The Growing Concern August 2021 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

AUGU S T 2 0 2 1

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E O H I O L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N

NEO Landscape Facility Tour

September 29, 2021 / KGK Gardening & Design Corp. / PAGE 7

Plant Healthcare Day

October 7, 2021 / Secrest Arboretum / PAGE 33

Central Ohio Landscape Facility Tour October 12, 2021 / Yard Solutions (Groveport, OH) / PAGE 32

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

JAMES FUNAI, PhD Cuyahoga Community College

FEEDBACK LOOPS

HOW TO RECRUIT AND KEEP GREAT EMPLOYEES “Cause and effect” is all-too-simple of a way for us to try and make sense of an event and what led up to it. For example, an angry customer calls your business to complain, stating that your crew did a poor job – and on top of that – were rude. We might view the effect (angry customer) as being caused by the crew’s performance and interaction with the customer. But it doesn’t end there, does it? At that point, we then feel compelled to (at best) have a talk with the crew, or (at worst) yell at them. In either instance, this interaction now provides feedback into the system which impacts the crew’s performance in the future. That being said, take a step back and ask yourself, “What prior feedback could have caused today’s poor performance?” If you don’t know the answer to that question, then you are not utilizing the process of feedback loops for internal improvement. I would hope that all of you are utilizing a customer feedback loop, where you ask client’s for honest evaluations of your performance. This should be a non-negotiable, as we know that feedback is crucial to improving our processes and delivering our customers a better experience. In short, client feedback should help to inform our processes, and we should adapt to perform the process again while reviewing the changes with the client in effort to build a more positive feedback loop, focused on constantly improving their experience. A great measure of your success in this effort is a system that has been around since the early 90’s, called the Net Promotor Score (NPS).

NPS asks a simple question of your customer, “On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend us to a friend?” As simple as it sounds, this question can wade us into some scary waters. Anyone rating you from 0 to 6 is considered a detractor. 7s and 8s are the passive bunch. Only the 9s and 10s are your promotors. To reach your NPS, throw out the passive scores (they “don’t matter”) then take the percent of promotors and subtract the percent of detractors, multiply by 100 and there you have it. This score will range from -100 to +100. The higher the number, the better you are meeting your customer’s expectations. Today’s lesson isn’t about taking care of your clients, though. Today, we’re focused on something more important – your continued on page 6 company’s employees. The Growing Concern | August 2021 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS AU G U S T 2 0 2 1 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON A L G REEN I N D U ST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440.717.0002, or 1.800.335.6521 Fax: 440.717.0004 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb COVER: Landscape Ohio! Merit Award winner, ProScape Lawn & Landscape Services, LLC, for their entry in the category of Garden Structures & Pavements.

FEATURES

3 8 12 16 20 24 34 35 35

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Feedback Loops: How to Attract and Keep Employees

PERENNIAL FOCUS

Heliopsis: Oxeye Sunflower

FISCAL FITNESS

Keys to Retirement Investing

FOR SAFETY SAKE

August is National Brake Safety Month

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Comptonia peregrina: Sweet Fern

FEATURE ARTICLE

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 1.800.335.6521, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org. DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association. OFFICERS President James Funai, PhD.

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

President – Elect Brian Maurer, LIC

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Treasurer Stephanie Gray, LIC

Supply Chain Issues: The Impacts on the Lawn & Landscape Industry

Immediate Past President Domenic Lauria

DIRECTIONS

DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Keith Clapper Ryan Drake Cameron Maneri Rob Morel Jeff Rupp

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS ADVERTISING INDEX

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS UPCO M I N G OLA MEETINGS , EDUC AT I ON SE MI N A R S, A N D OT H E R G R E E N I N D UST R Y EV ENT S

AUGUST

NOVEMBER

AUGUST 5, 2021 OLA SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 OLA ANNUAL MEETING (NE OHIO)

Join us at Mallard Creek Golf Club for the OLA Scholarship Golf Classic! Our golf outing was created to help generate funding for our scholarship program, targeting qualified students interested in a vocation within the green profession.

Speaker TBD. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside Sponsorship opportunities still available. For more info call the OLA Office at 440.717.0002. Registration will open soon.

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 NE OHIO FACILITY TOUR (KGK Gardening & Design Corp.) KGK conscientiously seeks perfection – and it shows! Their team of professionals has earned an unsurpassed reputation in NE Ohio for creativity and excellence in the field of landscape design and construction. Join us as we tour KGK’s exceptional facility, located in Hudson, Ohio, to find out what has made them so successful for nearly 40 years. See pages 7 for more details. Note: This event has limited capacity.

