications. Lunch — 12:00 PM -

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

Auditorium

Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University

Please see addendum for additional Session information

Last chance to visit with exhibitors! — 1:50 PM - 2:00 PM

12th Consecutive Year as Premier Sponsor for TED

2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

Auditorium

The Right Turf in the Right Place

Rusty Stachelwitz, Advanced Turf Solutions

Turfgrasses have advanced a lot in the last 20-30 years. This talk will cover which species and varieties of turf to choose for different landscape applications.

Room 111

New and Old Insect Pests of Turf and Their Control

Nikki Hendrickson, Advanced Turf Solutions

We’ve seen plenty of insects attacking turfgrass over the last couple years. Some are very common, and others are a little more odd. Join Nikki, as she covers pest biology, scouting methodology, and how to control turf pests.

Thanks for attending Turf Education Day!

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Babylon Chicago —

Fulton East: Next Level Biophilic

by Heather Prince

Long a leader in green roofs for their environmental benefits, Chicago is now seeing green roofs springing up all over the region as spaces for people to enjoy as well. You’ll find them on all kinds of new buildings from residential condominiums and townhouses to public buildings and offices. We spoke with Bob Wislow, Chairman and CEO of Parkside Realty, on a new commercial office space they opened in 2021 in the Fulton Market neighborhood. The team faced unique challenges building a new commercial space in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic that emphasized the importance of having outdoor green space where people work.

The Brief

The goal was to build a cutting-edge modern office building in the heart of the Fulton Market creative hub that would stand out from its industrial neighbors. Wrapped into the plan was LEED certification, vast open sightlines, and innovative biophilic design. “We worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative and Clayco for design-build,” commented Wislow. “It was designed along the principle of biophilic design, or bringing the outdoors in. We were the first small all glass building. There’s a lot of large all glass buildings in that market, but the smaller ones were basically mimicking the old brick punched window warehouses. We wanted to bring in as much light as we possibly could. We wanted a small floor plate so that you were never far away from a view out a window. So that light penetrated into the building completely, we pushed our elevator core and washrooms to the south side of the structure to create an offset core, so the entire space could be open. And no matter where you stand, if you turn around in a circle, you’re going to see out the glass of our building.”

Each 10,600 square foot floor of the 12-floor building is one leasable office space, or one tenant per floor so the open plan is not sliced into smaller pieces. “The idea of biophilic design was very important to us,” said Wislow. “There’s about 35 years of study, which show that you get between a 15 to a 25% increase in productivity and a 10 to 12% reduction in sick days with biophilic spaces. You see about the same kind of reduction in complaints of headaches and eyestrain, plus reduced turnover of staff. We felt providing people outdoor space was also very important. Every floor has its own outdoor balcony of 9 by 27 feet, so every tenant can walk out on their own outdoor space.”

(continued on page 38)

Design at Work

Babylon Chicago —

(continued from page 36)

Balconies are not the only outdoor space at this thoughtfully crafted building. “We also wanted to create a large outdoor space for people to gather together,” reported Wislow. “We used our rooftop to make an outdoor meeting space for our tenants. When we were creating the top floor, which we wanted to build out as the most special floor in the Fulton Market area, we elevated a portion of the roof at an angle so that the space underneath has 23-foot-high windows overlooking the north cityscape.”

The Challenges

As plans were finalized, permits approved, and work begun, the COVID19 pandemic arrived, causing Wislow and the team to pivot to add even more features to the structure. “So, we’re in the middle of building this biophilic, health and wellness designed structure and the pandemic hits,” remembered Wislow. “We quickly pivoted, spent two months

doing research, and made multiple changes to our building. One of the changes we made was to the sloped rooftop garden where we created stadium seating and added giant TV screens on the opposite wall to create an outdoor meeting space. These TVs were new to the market, and you can see the images in sunlight so that people could have outdoor meetings or video conferences. You can seat pretty much your whole company in that space.”

The team also added firepits, a barbeque grill, and areas of outdoor seating to make the space flexible and welcoming for tenants. The planting areas are a mix of shrubs and perennials as well as bulbs for early spring color. They softened the walls of the core with four kinds of climbing vines, including Boston ivy as a nod to Wrigley Field. “The walls are very tall, and we installed a special screen material for the ivy to cling to so it wouldn’t damage the walls,” commented Wislow. “After the screens were installed, I noticed that they

didn’t go all the way to the top of the walls, so I called our landscape architect and asked what the plan was for when the vines reached the top of the screens and start to go over them. He assured me that on the north side of the building, the vines would never grow that tall. I made him a bet that they would. Guess what? This year we’re going to either have to trim those vines or add more screening. They grew so fast, and I won the bet!”

