The Growing Concern December 2023 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

DECEMB ER 2 0 2 3

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

The Entry Deadline for the Landscape Ohio! Awards is here. Submit your projects by December 15th, 2023.

Central Ohio Evening Meeting

January 18, 2024 / Grange Audubon Center (Columbus, OH) / PAGE 28

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

CLOSING OUT 2023 So, it’s the end of the year! Can you believe it? Once summer ended, it seems as if these last few months have flown by. And now, all of the sudden, we are into holiday season. December is probably one of the busier month on my jobsites as they are being buttoned up for the year. Inventory is being counted, restocked, and the push for new sales for the upcoming spring season will begin soon. As an association, we’re also busier than ever, as we begin working on all of the meetings, clinics, and other events we plan to hold in 2024. In a recent survey we sent out, continued learning and networking topped the requests, and we’ve heard you loud and clear!

STEPHANIE GRAY BrightView Landscape

experiences, and perspectives it only enriches the collective, when people of all backgrounds share their time and talents. Embracing diversity in the workplace will inevitably lead to increased creativity and innovation, better problem solving and enhanced productivity. Additonally, inclusive environments also promote a sense of belonging where all individuals regardless of their race, gender, age, or other characteristics feel valued and respected. Every company seems to be fighting for the same pool of employees and by embracing diversity and inclusion, we should be able to help ourselves with the overall recruitment and retention of our industry’s future employees.

Speaking of learning, every year I get a little older – and hopefully wiser – as I try to embrace new ideas and ways of thinking. This year, I wrote about workplace culture and leadership, touched on individual performance and business reviews, a little bit on employee and employer relationships, and quite a few other topics. For my last article I wanted to touch on the topic of diversity and inclusion.

Another word that is often mentioned with diversity and inclusion is equity, a concept that revolves around fairness and impartiality. By being an equitable employer, it gives every employee the chance to thrive, regardless or their background and any existing disparities. It provides a level playing field for all. Equity is also about addressing systemic disadvantages or marginalization. By being equitable one can realize that people from diverse backgrounds face diverse challenges.

Yes, I realize this is discussion we’re having everywhere now – love it, or hate it – and sometimes it’s way more politically charged than it needs to be. Politics aside though, addressing diversity and inclusion are going to be evermore crucial factors in helping to foster a vibrant, opinionated society. By bringing together individuals with various backgrounds,

At thirteen years old, I started working in the Green Industry and consider myself fortunate to have grown up around a cast of diverse characters at all of my various employment stops. These interactions really helped shaped me as an individual and helped immensely as I grew into leadership continued on page 6 and teaching roles. The Growing Concern | December 2023 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 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 Toll Free: 1.800.335.6521 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, M3 Wealth Management Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Stephanie Gray, LIC, BrightView Landscapes Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb COVER: 2023 Landscape Ohio! Honor Award winner, in the category of Residential Installations with Swimming Pools, Green Impressions.

FEATURES

3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Closing Out 2023

8 PERENNIAL FOCUS Double Your Pleasure

12 FISCAL FITNESS

Four Key Estate Planning Documents

16 FOR SAFETY SAKE

ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of magazine publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, 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 Stephanie Gray, LIC

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

President – Elect Cameron Maneri

Associate Director Rick Doll, Jr.

24 FEATURE ARTICLE

Treasurer Ryan Drake

Membership Coordinator Melissa Roberts

30 MILESTONES 31 ADVERTISING INDEX

Immediate Past President Brian Maurer, LIC

Training Newbies for Snow Ops

20 PLANT OF THE MONTH

Native Alders vs. European Alders 8 Ways Training Can Boost a Landscaper’s Bottom Line

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Matt Malone Tim McCaskey Bob Ramser, LIC Tom Rieder, LIC Kate McGory, OCNT

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C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS U P C O M I N G O L A M E E T I N G S , E D U C AT I O N S E M I N A R S & E V E N T S

DECEMBER 2023

JANUARY 2024

FEBRUARY 2024 cont...