OCTOBER OCTOBER 7, 2021 PLANT HEALTHCARE DAY This full-day workshop combines all aspects of Plant Health Care (PHC) for both technicians and managers, with live demonstrations of PHC techniques – services based on the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and proactive tree care management. Held on the grounds of Secrest Arboretum, located in Wooster, OH. See page 33 for more information.

OCTOBER 12, 2021 CENTRAL OHIO FACILITY TOUR (Yard Solutions) Established in 1990, Yard Solutions is an organization with a strong set of values and is dedicated to providing outdoor environments that enrich people’s lives. They are committed to employee development and the customer experience. With over 25 years in the Property Maintenance and Design/Build industry, their organization understands the business from every angle. Join us as we tour Yard Solutions’ facility, located in Groveport, OH. See page 32 for more information.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 DORMANT PRUNING (Central Ohio) Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a half-day, handson clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Premier Plant Services in Hilliard, Ohio. Registration will open in Fall of 2021.

NOVEMBER 9, 2021 DORMANT PRUNING (NE Ohio) Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a half-day, handson clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio. Registration will open in Fall of 2021.

DECEMBER DECEMBER 2021 (Tentative) STONE VENEER CLINIC (NE Ohio) This hands-on clinic will teach the basics of mixing mortar, installing and grouting stone veneer. The techniques you will learn can be applied to both manufactured and natural stone. The demand for veneers has increased and this is a great opportunity to learn how to apply it in house. Registration will open in Fall of 2021.

JANUARY 2022 JANUARY 20, 2022 OLA MEETING Jarrett Herold / CEO of Electric Sheep Held at St. Michael’s Woodside. Sponsorship opportunities still available. For more info call the OLA Office at 440.717.0002. Registration will open in Fall of 2021.

The Growing Concern | August 2021 | 5

PR ES IDEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 Every company that is a member of the OLA should ask their employees two simple questions in effort to build a positive feedback loop. This, in-turn, will help you recruit and keep the best employees out there. Question One: On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend this organization as a good place to work? Any employee scoring a 6 or lower is a detractor. They are not satisfied with the organization and are more likely to spread negative word of mouth – just like an unhappy customers. The passive scores (7s and 8s) are more than likely open to competing offers from other employers. Only your 9s and 10s are true promotors – they are loyal and like working for you. Following the same math we did for our customers, give this a shot and see what your eNPS (Employee Net Promotor Score) is. The key to utilizing this tool is to have a follow-up question ascertaining why they rated the organization the way they did. This will help you see what you are doing right (Promotors) and what you are doing wrong (Neutrals and Detractors). Some of your detractors may be too far gone and will be lost regardless of your efforts to improve, but you can set a goal to get those scoring below 8 up to the 9 or 10 level. It may not be easy. Question Two: On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend this company’s services to a friend or family member? (With a “why” follow up.) This second question will help you identify the quality of your organization’s work from your employees’ view. It speaks to the pride they take in their work, as well as how they feel about the processes of accomplishing it. You may have a great culture, treat them wonderfully, pay above average, have all the newest equipment, but perhaps your processes result in a subpar product that an employee isn’t comfortable recommending to a friend. Employees are your toughest critics – always ask the critics! Building the Feedback Loop Your goal should be to implement a system that provides frequent feedback, allowing you to adjust over time. Your first survey will provide you with a benchmark score. Similar to running your first 5k, it doesn’t really matter what the score is, because your competing against yourself. Longterm though, the goal is to continue aiming for improved scores which will indicate that you are moving in the right direction.

6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

The “Why?” follow-ups are crucial when it comes to both questions, as it gives you areas to target. Knock out the easy stuff first. Then, put together a team to formulate solutions that address your bigger areas of concern. While it may cost money to solve some employee concerns – big picture – it should result in net gains. Considering the average cost of replacing an employee is around 20% of their salary, you want to focus on turning your 8s (and lower) into 9s and 10s. You may be surprised how some of the “little things” being addressed, while vocally letting the entire company know you are changing based on their feedback, can begin to increase your eNPS almost immediately. When it’s all said and done, your employees rating you a 9 or 10 are now your recruiters. They will actively promote your company to like-minded individuals. While everyone else is struggling to find “someone with a heartbeat,” you’ll be pulling the top talent AND enjoying happy employees. We all know happy employees do better, safer, faster work. Let me know if you give this a go and how it works!