Perhaps the greatest challenge to planting on a rooftop in our climate is wind. Fulton East has unobstructed views, and the rooftop is wide open to the elements. Most of the plant choices have survived, but getting the different sedum cuttings established was a significant challenge. “The sedums came both in trays and as cuttings,” remembered Wislow. “The wind would pick up those cuttings and blow them over the side or all over the deck. After consulting with the landscape contractors, they put down (continued on page 40)

Babylon Chicago —

(continued from page 38) netting to keep the cuttings in place. That made a huge difference, and they rooted in well. It was tough, though, to get them started. We have an irrigation system in place, but we really had to water five times a day to get those cuttings to catch.” The sloped roof creates interesting angles in architecture as well as microclimates. The maintenance team is learning the quirks of the space as the plants establish and they figure out what works and what doesn’t. They discovered that the sloped roof is not only hot in the summer, but colder in the winter because of the exposure of the slope to wind.

The Result

The Fulton East building definitely stands out from its neighbors. Its specially designed glass walls present a seamless smooth glitter to the neighborhood and its rooftop space is a destination for the tenants. “I’m delighted to say we have 100% occupancy,” reported Wislow. The rooftop gardens are one of his favorite spaces at the building as well as for the building’s tenants. “The tenants are out there almost every day. Whenever I’ve talked to the maintenance crew, they tell me this is by far the best roof garden they’ve worked on. I just love it. I think it’s the slope. It reminds me of western Wisconsin, the Driftless region, where you’ve got hills. It’s not just a flat plane.”

Fuego y Hielo

por Nina A. Koziol

El hombre de hielo viene. Y lleva puesto un traje de poliéster azul. Ese será Scott Grams, director ejecutivo de ILCA quien cambió su otro yo (Johnny Ilca) para ser “Hielo”, el tipo, quien con su adlátere “Fuego” (también conocido como Wes Arnold de la subasta Purple Wave), caminaba sin prisa por la Landscape and Snow Expo (Expo de Paisajismo y Nieve) de este año en Ball Horticultural en West Chicago, donde otorgaron premios en efectivo.

Mariani Plants se enorgullese en su attencion al cliente. Tenemos expertos ajentes de ventas de habla hispana en nuestras dos localidades, Kenosha Wisconsin y Garden Prairie Illinois. Mariani Plants esta aquí para proveerle mejores plantas, mejor servicio y mejor selección.

Llámenos a Mariani Plants: 866-627-4264 / marianiplants.com

TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR.

Hubo recorridos por los despliegues, presentaciones y demostraciones bajo las carpas de Bell y 60 expositores que cubren toda la gama desde plantas y cortacéspedes hasta quitanieves y sistemas informático. ¡Y de nuevo por demanda popular—lanzamiento de hachas—y una carpa de cerveza patrocinada por The Tree Connection! ¿Qué más puede uno pedir de esta “mini” versión veraniega de iLandscape?

“Este es un evento maravilloso”, dijo Pat Buescher, dueño de Premium Travertine en Chebanse Illinois. “Los proveedores, las conferencias y los jardines de Ball—todos estuvieron estupendos”. Fue la segunda vez que Sandy Schweitzer de Bruss Landscaping en Wheaton asistió al evento. “Fuimos como un grupo—una especie de salida de compañeros de trabajo—y nos divertimos mucho”, informó Schweitzer. “Además, visitar Ball nos dio la oportunidad de ver muchas plantas espléndidas, lo que siempre es una inyección de ánimo cuando la temporada empieza a agotarse. Realmente me impresionó lo que vi—es decir, todo ese empuje, toda esa energía—tanto en la planificación como en la ejecución”.

Los asistentes oscilaban entre veinteañeros que apenas comienzan en la industria verde y personas con cinco décadas de experiencia profesional. Miembros del personal de compañías de paisajismo grandes y pequeñas, viveros y centros de jardinería, distritos de parques y preservadores forestales

estuvieron bien representados. “La exposición ha crecido desde al año pasado”, dijo Terre Houte, gerente de eventos de ILCA. “Asistieron en total 862 personas”.

“Lo que sobresalió para mí fue la energía”, aseguró Kim Hartman, miembro de la junta de ILCA. “Proveedores y asistentes estuvieron optimista, animados y entusiastas. Si bien la demanda de servicios de paisajismo y productos de viveros no es tan grande como durante la pandemia, muchos coinciden en que estamos alcanzando niveles de trabajo y demanda más manejables. Ha mejorado la disponibilidad de los productos, la mano de obra está más disponible y los precios se están estabilizando”.

