Working for You February 18, 2022

F E B R U A R Y

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Working for You TNLA E-NEWSLETTER

WE HAVE A RECORD OF CULTIVATING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES

Landscape Challenge

TGRA Winners

TNLA in D.C.

Growing the next generation

See the winners from this year's competition

On Labor, Pesticides

TEXAS NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

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TNLA Updates Check out the Landscape Challenge at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo!

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Board Nominations Seeking Candidates by April 1, 2022

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TNLA Tailgate Topics Learn about timing fertilizer applications

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TNLA Advocacy Report TNLA Heads to Washington D.C. On Labor, Pesticides

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TGRA Winners Review the TGRA winners and click the video icons to see more!

AD INDEX Inside Front Cover: OHP, Inc. 07: Horizon 10: Repair Smith

Inside Back Cover: Hotchkiss Insurance Back Cover: Merchant Owl

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TNLA

Updates TNLA Helps Conduct the Landscape Challenge at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Offering a $12,000 Scholarship TNLA State Board of Director, John Leifester, TCLP with Dedicated Landscape Solutions was the Superintendent of this year’s Landscape Challenge held at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo last week. Mr. Leifester and TNLA helped organize and conduct the contest for 5 schools which included a team of 4-6 participants. The teams were pre-qualified for the final competition at the Rodeo by submitting a landscape design.

During the finals, all teams were provided with a set number of plants donated from Landmark Nurseries, Inc. and a yard and half of the mulch donated by New Earth. In addition, Adams Wholesale Supply donated each of the teams' gloves to prepare their 10X10 plot.

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TNLA

Updates continued Judges from a variety of Green Industry businesses such as Rialto Studios, Landmark Nurseries, Inc., and CleanScapes plus more helped score each of the teams and conducted a Q&A at the end.

The Grand Champion First Place Team was Burleson County 4-H who won a $12,000 scholarship to split among the team members.

The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will keep each of the team’s 10x10 fully designed plots up for the remainder of the Rodeo which is located on the southwest side of Freeman Coliseum.

This was a great way for both TNLA and the Rodeo to partner together to help develop this initiative for students to get more involved in the Green Industry and we look forward to growing the contest for next year!

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TNLA

Updates continued Call for Nominations for the TNLA State Board of Directors TNLA is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2022 State Board of Directors seeking candidates for the positions of Region I, II, III, VI, VIII State Directors and also State Retail Director. To be eligible as a State Director an individual must be employed by or own a company that is currently a TNLA member in good standing of the Association for at least two years. For more information or to nominated a candidate today, visit: https://www.tnlaonline.org/tnla-elections.html

GOT USED POTS? You can help! Contact your local grower or wholesale supplier TODAY to discuss returning your extra pots.

Due to present supply shortages, certain wholesale and growing

UPCOMING REGION MEETINGS TNLA Region IV Day of Service, Feb. 19, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-iv-dallas.html TNLA Region VIII Meeting, Feb. 22, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-viii--central-texas.html TNLA Region II Meeting, March 8, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-ii--houston.html TNLA Region IV Meeting, March 8, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-iv-dallas.html TNLA Region V Meeting, March 15, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-v---fortworth.html

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operations are looking for used pots in good condition.

You can

industry

help the

by contacting

your growers and suppliers NOW!

TNLA TAILGATE TOPICS

TIMING FERTILIZER APPLICATION The frequency of fertilizer application depends on the vigor and desired growth rate of a plant. Time of year, age of the plant, and fertilizer need are all considerations when determining the frequency of fertilization.

Objective: You will be able to determine the correct frequency of fertilization based on plant needs and season.

APPLICATION: Review the factors for fertilization frequency. This includes time of year, when planting occurred, and growing season.

Then have participants determine the answers to questions fertilizing.

When to Fertilize: 1. What time of year is it?

Spring is the best time to fertilize. Fertilize just before growth begins.

Stop fertilizing in late summer so that new growth can harden-off before the fall drop in temperatures.

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Plants rarely need fertilizer when they are dormant in the fall and winter.