OLA MEETINGS SERIES

EVENT INFORMATION DATE & LOCATION SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 1936 GEORGETOWN RD. HUDSON, OHIO 44236 AGENDA REGISTRATION 5:00PM to 5:30PM FACILITY TOUR 5:30PM to 7:45PM NETWORKING/FOOD SERVED 7:45PM to 8:45PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30 REGISTER TO ATTEND BY SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

SPONSORED BY

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HOSTED BY

NEO LANDSCAPE FACILITY TOUR

KGK Gardening & Design Corporation Establishing a landscape design and construction company in his hometown of Hudson was a goal of Ken Kuryla’s since early in his college career at The Ohio State University. This ambition was a perfect fit for a hard working farm boy with a love of the outdoors who majored in landscape horticulture. Founded as a full-service landscape designbuild firm shortly after his gradution, in 1984, Ken established KGK Gardening and Design Corporation. KGK quickly impacted the local industry through a combination of always doing the right thing, relentless quality, professionalism, problem solving, and design creativity.

‘Our purpose is to improve the quality of life for our clients’

Surrounded by a gifted and talented staff who pay meticulous attention to detail, KGK raises the standard of design, construction, and performance in NE Ohio. In addition to their team of formally trained landscape architects and designers, KGK boasts a team of artisans who have developed highly advanced skills in the mediums of wood and stone. Today KGK continues to strive for excellence through its guiding process of Engage, Design, and Implement. This process allow KGK to take on diverse design challenges, whether public, private, civic, social, environmental, commercial, or residential.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S MEETING SCHEDULE ARE NOW AVAILABLE. CALL 440.717.0002 FOR INFO. 2.25 CEU’S

In addition, KGK’s property is home to the Highfields Event Center, a brand new, 5,000 sq. ft., modern event venue, surrounded by lush gardens and a private woodland area. This space was developed to create the timeless feel of harmonizing elegant architecture with open-air views, which enhances wedding celebrations, offsite corporate meetings, and other events. Join us, September 29, 2021 as Ken Kuryla and his team give us a peek into what has made them so successful for over 35 years. Space is limited, register soon. REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/MEETINGS

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb Blue (Aconitum) and yellow (Heliopsis) make a great color combination, but try to use more blue plants than yellow so the yellow ones don’t dominate the vignette.

HELIOPSIS OXEYE SUNFLOWER

Few plants epitomize summertime more than sunflowers, especially those tall ones with large seed-filled heads. Fields of them are a sight to behold. These sunflowers, however, are annuals. Also beautiful, but a lot less work, is the perennial sunflower, Heliopsis. Most of the cultivars which are available today are hybrids of H.helianthoides and H.scabra. They vary in heights, ranging from 18 to 48 inches tall, and usually bloom from June to September. Perhaps the best known is ‘Summer Sun,’ which has semidouble, golden-yellow flowers blooming atop sturdy, 3 to 4 foot stems, with dark-green, whorled leaves. ‘Venus’ is quite similar.

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Two newer cultivars on the perennial scene are ‘Bleeding Hearts’ and ‘Burning Hearts’. Also 3 to 4 feet tall, the flowers of ‘Bleeding Hearts’ emerge as an intense orangey-red, but mature to golden-orange with red centers, atop black stems with purple foliage. The flowers of ‘Burning Hearts’ are golden-yellow with a red center, which contrasts well with its deep-purple foliage. Both of these cultivars are more drought tolerant than other Heliopsis. continued on page 10

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The cheery daisy-like flowers of Heliopsis will gladden any heart.

continued from page 8 Taller Heliopsis look best at the back of a border and are invaluable as cut flowers. If deadheaded, they will rebloom. I’m reserving judgment on a mid-sized (24 inch) Heliopsis that I was sent as a trial plant. ‘Summer Pink’ has lovely pink, white and green variegated foliage, very dark stems, and bright-yellow, daisy-like flowers. Sadly, the pink tends to disappear as the summer goes on, and so far, it has not been a strong grower. However, this is only the second summer in the garden and it may well surprise me.

All Heliopsis need many are fairly and well-drained perennial tends to

full sun, average moisture (although drought tolerant once established) soil. If the soil is too rich, this become lanky and will need staking.