Esta fue la primera vez en el evento para Joey Matusik de The Tree Connection en Rochester, Michigan. “Fue asombroso y bien ejecutado”, dijo Matusik. “Disfruté al ver como todo fluía perfectamente con la disposición, la cantidad de opciones de entretenimiento y lo atento que fue el personal con nuestras instalaciones y desmontaje. El tráfico por los puestos de exhibición fue asombroso y terminamos atrayendo también a nuevos clientes”.

Mike Halloran de Halloran Power Equipment en Palatine fue uno de los proveedores que demostraron cortacéspedes y sopladores accionados por baterías. “Tuvimos muy buena asistencia en la mañana y muchas personas hicieron preguntas”. A medida que más municipalidades necesitan equipos

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección.

eléctricos, crece el interés por los dispositivos accionados por baterías, cuánto tiempo pueden mantener la carga y, por supuesto, el costo con respecto a los beneficios. (Más sobre esto en una futura edición).

“Me gustó la energía de Scott con el megáfono— marcó la pauta del resto del programa”, afirmó el arboricultor Charlie Keppel, ex presidente de ILCA. A los proveedores les agradó el nivel de energía y el interés en algunos de los nuevos equipos. La economía está repuntando y muchos paisajistas buscan equipos que reduzcan la dependencia en la mano de obra. ILCA ha tenido mucho éxito al contar con tantos voluntarios”.

Hartman también disfrutó de ver a tantos proveedores. “Puedes continuar estableciendo relaciones, viendo productos y compartiendo experiencias. Hoffie {Nursery] se destaca continuamente debido a sus marcas, despliegues y variedades de plantas exclusivas. Se divierten mientras representan plantas estupendas”.

“El evento fue una fabulosa experiencia para establecer contactos”, agregó Blankenhagen, “y fu el ambiente ideal para crear nuevas conexiones no importa cuánto tiempo hayas estado en la industria”.

No es demasiado temprano para pensar en asistir a iLandscape o alguno de los muchos eventos que se aproximan— https://ilca.net/ilca-events/

Hot Plants for Cool Projects Ball Horticultural showcases the best of the

by Nina A. Koziol

Ball Horticultural in West Chicago is a landscaper’s dream for ideas and inspiration. This showplace of trial plants—annuals, perennials, vegetables—and display gardens — is a wealth of innovation. From container displays featuring gorgeous combinations of tropicals to the sweeping gravel garden and large drifts of native plants there’s something that will pique your interest—or that of your staff.

For the past 80 years, The Gardens at Ball have been the evaluation and testing grounds for an astounding number of horticultural introductions and improvements. What began as a row trial garden for seed varieties in 1933 has grown to more than nine acres of display beds. The Gardens offer green industry folks a chance to experience the new and unusual throughout the growing season.

More than 480 visitors checked out Darwin Perennials Day in July, now in its 13th year. “This is a 28 percent increase over our 2022 numbers and well-above pre-pandemic levels,” said Katie Rotella, Ball’s senior public relations and digital manager. “We also hosted 29 vendor companies to engage with guests in our tent showcase.” Ball’s Customer Appreciation Days in July and ILCA’s Fire&Ice event in August drew a few thousand industry pros from across the Midwest.

These events did not disappoint. “I saw many things I loved and would add to my garden,” said horticulturist Suzy Stone of Naperville. “I loved the red stems on Polygonatum odoratum ‘Ruby Slippers’ and the size of the flowers on Nepeta subsesselis ‘Prelude Purple’,” Stone said. She also admired New Silver Swirl Centaurea, a great accent plant with its soft silver foliage that’s ideal for front border plantings and containers.

Hundreds of perennials were on display with many new and soon-to-be-released cultivars in the trial beds, gardens and containers made possible by the industry’s top breeders, including Darwin Perennials, Kieft Seed, Walters Gardens, and many others. Here’s a peek at perennials (and some annuals) that pack a punch.

And check out future events at Ball here: https://www.ballseed.com/NewsEvents/

Hardiness: 3a

Season: Spring through autumn

Habit: Arching, ruby red stems hold blue-green leaves with silvery undersides

Characteristics: Deer tolerant, drought tolerant, can be used in rain gardens

Water: Average to moist soil

Fertilize: Once a month during spring

Spacing: 24”

Height: 18 - 21”

Width: 10 - 24”

Exposure: Light to moderate shade

Polygonatum odoratum ‘Ruby Slippers’

The name ‘Ruby Slippers’ is a nod to the upright and slightly arching stems that are red from base to tip.

new varieties

This

Hardiness: 5a

Season: Spring through autumn

Habit: Upright

Characteristics: Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, heat and drought tolerant

Water: Light

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 6 - 12”

Height: 12”

Width: 12”

Exposure: Sun

This beautiful catmint flowers for months.