DECEMBER 5, 2023 DORMANT PRUNING (NE Ohio)

JANUARY 11, 2024 SANDLER SALES TRAINING CLINIC

FEBRUARY 21, 2024 OLA COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Dormant Pruning of landscape plants is a half-day, hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio.

Professionals in the Green Industry face a unique set of challenges when it comes to engaging and converting the modern buyer. To address these challenges and help you thrive in today’s competitive market, Sandler Training will be leading an insightful, highly interactive sales talk tailored exclusively for the OLA.

Joining an OLA committee is a wonderful way to get involved - not only within the association - but in the industry you love. It is also a great way for a potential board member to get a feel for the association’s work and needs. Join us for our kick-off meeting. See page 7 for more information. RSVP required and can be completed at www. ohiolandscapers.org/committees, or by calling us at 440.717.0002.

DECEMBER 12, 2023 SANDLER SALES TRAINING CLINIC

Hopefully you are prepping your entries for this year’s awards program, as the entry deadline is fast approaching. For more information on how to enter, including rules and entry forms, pleas visit our website at www.ohiolandscapers.org/awardsprogram. (see bar, right.)

JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 1, 2024 SET-UP OF OLA DISPLAY AT THE GREAT BIG HOME & GARDEN SHOW If you are interested in volunteering to help construct this year’s OLA garden please contact the OLA at 440.717.0002 This is a great opportunity to work along side others in the industry, as well as contribute to the association.

FEBRUARY 2024 FEBRUARY 2-11, 2024 OLA DISPLAY AT THE GREAT BIG HOME & GARDEN SHOW This is a great opportunity to help promote the industry, our association, and your company. If you are interested in volunteering to help staff the garden during show hours, please contact the OLA at 440.717.0002.

FEBRUARY 21, 2024 OLA EVENING MEETING (NE Ohio) Ultimate Networking – Learn From Your Peers. Join us for a series of roundtable discussions on various topics to help increase your bottom line. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts., OH. See page 7 for more information.

GIVE BACK TO YOUR INDUSTRY BY JOINING AN OLA COMMITTEE! Joining an OLA committee is a wonderful way to get involved not only within the association - but in the industry you love.

CIATIO SO

DECEMBER 15, 2023 27th ANNUAL LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS DEADLINE

Companies that can provide meaningful employee development opportunities have a distinct advantage in the marketplace, as employees are looking for employers that are willing to invest in their long-term growth. Join the OLA as we welcome Matt Crinklaw, Senior Vice President and co-founder of Greenius to speak on this topic. See page 28 for more information.

JANUARY 18, 2024 CENTRAL OHIO EVENING MEETING

M M ITTEE

DECEMBER 5, 2023 SANDLER SALES TRAINING CLINIC

Committee participation is also a great way for a potential board member to get a feel for the association’s work and needs. From our Annual Scholarship Golf outing through to our legislative endeavors, the OLA has a committee for everyone! Committees typically meet anywhere from monthly to 4 times a year - depending upon the committee and its initiatives. We’d love for you to consider getting involved! Sign-up now at www. ohiolandscapers.org/committees The Growing Concern | December 2023 | 5

PR ES IDEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 Switching gears, I’d like to address two calls-to-action before I hand over my gavel. First, I’d like to suggest that anyone interested in being more involved with the association look into joining a committee. All of our educational offerings, evening meetings and other events start with ideas deliberated in our organization’s committees. The committees meet anywhere from once a month to 4 times a year, sometimes in person and sometimes via Zoom, for no longer than an hour at a time. It’s a great way to network and learn what legwork goes into hosting successful events. By sharing your time and talents it will help keep our organization’s offerings current with industry trends in these ever-changing times. And if you are interested in serving on our board, taking part in a committee is a necessary step. Committee registration is open on our website at www. ohiolandscapers.org/committees. Secondly, I’d like to remind everyone that the Landscape Ohio! Awards submission process is currently open and the deadline to enter submissions is Friday, December 15th at 5pm. There are plenty of categories encompassing landscape installation, landscape maintenance, seasonal color and even landscape