Who doesn’t love a perennial that attracts butterflies and bees while resisting depredation by deer and rabbits?

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose

A sure fire shorter Heliopsis is ‘Tuscan Gold’. Growing 24 to 32 inches in height, it is a single, bright-yellow flower that is somewhat drought tolerant and reblooms without deadheading.

specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).

If you’re looking for a really short Heliopsis, try ‘Sunstruck’, only 14 to 24 inches in height. This is a more compact ‘Loraine Sunshine’ with the same green and white variegated foliage, but more golden-yellow petals per bloom.

10 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

KEYS TO RETIREMENT INVESTING KNOW YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS Once retired, your income will come from multiple sources: Social Security benefits, pensions, employer retirement savings plans like the 401(k), IRAs, personal savings and/or part time work. The value of your employer-based savings plans, like the 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans IRAs, SEP Plans or Simple Plans, will be an important source of that income. The more you save, the more that will be available for you to use during retirement.

MAXIMIZE YOUR MATCH If your employer offers matching contributions, be sure to contribute at least enough to get all of the match money offered. This is literally as close to “free money” as you are ever going to see in this lifetime.

HAVE AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY, NOT A BET Your retirement plan assets can usually be invested in very conservative investment options. Most plans offer a Stable Value or Fixed Interest rate account. However, a potentially higher return often requires assuming a higher level of risk to a degree. Therefore, you may want to consider investment options that invest in bonds and stocks.

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

If you choose this path, mix up stocks, bonds and cash in a manner that fits your risk tolerance. Your plan will usually offer some help in this area. Don’t pick your funds simply by what they did in the past. Time is another important factor. If you have 20 years or more until retirement, it might be prudent to focus more on growth. Of course, every individual is unique and risk tolerances and time frames are only part of the equation.

REVIEW AND REBALANCE It may be a good idea to periodically, either every six months or once a year, review your account and see if the mix of investments is still in balance. If not, you may want to consider rebalancing the account to the allocation that you had chosen. Perhaps, as you get closer to retirement, that mix could change to a more conservative approach. But most preretirees shouldn’t get too conservative. Your retirement assets should last the rest of your life. A newly retired individual shouldn’t flip the switch on the portfolio and immediately become more conservative. Maybe treat the portfolio as if it continued on page 14 were more like a dimmer switch.

F ISCAL FI TN ESS

continued from page 12 According to the Social Security Administration, a male, age 60, has a life expectancy of another 21.80 years and a female, age 60, has a life expectancy of 24.78 more years. www.ssa.gov/oact/HistEst/PerLifeTablesHome.html

retirement income in today’s dollars, assuming they receive an annual raise of 1.5%, remain employed until age 67 with a 7% annualized return. Little incremental differences can make a huge difference over time.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ROTH 401(K) OR ROTH IRAS

Rebalancing and diversifing your portfolio to reduce risk and stay focused on your long term goals.

For decades, regular 401(k)s have let participants arrange to have money taken out of their paycheck on a pre-tax basis and put into a retirement account. By contrast, Roth 401(k)s give you the option of contributing after-tax money toward retirement. With Roth 401(k)s, any future distributions – money you withdraw, hopefully, after earning a good return on your investment – are tax-free. In essence, you’re trading a current tax break for a future one when you choose a Roth over a traditional 401(k). In retirement, you can take distributions from both accounts to help manage your tax liability. Workers who are just starting out in their careers should strongly consider a Roth 401(k). With modest entry-level salaries, most new workers don’t pay high taxes anyway, making the current tax break of a regular 401(k) worth little.

Scenarios illustrated are hypothetical in nature, results may vary. Investing is subject to risk which may involve loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice.

A 1% SAVINGS BOOST COULD SWEETEN RETIREMENT

Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management office at 17601 W. 130th Street – Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio. Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com

An increase of 1% in retirement savings can mean a big difference in income because of compounding. For example, a 25-year-old earning $40,000 who opts to increase their savings rate by 1% per year (approximately $33 per month next year) can expect an increase of $320 in monthly

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14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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The Growing Concern | August 2021 | 15

F OR SAFETY SAK E

AUGUST IS NATIONAL BRAKE SAFETY MONTH The brake system is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Faulty brakes contribute to about onethird of truck-caused crashes in the United States, and poorly adjusted brakes or brake-system violations contribute to half of all out-of-service violations for commercial vehicles. Knowing how to properly use and maintain brake systems can help prevent serious injury or damage to property BRAKE USE

CALCULATE YOUR SAFETY BUFFER

Frequent, hard braking can compromise brake system performance and increase maintenance costs. To get the most out of your brakes: • Anticipate braking needs well in advance to avoid hard braking. • Maintain reasonable speeds and safe following distances, especially on slippery roads or when traveling downhill. • Apply firm pressure to the brake pedal and ease up as soon as you begin to slow down. (By the time you come to a complete stop, you should be applying minimal pressure to the pedal.) • Use lower gears on hills and in heavy traffic.