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Spring, Late spring, summer

Habit: Mounded

Characteristics: Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, fragrant and deer-resistant

Water: Medium

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 36 - 48”

Height: 28 - 36”

Width: 24 - 30”

Exposure: Sun

Nepeta subsesslis ‘Prelude Purple’

Penstemon barbatus Rock Candy® Purple

beardtongue produces bell-shaped blooms on compact spikes.

Darwin Perennials —

Sedum telephium ‘After Dark’

A good choice for hot, dry spots, this sedum offers dark purple foliage with garnet red flowers in late summer.

Hardiness: 3a

Season: Late Summer, autumn

Habit: Upright

Characteristics: Attracts bees, butterflies, drought tolerant, rabbit resistant, low maintenance

Water: Light

Fertilize: None or when needed only

Spacing: 24 - 28”

Height: 18 - 20”

Width: 24 - 28”

Exposure: Sun

Stunning silver-white leaves with wavy edges provide great texture. Treat as an annual.

Hardiness: 6b

Blooming Season: Spring

Habit: Mounded

Characteristics: Drought tolerant, rabbit resistant, colorful foliage, low maintenance

Water: Light

Fertilize: None or when needed only

Spacing: 13 - 16”

Height: 8 - 11”

Width: 11 - 14”

Exposure: Sun

Coreopsis UpTick™ Gold&Bronze

This beardtongue produces bell-shaped blooms on compact spikes.

Hardiness: 5a

Season: Early spring through autumn

Habit: Mounded

Characteristics: Attracts bees, butterflies, deer resistant, heat tolerant

Water: Medium

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 14 - 16”

Height: 12 - 14”

Width: 12 - 14”

Exposure: Sun

Centaurea ragusina ‘Silver Swirl’

A brilliant colored double flower form with clean leaves.

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Late spring through late summer

Habit: Upright

Characteristics: Deer resistant

Water: Medium

Fertilize: None or when needed only

Spacing: 20 - 22”

Height: 22 - 24”

Width: 18 - 20”

Exposure: Sun

A compact, mounding habit that holds together all summer long.

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Late spring through autumn

Habit: Mounded

Characteristics: Attracts bees, butterflies, deer resistant, rabbit resistant

Water: Medium

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 14 - 16”

Height: 10 - 12”

Width: 10 - 12”

Exposure: Sun

Another double-flowered form that makes a bold statement.

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Late spring through late summer

Habit: Upright

Characteristics: Deer resistant

Water: Medium

Fertilize: None or when needed only

Spacing: 20 - 22”

Height: 22 - 24”

Width: 18 - 20”

Exposure: Sun

Echinacea Double Scoop™ Strawberry Deluxe

Echinacea Poco Hot Pink

Achillea Milly Rock™ Yellow Terracotta

Darwin Perennials —

Achillea New Vintage™ Rose

A nice reblooming yarrow.

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Late spring through autumn

Habit: Upright

Characteristics: Deer resistant

Water: Light

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 12 - 14”

Height: 26 - 28”

Width: 10 - 12”

Exposure: Sun

Heuchera villosa ‘Carnival Watermelon’

Large, golden-caramel leaves sport red undersides. A very strong grower with good heat tolerance and creamy flowers.

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Early to late spring

Plant Habit: Mounded

Characteristics: Heat tolerant, shade tolerant, low maintenance

Water: Light

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 16 - 20”

Height: 6 - 10”

Width: 12 - 14”

Exposure: Light to moderate shade

Hardiness: 4a

Season: Summer

Characteristics: Attracts bees, hummingbirds, rabbit resistant

Water: Medium

Fertilize: Once a month

Spacing: 18 - 20”

Height: 16 - 18”

Width: 16 - 18”

Exposure: Shade to part sun

Hardiness: 5a

Season: Summer through autumn

Habit: Mounded

Characteristics: Deer resistant, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds

Water: Medium

Fertilize: Every two weeks

Spacing: 30 - 50”

Height: 30 - 60”

Width: 24 - 50”

Exposure: Sun

Heuchera x villosa Big Top Caramel Apple

Buddleia davidii Buzz™ Velvet

Long-blooming butterfly bush with intense color.