6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

lighting. This is a great opportunity to show off the hard work your employees put in and get them the recognition they deserve. Projects new and old (within the last 5 years) are eligible and if the thinking is, well this is good but probably not award worthy, you will never know unless you try. Each entry secures (2) tickets to our Gala event, held at Windows on the River, in June of 2024. It’s a great night out to celebrate your employees and your company. For rules and regulations, as well as entry forms, please visit www.ohiolandscapers.org/ awards-program. And finally, as the calendar turns, it’s time for my term to end and for me to pass the torch to our next board president, Cameron Maneri, of the Wolf Creek Company. It has been an absolute pleasure serving you as our organization’s board president and getting to know all our members at various events. I would like to say thank you to our OLA staff for all of the hard work and dedication and all the behind-thescenes work that goes into our events and publications. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to supporting our board in my new role as past president. - Stephanie Gray LIC

OLA MEETINGS SERIES OLA EVENING MEETING SERIES

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION FEBRUARY 21, 2024 ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OHIO 44147 AGENDA REGISTRATION / NETWORKING FOOD / CASH BAR 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM PROGRAM 7:00 PM TO 8:45 PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $50 REGISTER TO ATTEND BY FEBRUARY 14, 2024

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Ultimate Networking: Roundtables

Who knows better than someone who has walked in your shoes? Many of our meeting evaluations have asked for more networking and roundtable discussions. In response, we are focusing our February 2024 NEO Evening Meeting on networking and sharing in a series of roundtable discussions. You will have the opportunity to discuss, share opinions, strategies, and tactis with your peers during two different networking sessions. Topics of discussion include: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Recruiting & Retaining Employees Money Management Equipment Aquisition Supplier/Buyer Relationships Project Planning Training / Safety / Insurance Customer Service New Trends The Owner’s Role Team Development New Technologies And more...

OLA COMMITEE MEETING REMINDER Joining an OLA committee is a wonderful way to get involved - not only within the association - but in the industry you love. Committee participation is also a great way for a potential board member to get a feel for the association’s work and needs. From our Annual Scholarship Golf outing through to our legislative endeavors, the OLA has a committee for everyone! Committees typically meet anywhere from monthly to 4 times a year - depending upon the committee and its initiatives. We’d love for you to consider getting involved! As a reminder, prior to the commencement of our February NE Ohio Evening Meeting, we will be holding our 2024 Annual Committe Meeting kick-off. This meeting will begin at 3pm, at which time each committee chair will give a general description of their committee’s role within the association. Once completed, attendees will have an opportunity to choose which committee(s) they would like to serve on, as well as meet with that committee to determine their goals for the year. Dinner will be provided for those in attendance, prior to the commencement of the Evening Meeting. For a full list and description of committees, or to register to attend, please visit our website at www.ohiolandscapers.org/committees

The Growing Concern | December 2023 | 29

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

It’s amazing how all three of these plants are so similar in color because the vignette is a total serendipity.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE Every perennial garden is a work of art. Sometimes the space is large, sometimes it’s small but we always try to make the most of it. One way to ensure more interest is using the device of color echo. For spring, I plant hardy bulbs between my perennials and grasses for earlier color. As I was finally reviewing and captioning some of my photos from this year, I found one that had Tulipa ‘Purple Dream’, Paeonia tenuifolia and the foliage of Euphorbia dulcis ‘Chameleon’ echoing each other. Meanwhile, they are occupying the space that will later be filled with Campanula, Hibiscus, Amsonia and Hydrangeas all of which foliate and bloom later than early May. Another spring photo, taken the same day but in a different bed, shows the new foliage of Spiraea betulifolia ‘Candy Corn’ and Tulips ‘Honky Tonk’ and Praestans ‘Shogun’. We get a lot of rainy days in spring but the orange and yellow of these plants will brighten any landscape.