• If you’re operating a 40-ft vehicle traveling under 40 mph, leave 4 seconds between the truck and the vehicle in front.

16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

• If you’re driving a 40-ft vehicle at a speed over 40 mph, increase the buffer to 5 seconds. • For larger trucks, allow one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length plus one extra second if you’re traveling over 40 mph. Note: These guidelines assume good weather and reasonable traffic. More dangerous conditions may require greater continued on page 18 following distances.

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continued from page 16 BRAKE MAINTENANCE Regularly inspect brake systems to ensure optimum performance. Even if you can’t look under the vehicle, you can listen for air leaks, check low air signals and look for component damage. Include a thorough brake inspection with every pretrip inspection. •

•

Service brake check—Wait for normal air pressure, release the parking brake, move the vehicle forward slowly (about 5 mph), apply the brakes firmly and note any vehicle pulling to one side or delayed stopping action. Parking brake check—Apply only the parking brake and shift into a lower gear. Gently pull against the brake by releasing the clutch. Verify that it holds the vehicle. Hydraulic brake check—With the engine running, pump the brake pedal three times and hold it for five seconds. The pedal should not move. - If the vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic brake reserve system (with the key in the “off” position), depress the brake pedal and listen for the sound of the reserve system electric motor turning on. Verify that the brake warning light/buzzer is off.

18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

• Air brake check (air brake equipped vehicles only)— Release the parking brake and trailer air supply button and apply pressure to the foot brake for one minute. After the initial drop in pressure, the rate of pressure loss should be no more than 3 psi per minute for single vehicles and no more than 4 psi per minute for combination vehicles. - Test the low pressure warning alarm—Turn the key to the “on” position and rapidly depress and release the foot brake to reduce air tank pressure. The low air pressure warning signal should come on before the pressure drops below 60 psi. Continue to rapidly apply and release the service brake pedal, further reducing air pressure. The trailer air supply button (for combination vehicles) and parking brake button should pop out when the pressure falls between 20 to 40 psi. This should activate the spring brakes. - Check rate of air pressure buildup—While the engine is operating at 1800 RPM, the pressure should rise from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds in dual air systems.

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Wholesale Prices to OLA Members, or Professional Installation by our Crews. 1053 Bank St. Akron,OH 44305 330-784-0456 www.acmefence.com AVOID HAZARDS Always keep an eye out for hazards to avoid slamming on your brakes. Hard braking can potentially lock your wheels and send you into a skid. Spread your braking over the longest possible distance by braking early and reducing your speed gradually. If you need to take evasive action, don’t brake and swerve at the same time. Apply brakes first to slow the vehicle down as much as possible; then release the brakes to swerve. Vehicle and trailer brakes are designed for a full load and can overpower an underweight trailer, resulting in locked wheels. Be cautious when trailers are empty or cargo is unevenly distributed to prevent jackknifing. Using your engine brake or retarder (i.e. Jacobs brake) on a slippery surface can lock up the drive axle and also cause jackknifing. Steer out of skids and minimize braking until the vehicle is under control.

are especially prone to jackknifing. If you’re going down a steep hill and wish to turn off to the left or right, don’t assume the trailer will follow you. The trailer’s momentum tends to carry it straight down the hill, so slow down or come to a stop before turning. For additional info, visit the Fleet and Driver Safety page of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at www. fmcsa.dot.gov.

This article first appeared as part of EMC Insurances Safety Blog, located at www.emcins.com. With more than 110 years of strength, stability and success, they’ve proven their agents, policyholders, investors and team members can Count on EMC. Disclaimer: This material is designed and intended for general information purposes only, and is not intended, nor shall be construed or relied upon, as specific legal advice.