Achieve Planting Success in Challenging Dry Shade

by Jamie Heflin

Mature tree canopies are a wonderful thing. However, the ground beneath often proves to be a challenging environment for plant growth. Limited light and water availability, coupled with the competition from feeder roots, can make creating vibrant gardens in dry shade areas an arduous task for many landscapers. In 2019, Midwest Groundcovers collaborated with designer Austin Eischeid to establish a Dry Shade Display Garden at their St. Charles, Illinois nursery. The intention of the garden is to showcase plants that can thrive in a dry, shady area.

The garden is composed of seven diverse plant combinations. Visitors can observe and choose a specific plant they like for their dry shady area, or they can replicate the combinations that Austin created. Each design takes into consideration cultural requirements, seasonality, growth rate, and the ability to spread. Being comprised of many woodland plants, early spring is the peak flowering time for this garden, but interest continues throughout the rest of the growing season from the various foliage colors, textures, and forms.

A number of the plants used in these combinations extend the limit on the light and soil conditions they are commonly associated with. For those ready to color outside the lines, these boundary pushing plants are a great way to make their designs standout. Highlighted below is Dry Shade Garden Combo #4. This combination has thrived in the display garden and showcases how well these diverse plants have come together to create a dynamic garden.

Dry Shade Garden Combo #4: Brunnera macrophylla – Siberian Bugloss: a tough plant that is also deer and rabbit resistant. Delicate sprays of blue flowers begin in early spring and can last through early summer. Broad leaf texture.

Phlox divaricata – Woodland Phlox: the blue flowers of Woodland Phlox are a welcome sign of spring, blooming April – June.

Heuchera ‘Carnival Watermelon’: the red foliage takes on tones of green and white as the seasons change. Austin’s favorite Heuchera, ‘Carnival Watermelon’ is from the villosa spe-

cies and has proven to be a hearty, strong plant that returns year after year.

Geranium ‘Biokovo’ – Biokovo Geranium: once established, fairly drought tolerant and has proven resistant to deer and rabbits.

Polystichum acrostichoides – Christmas Fern: the dark green leathery fronds remain green year-round and at mature size are 18” – 24”

wide and tall. Blends well with the carex. Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’ –Variegated Solomon’s Seal: the upright arching stems hung with pairs of small bell-shaped fragrant white flowers add captivating texture to the garden. More aggressive in larger clumps.

Dry Shade Combo #4 – May 2023

Dry Shade Display Garden

Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’

Dry Shade Combo #4

Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ –

Shade Areas

Honorine Jobert Anemone: brings some late season interest to the garden with 2-3” white flowers that bloom August – October.

Carex albicans – White-tinged Sedge: the narrow, grass-like blades bloom in May and provide texture. It does not brown out in the summer and can perform in both sun and shade.

EXPERT TREE CARE FOR 115 YEARS — AND

For

groundbreaking science, award-winning safety practices, and global resources to every tree and shrub care task at hand. And at the heart of our success are our people — experts who know and champion every

Garden – June 2019

Diseases + Pests —

Pest of the Month: Fall Armyworm in Turfgrass

Disease of the Month: Septoria Leaf Spot on Dogwood

by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Fall Armyworm

Fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) feed on a wide variety of crops in addition to several turfgrasses. In Illinois, they will have one to two generations in late summer to early fall. Identifying which armyworm you have is key, as there are several similar species. Fall armyworm grow up to 1 1/3 inch long. They vary in coloration with some being dark green, tan or brown. They can be distinguished from other caterpillars by the Y-shaped marking that runs from the top of its head down between its eyes and the orange stripe that runs along each side. The adult male moths have brown forewings with tan and gray markings and a white triangular shape near the tip of the wing. The forewings of females are brown with less distinct markings than males. Both males and females have silvery-white hind wings. Fall armyworm egg masses can be found on grass, leaves, and structures. The egg masses may contain up to 400 eggs laid in three to four layers and are covered in fuzzy-looking silk. Eggs hatch in 5 to 7 days. The young larvae feed on the surface of grass blades, but large caterpillars can chew the grass blades off. The larvae complete growth in 3 to 4 weeks.

Treatment:

Larvae typically do not feed on the crowns. Watering and fertilizing turf can allow plants to re-grow after the fall armyworms have been controlled. Effective biological treatments include Bt products or Spinosad. Chemical controls for fall armyworm include: carbaryl, chlorantroniliprole, and clothianidin, as well as pyrethroids like

Fall armyworm in turf

bifenthrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, or trichlorfon. There have been reports that some fall armyworm populations have not responded well to pyrethroids, so you may want to try alternatives first.