Are you getting ready to plant?

The best time to improve the fertility of a soil is prior to planting.

Nutrients can be thoroughly mixed in the plant’s root zone when pre-planting incorporation occurs.

This is the time to correct any pH imbalances (any pH corrections should be done the season prior to planting).

Nitrogen levels can be built up prior to planting by adding organic materials to the soil (inorganic sources are usually lost by leaching or injure new roots).

Have you already planted?

Roots absorb nutrients when the plant is actively growing (growing time varies by plant).

Apply fertilizer about 2 weeks before growing time so those nutrients can move into the root zone in time to be available to the plant.

Remember: Safety is your first priority when using any fertilizer. Be sure that you are familiar with any safety warnings of the product. Always wear designated safety clothing when working with fertilizers.

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TNLA

ADVOCACY REPORT TNLA Heads to Washington D.C. On Labor, Pesticides TNLA board members and staff headed to Washington D.C. this week to meet with offices in the Texas Congressional delegation regarding landscape policy issues. While some states were unsuccessful in securing meetings with their elected officials' offices, Texas had a full day of meetings in addition to having time to coordinate with NALP and our counterparts in Colorado. The priority issues being addressed in the Congressional meetings were the need for H-2B cap relief through a Returning Worker Exemption and the industry's opposition to pesticide bills which would ban certain classes of chemicals based on political decisions.

TNLA state board members Estela Garcia-Perez and Kyle Cahill represented the Texas landscaping sector in each meeting.

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ADVOCACY REPORT continued

City of Austin Landscape & Irrigation Ordinance Update TNLA participated as an industry stakeholder in the first meeting with staff from the City of Austin on their new landscape and irrigation ordinance. The new ordinance is supposed to be developed to save water as a way of addressing future demand. However, the proposal offered by the city staff only included restrictions on landscape development of future single-family homes. The proposals discussed included 1) restricting turfgrass to no more than 50% of the yard, 2) limiting the size of irrigation systems which can be put into the landscape, 3) requiring all pressure regulated components, and 4) limiting the types of plants & grasses permissible.

These proposals are highly concerning to the green industry for the arbitrary limits it places on our business sector. The next opportunity to engage with the City of Austin will be on February 23rd. You can find the public meeting information at: https://www.speakupaustin.org/irrigationand-landscape-ordinance-update-forsingle-family-residential

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TNLA Career Center Update!

Check out these great opportunities!

Landscape Property Manager Texas Garden Services Dallas, Texas

Production Assistant Manager Glueck Tree Farm Cat Spring, Texas

Project Landscape Architect McDugald Steele Houston, Texas

Purchasing Manager LMI Landscapes, Inc. Carrollton, Texas

Landscape Designer Colorful Impressions, LTD Dallas, Texas

Head Horitculturalist Austin Country Club Austin, Texas

Head to https://careers.tnlaonline.org/jobs/ for more details!

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Texas Garden Retailer Awards Congratulations to this year’s Texas Garden Retailer Award (TGRA) Winners!

To find out more about TGRA visit here: https://www.tnlaonline.org/tgra.html TNLA will be accepting entries for next year’s awards from May 2022 through Oct. 1, 2022. If you have any questions about the TGRA application process contact Sarah Riggins at 512-579-3854 or email sarah@TNLAonline.org.

TGRA Gold Winners

Retailer of the Year!

Retailer of the Year!

Alldredge Gardens, Midland, TX, Over 1 Million in Yearly Revenue

TGRA Gold Winners Gardens at the Ridge, Kerrville, TX, Under 1 Million in Yearly Revenue

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Texas Garden Retailer Awards

TGRA Gold Winners Ruibal’s Plants of Texas, Dallas, TX, Over 1 Million in Yearly Revenue

TGRA Silver Winner: Shoppe Leaf, Austin, TX, Over 1 Million in Yearly Revenue

TGRA Bronze Winner: Nicholson-Hardie Home & Garden, Dallas, TX,

Over 1 Million in Yearly Revenue

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