When approaching a curve, apply your brakes while the vehicle is traveling in a straight line. Slow down to the point that you can apply a little power as you turn. Downhill turns The Growing Concern | August 2021 | 19

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, Ph.D

Cuyahoga Community College

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

COMPTONIA PEREGRINA SWEET FERN

On this track of the Hendrick’s Experience, Bill shares a plant that is a favorite of both his and ours – Sweet Fern. Comptonia peregrina is the only species of Comptonia, with only a few other genera in the family of Myricaceae, including Myrica pensylvanica (Bayberry). If you are familiar with Bayberry, you know that the leaves have a slightly spicy scent when crushed, a trait that can be found throughout the entire Myricaceae family. This trait is what gives our plant of the month part of its common name. The leaves of Sweet Fern have a sweeter, yet still somewhat spicy scent when crushed. In fact, brush against this plant and you will more than likely catch a hint of its scent. The second part of the common name, Fern, refers to this plant’s appearance. While it is listed as growing up to 5 feet tall, we’ve never seen it reach more than 3. With minimal branching, the stems reach up from the ground, adorned with unique leaves, alternating on each side – around 4 inches long, linear, with zig-zag dentation on the margins. The leaves and habit lead most people conject that this plant is a type of Fern, before investigating further. Given a little

time, the plant will send up stems beyond the original clump, turning into a colonizing mass. The specific epithet, Peregrina, is rooted in the Latin peregrinatus meaning, “to travel abroad,” or “to roam.” There is no accident in its naming, the reference specifically addressing this plant’s habit of colonizing and forming dense thickets of plants that have “roamed” from the parent plant. continued on page 22

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH continued from page 20

Sweet Fern is native to the Great Lakes, heading northeast into New England, and traveling down the Appalachians, into Georgia. If you ask a plant nerd from Quebec, “c’est quelle plante?” they will respond, “comptonie voyageuse,” which translates directly to “traveling comptonia” – a most fitting common name.

across all of Fabaceae, there are a few plants outside the family that can form a similar relationship with a type of actinobacteria called Frankia. This relationship is what gives both Bayberry and Sweet Fern an advantage in poor soils, as well as members of Alnus (Alders). It also gives an edge to the invasive Russian and Autumn Olives (Elaeagnus sp.)

It was Carl Linnaeus who, in 1753, first described the plant and named it Liquidambar peregrine. The name was later changed by Dr. John Coulter (President of Indiana University) in 1894 to Comptonia, as a tribute to Henry Compton, Bishop of London (1675 – 1713), and noted botanist.

Sweet Fern should be used as a tall, colonizing ground cover. Do not expect flowers, or fruits. These are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), but the flowers go unnoticed unless you are staring at them in spring, as tiny catkins appear in a rather dull yellowish-green. Fruits also go unseen by most, as they are tiny (less than ¼ inch) burr-like nutlets. We have found references to the nut inside the husk as being edible, but haven’t found ourselves desperate enough for a snack to bother trying.

You want to be sure to mimic the natural conditions this plant is found in. Speaking with Bill, he noted that he had found native stands in the lower peninsula of Michigan, as well as in New England, growing in rocky outcrops and sandy soils – places other plants may not survive. Bill said, “It (Sweet Fern) is particular to its siting, preferring well-drained, sandy, acidic soils in sun, or partial shade. Once established it is tolerant of salt and can be used in highway plantings and other rugged sites.” There is a beautiful mass of this plant at Stan Hywet, in the Japanese garden, sited in a sandy soil that is only a few inches deep, before hitting bedrock on a slope. These plants are deep-green and loving life. The main reason these plants thrive in sandy/infertile soils is because they are actinorhizal. You are likely familiar with plants in the Pea family (Fabaceae) as “nitrogen fixers.” In these plants, a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria creates nodules on the roots where the bacteria can take nitrogen gas (N2) out of the atmosphere and turn it into ammonia (NH3). The plant utilizes this as “free fertilizer.” While this relationship is universal

In fall, the leaves may take on a nice bronze color before turning brown and falling for winter. Most years, about a third of the leaves hang on through most of winter, maintaining a bit of interest through snow or ice accumulation. This plant is truly best used as a beautiful cover for tough spots of dry/infertile soils. Full sun exposure to partial sun is ideal. Deeper shade will cause the colony to thin out and possibly allow weed competition. One thing to keep in mind is this plant doesn’t love to be transplanted, so the first year or two it may be slow to grab hold, but once it does it will spread readily. We have never observed any pest or disease issues with this Sweet Fern, and given the space to spread, it is a “plant and enjoy” gem, meaning no maintenance! We hope you get a chance to utilize this beautiful plant and expand your pallet a little more!