Disease of the Month: Septoria Leaf Spot on Dogwood

Septoria leaf spot is a common disease in our area, especially on redtwig or yellowtwig dogwood shrubs. It appears as circular, angular, or irregular shaped spots with olive-gray to brown centers surrounded by dark purple or reddish borders on the leaves. They are similar to but larger than anthracnose on flowering dogwood

Additional resources:

University of Illinois Extension Service Plant Clinic: https://web.extension. illinois.edu/plantclinic/ 217-333-0519

trees. Symptoms usually appear at the end of summer to the beginning of fall and are more common in wet or humid conditions. Heavily infected leaves will turn yellow and prematurely drop from the plant.

Treatment:

Fortunately, Septoria leaf spot is mainly aesthetic and will not typically kill the shrub. This fungal disease overwinters on leaf litter, with spores splashing to susceptible tissue each spring. Rake and dispose of fallen leaves to reduce the population. It may be treated preventatively with chlorothalonil, chlorothalonil + propiconazole, myclobutanil, or thiophanate-methyl. Begin sprays at bud break and two to three more applications may be needed at 14-day intervals if conditions are favorable for disease development.

Plant Clinic:

http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/plant-clinic 630-719-2424

The Morton Arboretum

Ramblin Jackson

PO Box 1429

Lyons, CO 80540

(303) 544-2125

www.ramblinjackson.com

by Meta L. Levin

When Jack Jostes spoke

at the ProGreenExpo in Colorado several years ago, he could not have imagined where it would lead. Already the head of a marketing consultancy that focused on small businesses, he had some experience in the green industry.

It was after speaking at the conference, however, that he began thinking about concentrating on the landscape and snow industry. As a student, he had worked at Pesche’s Flowers, a nursery and garden center, for five summers. “I enjoyed the green industry,” he says.

So, six years ago, Jostes began specializing in the landscape and snow industry sales, marketing and businesses development.

During and immediately after college Jostes played in and handled the marketing for a bluegrass and rock and roll band. He realized that he enjoyed the marketing piece, so he started his own freelance marketing business. The company, Ramblin

Jackson, has grown steadily. Based in Lyons, CO, it employs 12 full-time and 20 subcontractors, serving more than 100 clients throughout the country.

Jostes is proud of the staff he has assembled. One of those is Robert Felton, a senior landscape marketing strategist, who has been with Rambin Jackson for more than five years. A native of Appleton, WI, Felton is “smart and a great help to businesses in figuring out what they know without making them feel dumb,” says Jostes. “He communicates in ways that people understand.”

Quinn O’Connell is a landscape marketing assistant. O’Connell has been with the company for a year and has proved herself invaluable in her interactions with clients and ability to find relevant Ramblin Jackson podcasts, based on their goals and interests, says Jostes.

Transitioning from general small business clients to the green industry took several years. Ninety-five percent of his clients now come from the green industry. Along the way, he joined several

Ramblin Jack (R) with ILCA Board member Tom Klitzke, Nature’s Perspective Landscaping

professional organizations, including, most recently, ILCA. He also began to actively seek out speaking engagements at landscape and snow contractors’ events. “I was rebranding my company,” he says. “It’s all about snow and landscaping.”

Jostes worked to focus on the processes that he found were most important. In assisting his clients to develop a brand strategy, he helps them identify and communicate what makes their companies different from the competition.

Once that happens, they can identify what Jostes calls their “Hell Yes customers” – the ones they should be going after and those who will be best served by their work.

Jostes recognizes that hitting a customer with everything all at once can be overwhelming, so his process is to break down each step into smaller pieces. This allows clients to spend little time on each, instead of taking large blocks of time away from their dayto-day business. Consultants who work for Ramblin Jackson are trained to ask specific questions, designed to extract information, then edit it down to clear, concise written content to be used on a customer’s website. This content is written with words and terms that the client’s potential customers are likely to use when searching for a landscape and/or snow contractor.

Ramblin Jackson’s services include: branding, logo design, photography, website design and development, copywriting (including search engine optimization or SEO), sales coaching and marketing consulting, and analytics and reporting.

As he and his clients learned, Jostes decided to put it down in writing. The result was his book, The Tree of Good Fortune, The Landscapers Guide to Modern Sales and Marketing, published in 2022. He also has a podcast and blog based on this information.

He is proud of the fact that he offers geographic exclusivity to his clients. Ramblin Jackson won’t take on a competing landscape/snow contractor within a 10-mile radius of a current client.