Small colorful shrubs with more than one season of interest are a welcome addition to perennial gardens as are color echoing bulbs.

continued on page 10

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS continued from page 8 I’m not a huge daylily lover, mainly because they are deer fodder, but part of a PPA tour a few years ago was a visit to a daylily nursery. I was blown away by Hemerocallis ‘Lady Stephanie’. She is tall enough to be placed at the back of the border and has beautiful, ruffled petals that are orange and yellow. In the middle of July, her colors echo those of Dendranthema ‘Warm Igloo’. This chrysanthemum is very hardy if planted in the spring and blooms much earlier than the blobs sold in the fall at the garden centers. I wish there was a Cleveland nursery that would grow the Igloo series that encompasses the color spectrum of mums. The colorful flowers of Hemerocallis and Dendrathema contrast well with the purple foliage and deadheads of Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’.

When perennial gardens or mixed borders are sited against a fence, doubling your space with vertical gardening is a natural. I am a Clematis junkie and I have a long fence in back that divides my yard from my neighbor’s. When it was still legal (1992) to bring back plants from outside the country, I purchased Clematis triternata ‘Rubro-marginata’ in England and spent an hour in my hotel room cleaning all the soil off the roots. Sadly, when my fence was replaced a few years ago, this clematis suffered an unfortunate death. Happily, I was able to replace it (2019) and you can see it and Clematis ‘Vanessa’ (2018) in mid-July of this year enjoying each other’s company. The species clematis only blooms every other year but I eagerly await its return.

The small white flowers of Clematis triternata ‘Rubro-marginata’ are edged and suffused with burgundy that appears purplish from a distance and blend well with the lilac flowers of Clematis ‘Vanessa’.

Walking through the garden last week (first week of October 2023), I noticed that the variegated foliage of Carex ‘Feather Falls’ was being color echoed by the silver foliage and bracts of Pcynanthemum muticum. Nearby, although not in the photo is Physostegia virginiana ‘Variegata’ which also has variegated foliage that now is tinged with pink.

Using color echo in gardens and landscapes is a lot of fun and the combinations are innumberable. Which are your favorites? Variegated foliage adds a filip to any garden and I have fallen in love with Carex ‘Feather Falls’. Its foliage is longer and wavier than that of Carex ‘Ice Dance’ which used to be my favorite. Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose 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).

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Prioritize workplace flexibility. Workers prefer jobs that provide more flexibility over those that offer more vacation days. To the extent possible, give workers a say in their schedule, work conditions, work organization, work location, and work tasks. Match tasks to abilities. Use self-paced work, selfdirected rest breaks, and less repetitive tasks. Avoid prolonged, sedentary work. Prolonged, sedentary work is bad for workers at every age. Consider sit/stand workstations and walking workstations for workers who traditionally sit all day. Provide onsite physical activity opportunities or connections to low-cost community based options. Manage hazards. Including noise, slip/trip hazards, and physical hazards – conditions that can challenge an aging workforce more. Provide and design ergo-friendly work environments. Workstations, tools, floor surfaces, adjustable seating, better illumination where needed, and screens and surfaces with less glare. Utilize teams and teamwork strategies for agingassociated problem solving. Workers closest to the problem are often best equipped to find the fix.

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Provide health promotion and lifestyle interventions including physical activity, healthy meal options, tobacco cessation assistance, risk factor reduction and screenings, coaching, and onsite medical care. Accommodate medical self-care in the workplace and time away for health visits. Invest in training and building worker skills and competencies at all age levels. Help older employees adapt to new technologies, often a concern for employers and older workers. Proactively manage reasonable accommodations and the return-to-work process after illness or injury absences. Require aging workforce management skills training for supervisors. Include a focus on the most effective ways to manage a multi-generational workplace.

This article first appeared on the The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) website, located at www.cdc.gov/niosh. NIOSH’s mission is to develop new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transfer that knowledge into practice. Their vision: Safer, Healthier Workers. The Growing Concern | September 2021 | 23 The Growing Concern | December 2023 | 11

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

FOUR KEY ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS Estate planning is the process of managing and preserving your assets while you’re alive and conserving and controlling their distribution after your death. There are four key estate planning documents almost everyone should have, regardless of age, health, or wealth.