Jim Funai, PhD. is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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F EATURE ARTI CLE

SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES

THE IMPACTS ON THE LAWN & LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY

Every industry has been affected by supply chain struggles in one way or another recently and the landscape industry is no exception. Landscape professionals and landscape supply companies have experienced issues with raw material and plant shortages, delays with receiving trucks and equipment and cost increases across the board. “Plastic products (pipe, rotors/sprays, fittings), fertilizers, plant material, backflows, low voltage wire, outdoor lighting, electronics, chemicals, engine-powered equipment and hardscapes have all been impacted by a combination of supply issues and cost increases,” says Greg Weller, EVP of Operations for SiteOne Landscape Supply.

shortages, freight challenges and weather,” Weller says. “Freight and labor shortages are pervasive challenges across almost all product lines. At one point earlier this year there were ~80 tractor trailer loads needing to be moved for every truck/driver available (DAT Freight and Analytics). While that’s improved a bit, freight is still very tight and expensive.”

WHAT’S CAUSING IT?

In the plant material sphere, Lisa Fiore, co-founder and CEO of LandscapeHub, says the Great Recession is also playing a factor on today’s shortages. When it hit in 2008, many nurseries reduced their production.

The combination of the pandemic, huge consumer demand for outdoor products, labor shortages, and freight and logistics issues have all combined into a perfect storm causing shortages to abound. “The causes of supply challenges could really be lumped into five buckets – COVID issues, labor shortages, raw material

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“They either didn’t have the cash or the appetite to risk the investment of putting more plants in the ground 12 years continued on page 26 ago,” Fiore says.

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continued from page 24 Because trees and evergreens take 10 to 12 years to produce, the effects from the Great Recession are now being seen with those shortages. She says COVID and the increased consumer demand from more people staying home have impacted the availability of faster-produced plant material. Severe weather events have also impacted the availability of plant material in locations like Texas and Louisiana while increasing demand as people seek to replace the plants they lost in the storms.

The effects of this operating method have been particularly noticeable in the auto industry as landscapers have struggled to get the trucks they need for their fleets due to a shortage of computer chips needed for vehicles. Neil Bales, president and CEO of LandPatterns, based in Dallas, Texas, says they’ve waited 6 to 8 weeks for trucks and he has been told it could be a minimum of 4 months waiting if he orders his trucks direct from the manufacturer.

Another factor behind the shortages is how most manufacturers adopted the Toyota ‘Just In Time’ style of manufacturing where parts are delivered to factories right as they are needed, cutting down on the need to stockpile them. What started as an idea to stay nimble while cutting costs, became mainstream in manufacturing and this way of operating has resulted in crippling shortages.

RESPONDING TO THE SHORTAGES

“So much of the past 10 to 15 years a lot of manufacturers have tried to run leaner, they’ve tried to be more real-time, just in time inventory because forecasting sales is much easier,” says Matt Schultz, head of product and merchandising for Gemplers. “Since this extreme spike in demand over the last year and a half, those forecasts kind of go out the window.”

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While no one could have predicted the pandemic and its effects on the supply chain, both Gemplers and SiteOne had been stocking up their inventory early on. Schultz says Gemplers has been on a growth trajectory for the last couple of years and they wanted to be able to capture more of that growth. “We learned about two years ago that just in time inventory wasn’t allowing us to get out to as many and help serve as many customers as we wanted to,” Schultz says. In response to this, they had started to build up their inventory to get ahead of the demand they could see coming so they were in a better position than some when it came

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to their supply. Likewise, SiteOne increased their purchases of products in categories they thought might be eventually impacted as the COVID cases climbed in Asia early last year. “Since then, we have maintained inventory at recordhigh levels to protect against as many of the supply and transportation challenges as possible,” Weller says. Fiore says they have been trying to provide as many substitutes and alternatives for their buyers when it comes to plant material and educating them on what is available, so they don’t waste their time searching for one specific plant.

and demand had spiked to multiples of historic levels. Fiore says some of their suppliers have been utilizing allocation. “It’s an old school tactic and I hope it becomes extinct, but allocations have been very high,” Fiore says. “They’re trying to keep their customer base happy without selling out of high demand products. They want to keep a little bit for all their customers.” While suppliers have been working hard to keep prices level, Fiore, Schultz and Weller say they’ve started to see price increases across the board.