When doing a webinar for ILCA, then speaking at iLandscape, Jostes liked what he saw. “I was impressed with the way the association was run,” he says. So, Ramblin Jackson joined this year. “My company’s membership adds credibility by association.”

Quinn O’Connell gets a taste of Lou Malnatis pizza at iLandscape

Classified Ads

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

Landscape Architect/Designer (Entry Level or Experienced)

COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

Brookside is seeking motivated individuals who have a passion for the outdoors and the Green Industry. This position would collaborate with sales and construction teams to see high-end outdoor living and landscape projects through from concept to completion. We have the opportunity to work on some of the most prominent properties in our market. At Brookside our mission is ENHANCING LIVES. Those of our team and clients alike. See what rural living has to offer closer to the native prairies and woodlands that make our state unique!

We are located in the small town of Eureka, just a short drive to the Peoria and Bloomington/Normal metro areas, and serve a broad swath of central Illinois.

- Bachelors in Landscape Architecture or Horticulture is preferred. Any level of work experience will be considered.

- Passion for creating outdoor spaces and willingness to learn and adapt to working as a team is REQUIRED!

To apply: Email kurt@brooksidelandscapes. com (309) 573-9837

Irrigation and Sales Yard Management

Looking for an individual willing to multitask between irrigation management, sales yard loading, and mechanical work for an established sod farm in western suburbs.

Please email your resume to: bob@ duntemanturf.com or call 630-557-2900

Landscape Account Advisor

Become a member of the Bertog Family. Tracy Bertog founded Bertog Landscape Co. in 1974, while he was attending Glenbrook South High School. The company has grown from a young man with a dream into an award-winning landscape design, construction, and maintenance firm. Bertog Landscape (Wheeling) is seeking an individual for an account advisor position to focus on our residential and select commercial clients for landscape maintenance services.

Responsibilities include:

Manage the client’s property to maintain the property at an excellence expected by Bertog Landscape.

Maintain a bridge of communication between production operations and the customer. Develop trusting relationships with coworkers and customers. Communicate and coordinate with supervisors and crews to ensure client’s priorities are understood and consistently executed upon by the entire team. Snow responsibilities include account management/supervision of plowing operations at various accounts throughout the area.

Please submit application to: customerservice@bertoglandscape.com

Garage Foreman - UIC OVCAS Facilities Management

The University of Illinois Chicago, Facilities Management – Grounds Department seeks to fill a Garage Foreman ID 1020002 position. Manage and facilitate the many functions of the Grounds garage at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The Director of Grounds Services supervises this position. Position is full-time, member of Teamsters Local 700, full state employee benefits.

Please see full job description and apply at https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/ requisition/6102?c=uic

Landscape Construction Estimator

The Estimator role at Topiarius is an exciting opportunity for someone skilled in creating landscape construction estimates. As an Estimator, you will not only be responsible for estimating costs, but you will also participate in design work, product procurement, and construction phases of our projects. Join our team and be a part of transforming landscapes into works of art.

https://gethired.com/a/9bfcb5b1-f6c1-467091bb-9515c01f5c27

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 ext. 1

Classified Ads

HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE

Landscape Designer

The Landscape Designer role is perfect for someone with a diverse range of skills who thrives on the challenges posed by Topiarius’ intricate and sophisticated designs. This position requires in-depth knowledge of plants, hardscape, and carpentry, allowing for accurate estimates, stunning renderings, and comprehensive style guides. Attention to detail is crucial. Effective management of the creative process, adherence to timelines, and a commitment to exceptional quality designs are essential for delivering an unmatched client experience.

Visit www.topiarius.com/jobs/ to apply

Nursery Equipment for Sale

2003 New Holland Skid Steer with Red Boss 36” tree spade, forks and 2 buckets. 3100 hrs. $22,000,.00.

1999 Ford F-350 12’ foot stake bed dump. Gas V8, auto. 160,000 miles. $10,000.00. both units in very good condition. Located in Plainfield IL.

Call: (630) 602-6153

Text: (630) 602-6153

Email: keith@brummelproperties.com

Real Estate for Sale

Oswego : 1.40 acre vacant lot zoned industrial. Suitable for landscape contractors. All municipal utilities at site. Offered at $375,000.00. Pictures and more details upon request.