• • • •

A durable power of attorney Advance medical directives A will A letter of instruction

Let’s take a look at each one. A durable power of attorney lets you authorize someone to act on your behalf to handle your financial matters in the event you become physically or mentally unable to do so. The person you choose can do things like pay everyday expenses, watch over your investments, and file your taxes. Ohio has financial power of attorneys and also health care power of attorneys. You can designate a separate person to act in each capacity.

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

This document is valid while you are alive. Once you’ve passed, the power of attorney cannot act on your behalf any longer. Advance medical directives let others know what medical treatment you would want – or not want – in the event you can’t express your wishes yourself. If you don’t have an advance medical directive, medical care providers must prolong your life using artificial means, even if you do not want such procedures. There are three types of advance medical directives: A living will A health care proxy A Do Not Resuscitate order, or DNR

• • •

Some states may not allow all types, so make sure you understand what’s offered in your state. A living will allows you to decline certain types of medical care, even if you will die as a result of that choice. In most states, living wills take effect only under certain circumstances, continued on page 14 such as terminal illness.

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F ISCAL FI TN ESS

continued from page 12 A health care proxy allows you to appoint someone to make all of your medical decisions for you in case you’re unable to do so for yourself. A Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR) is your directive to medical personnel not to perform CPR if you go into cardiac arrest. A third key estate planning document is a will. The main purpose of a will is to distribute property to your heirs after your death according to your wishes. In your will, you can name an executor to manage and settle your estate, and a legal guardian to care for your minor children. A will is a formal, legal document that is filed with the court and eventually becomes part of the public record in a process known as “probate.” Finally, a letter of instruction is an informal, non-legal document that generally accompanies your will and expresses your directions about what is in your will, or other things, such as your personal thoughts, burial wishes, or the location of important documents. A letter of instruction can be the most helpful document you leave for your family members. Unlike your will, a letter of instruction remains private. We have seen many attorneys and financial professionals offering seminars to establish trusts, especially targeted to retired individuals or families. A trust can be an invaluable tool to protect assets, avoid probate, distribute assets after death, etc. But most of these goals can be handled without the costs and extra work of having a trust. Many think a trust protects assets from an assisted living facility, but a revocable trust does not accomplish that goal.

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

John Thomas, principal attorney at Schraff-Thomas Law says, “A revocable trust is an alter ego of the trustee.” A revocable living trust does not protect your assets from your creditors. This is because a revocable living trust can, by its terms, be changed or terminated at any time during your lifetime. As a result, the trust creator maintains ownership of the assets. Therefore, a creditor could force the owner of a revocable living trust to terminate the trust and surrender the assets. Life is unpredictable. Take steps now – while you can – to have the proper documents in place to ensure that your wishes are carried out. Every investor has different needs, goals, time frames, etc. As always, consult your financial advisor, estate attorney or tax professional for advice specific to your needs and goals. 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. 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 Securities and advisory services offered through L.M. Kohn & Company Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 Phone: (800) 478-0788

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F OR SAFETY SAK E

TRAINING NEWBIES FOR SNOW OPS Untrained employees are a danger to themselves and everyone they’re working next to out in the field. Here, we outline some important tips for training newbies in your snow ops. This a typical scenario. He pulls the truck into the parking lot, exhausted from plowing snow for the last 24 hours straight. He thinks to himself: “What have I gotten myself into?” This was his first big snow event. He had applied to an ad on Craigslist, and been hired as a snow plow driver. A crew leader gave him a quick run through on how to operate the plow and a sort of, kind of, lesson on how to plow the snow. The entire orientation lasted five minutes. He lit a Camel, took a strong pull off his 12-shot mocha, and dropped the plow to the ground. He began pushing the snow towards the back of the lot, he knew he had to try and angle all the snow to the left hand corner, but he was tired and that seemed like it would take too long. So he pushed the snow hard to the back of the parking lot disregarding the map that was in his three ring binder, which contained the contents of his route.