“There are plants that are often specified by a landscape architect that just because it’s not available doesn’t mean there’s not a highly qualified alternative that is available,” Fiore says.

“All indications are that we can expect to see continued inflation in the back half of the year in multiple product categories like fertilizers, wire and plastic products (including PVC pipe, poly pipe and fittings),” Weller says.

Despite having a better supply than most, Gemplers and SiteOne did have to limit purchase quantities occasionally. Schultz says they’re not limiting any purchase quantities right now. Weller says they typically only limited purchase amounts when the manufacturers were having severe issues

ADAPT AND OVERCOME Despite everchanging shortages, delivery dates shifting, labor challenges, and a growing backlog of work, landscape professionals are thinking on their feet to find creative continued on page 28 solutions to get the job done still. The Growing Concern | August 2021 | 27

F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 27 “We have been communicating with our customers and being their advocate when it comes to planning and ordering,” says Justin Gamester, president of Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service based in Eliot, Maine. “We are also very careful not to let them sway towards products that are hard to get so that we don’t run into expansion issues, or warranty issues.”

Despite all the challenges he says they’ve grown through this year and are on target to have their best year yet.

Similarly, Bales says they’ve been communicating with their customers about the delays and they’ve been patient to a certain point. They understand the company can’t help weather and as for material shortages, Bales says they’ll work with the client and sometimes do temporary plantings and will come back and replace them with their desired plants later.

“It could be straight from the manufacturer or as a result of freight/delivery and some items were going up in price that didn’t even make sense,” Gamester says. “We have changed the language in our contracts so that the project price is only valid for 15 days.”

“We have fantastic communication with our clients,” Bales says. “We’ve sent out countless emails and letters stating things. We have told them about tax advantages from freeze damage things like that here in Texas. We’ve tried to be proactive on the front end and when we’re not going to hit a target date we’re open with our clients telling them why and what’s going on.” With rising costs, landscape companies have started to adjust their prices for their customers. Bales says some costs are being passed on, while they’re absorbing some others.

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Gamester says the price increases have been happening so fast it’s been difficult to keep up with but communicating with customers is huge.

To deal with the truck shortages, Bales says that he’s been paying a premium to get trucks from a dealership for a 6 to 10 week wait time. He says it still takes quite a bit of searching. He says they’ve also rented trucks and equipment to meet their needs. “We have a relationship with Fleet Management through Enterprise so we’ve been able to rent some vehicles as needed,” Bales says. “I’ve had to rent equipment through dealerships and distributors like Sunbelt.” continued on page 30

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continued from page 28 “I have been able to take advantage of selling some of our vehicles and equipment with the value of used inventory being so high right now,” Gamester says. “Most of my vendors know my cycles and had made sure I was ahead of the curve on ordering. This is where having really strong relationships pays off.”

PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE A big question is when or if things will go back to normal. Schultz expects by the late fourth quarter or early next spring the backlog will begin to get better as manufacturers are having to challenge themselves to build more efficiencies and build up capacity. He believes they will also start to hold more inventory moving forward. Gamester believes it will take another six to nine months before things will get sorted out with the supply chain. Fiore says depending on the plant category some things will balance out sooner than others. Shade trees and evergreens are going to remain in short supply for another year or two. Meanwhile, perennials and shrubs will probably be more available by next spring or next summer. She says the labor shortage is also hampering plant production. “I know for a fact that nurseries have the ground to expand their operations,” Fiore says. “They have the inputs; they just don’t have the labor to do it.”

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Weller agrees that larger plant material will be limited for years to come as it takes time to grow. He says they expect the supplier shortages to level out over the next six months for most product lines while the products’ costs may continue to increase over the next six months through the end of the year. “Unfortunately, the same trends currently driving inflation like labor shortages, wage increases, and raw material inflation are likely to continue,” Weller says. “Freight costs may subside somewhat after the holiday season but will likely never return to pre-COVID levels due to increased labor and fuel costs.” Bales predicts the supply chain issues will last at least for a full year. “It’s been hard on everybody, but the good news is there’s work out there to be had,” Bales says. “It’s just taking a lot of communication with our clients and with our vendors and having good relationships with our vendors.”

Originally published by Jill Odem, Content Manager for National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), this articles was featured on their blog, located at https://blog.landscapeprofessionals.org/ how-supply-chain-issues-are-impacting-lawn-and-landscape-industry

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