Email: keith@brummelproperties.com

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES

October 2023 issue ads: Sept 10, 2023

November 2023 issue ads: Oct. 10, 2023

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

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation: Publication Title: The Landscape Contractor; Publication No.:476-490; Filing

Date: 9/15/2023; Issue Frequency: Monthly; No. of Issues Published Annually: 12; Annual Subscription Price: $75; Complete Mailing

Address of Known Office of Publication: 2625

Butterfield Road, Suite 204W, Oak Brook, IL 60523; Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters of Editor: Richard W. Reuland, Naperville, IL 60540; Owner: Illinois Landscape Contractors Association; Stockholders: None; Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, or Other Security Holders Owning or holding 1% or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None; Average Number of Copies Each Issue

During Preceeding 12 Months: 2,050; Paid and/ or Requested Circulation Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors and Counter Sales: 0; Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions: 1,400; Total Paid and/or Requested Mail Subscriptions: 1,750; Free Distribution By Mail: 350; Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 250; Total Free Distribution: 250; Total Distribution: 2,000; Copies Not Distributed, Office Use, Leftovers, Spoiled: 25; Returned From News Agents: 0; Total: 2,025; Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 87%.

Actual Number of Copies Single Issue Closest to Filing Date: September 2023: 2,050; Paid and/ or Requested Circulation Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors and Counter Sales: 0; Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions: 1,726; Total Paid and/or Requested Mail Subscriptions: 1,726; Free Distribution By Mail: 274; Free Distribution Outside the Mail: 0; Total Free Distribution: 274; Total Distribution: 2,000; Copies Not Distributed, Office Use, Leftovers, Spoiled: 25; Returned From News Agents: 0; Total: 2,050; Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 70%.

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Inspiration Alley

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

Spring Begins Now

By Nina A. Koziol

The calendar says autumn, but you should be thinking about spring offerings for your clients’ gardens. And that means bulbs. Snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, tulips, alliums and more. It’s planting time. Client on the fencepost about the cost? Whip out some photos.

Delicate snowdrops — the first to appear in late winter.

Crocus feeds the early bees

Tulip display at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Embed Alliums for Impact Next Year!

by Mark Dwyer

As landscape professionals, our fall income continues to revolve around hardscape installation, perennials and woody planting and timely preparations for early snow removal efforts. If you’ve not explored the fall planting of spring blooming bulbs as a customer service, there is a lucrative opportunity to not only generate income but provide a spring WOW for your clients.

Ornamental onions (Allium) planted in the fall garden are becoming increasingly popular when they appear in our late spring and early summer combinations. They lend color, texture, structure and form (floating spheres and clusters!). Daffodils, tulips, garden hyacinths and other common selections are popular as well but the benefit of the range of Allium offerings is a very unique flower architecture that extends into late summer even as bulbs go “summer dormant” and the flowers dry. It’s not uncommon to see folks add spray paint to the dormant alliums for an extended splash of color as well!

We have some amazing, late-summer blooming perennial alliums available like ‘Millenium’, ‘Summer Beauty’, ‘Pink Planet’, ‘Summer Music’ and ‘Windy City’ among many others. However, securing and planting dormant alliums for flowering next year involves the typical approach of digging or drilling holes three times the depth of the bulb before the ground freezes solid. Alliums are left alone by squirrels, rabbits and deer which is an added benefit. They aren’t overly fussy about soils (drainage is important) but do prefer full sunlight.

Some popular taller Allium forms include ‘Mt. Everest’, ‘White Giant’, ‘Mars’, ‘Ambassador’, ‘Globemaster’, ‘Atlas’, ‘Purple Sensation’ and A. giganteum. To best utilize these alliums, envision how their color and blooming

height will contribute six months after you plant them and how they will blend, hover and augment adjacent plantings. I commonly utilize ornamental onions around the bases of low shrubs, throughout perennial combinations and amongst ornamental grasses. There is an entire palette of shorter alliums with variable coloration (white, yellow, pink, maroon and purple) worthy of exploration as well for similar timing and contributions in combinations.

I like to use the taller, “floating” forms amongst more expansive perennial combinations where they offer a repetition of form event well beyond peak color as they fade to brown and linger while still offering visual points of interest. Nestling alliums amongst other plants will help disguise lower foliage (browning when at peak bloom) and present the allium as a “puffball on a stick” (which is how I commonly describe them!).

Whether you use solitary specimens or put them in groupings, their impact is significant and would be appreciated by your clients. Clients in deer-heavy areas that can’t grow tulips without extensive repellants and protection would likely appreciate a solid, deer-proof option as well!

We have over 20,000 of these spring/summer blooming alliums in the healing garden I manage (heavy deer pressure) and the prolific comments about these amazing plants confirms my longstanding appreciation for their more expansive and common use in our landscapes. They are also great for pollinators but again, some will reseed in the garden so further research is recommended. Consider offering the service of embedding alliums in the landscape for a return that includes income, but also further appreciation.

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