As he pushed the snow towards the back of the lot, he did not slow down fast enough and the plow slams into the curb. He curses. He didn’t like this job anyways. He reverses quickly, and smash. Right into the side of a minivan leaving the parking lot. He curses again and gets out of the cab. He apologizes, exchanges insurance info. Meanwhile, the snow is piling up. “Forget this!” he says to himself. Back at the shop he tells them about the accident, doesn’t mention the curb and leaves. And in doing so he fails to fill out his route sheets. He had no intention of coming back. Has your business suffered from hurt employees? Has your business ever had equipment damaged by your employees? Have you ever damaged a client’s property? If so training can play a huge role in protecting, you, your clients, your employees, and your property. Here are some of the most important training tips for your snow crews. continued on page 18

16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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FOR SAFETY SAKE continued from page 16

ORIENTATION This aspect of an employee’s training is the most important. It is crucial that this training take place before a new employee begins working for your business. You have identified this person is a good candidate, their core values align with yours and your staff believes they will be a good fit. The orientation allows for your new employee to get the lay of the land, learn about your business and company culture. You are teaching them about the things that make your company successful. During the orientation you are re-affirming: • • • • • • • • • • •

Expectations Hours Customer service Time off requests Holidays Snow and blizzard expectations How the equipment works How to treat the equipment Expected hours during storms What to do in case of emergency Drug, alcohol, and tobacco policies, etc.

Orientation gives you and your management staff the ability to determine if this new candidate has what it takes to be a part of your business. It is recommended that this orientation phase last a minimum of two weeks. This will allow you to truly begin the necessary developmental process needed to build your team the right way.

EQUIPMENT The equipment is a huge investment for any business, it can cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your company. But even if you only have two trucks, having one truck down can be devastating to your snow season. Teaching new employees and refreshing seasoned employees on the equipment operations is vital to having a successful snow season. Some of the keys are: • • • • • • •

Working the four-wheel drive properly. When to use the four-wheel drive and when to disengage Attaching and removing the plow Operating the plow, up down, forward, back, & side to side How to operate the emergency light How to operate the mechanical spreader How to calibrate the spreader to ensure the appropriate amount if deicer is used How to clean the equipment after use

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• • •

How to properly back up and check for blind spots How to load snow and use the dump bed Small repairs that can be made on site

These are just some of the keys to successfully operating equipment that will allow your company to succeed during this winter’s worst storms.

DRY RUNS One of the best things you can do is dry runs. This best practice is very helpful to refresh and teach new employees how things should run during a storm. Taking equipment to a site and having them remove the plow, practice where to plow snow to, having them show you what they would do in a storm and them making on site corrections goes a long way to training your employees how to properly plow snow, showing them key items such as: • • • • • • • • • • •

Handicapped areas Cart corrals Bus stops Loading docks Gas stations Oil stations Sidewalks Drain locations and why not to plow snow over top of them Employee break areas Employee parking ATM’s

Identifying these areas onsite will give your crews an understanding for why these places are so important to your clients and your business’s success during the winter season.

GUIDING HAND A crucial part of the orientation should be to pair each new employee with a mentor. This gives them someone to shadow, someone who will show them the ropes, and someone to work with during an upcoming storm. A good mentor is an individual who has proven themselves to be a leader in your business and someone who will help build that new employee into a great member of your team.

PRE- & POST-SEASON INSPECTIONS Training your employees to properly document pre and post season inspections is an extremely important element in a successful snow season. This helps protect your company

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and your clients for undeserved blame being attached to your business. Documenting each and every broken curb, speed bump, cart corral, dumpster enclosure will save you significantly after the storms. If damage is brought against your business, you will have documentation showing that the damage was on the property prior to your arrival and plowing. Do not rely on he said she said, or I know it was there already. Have the proof, train your management and staff to be extremely diligent in the pre and post season inspections. Also, ensure you have a form that allows for a member of the locations management to sign off on the inspections that way it is validated that you and your business is in the clear for damages you did not create.

BLIZZARD MANAGEMENT Having a specific training on blizzard management is a key to being successful. Blizzards put stress on all who are working in them. The hours are longer, the snow heavier, the danger increased. But having an exact road map laid out for your employees will prepare them for the longest worst storms Mother Nature has to offer. Blizzard management plans should include “after the storm

protocol” as well. Getting all your paper work complete and the billing done correctly is just as important as plowing the snow. Including your blizzard management in a weekly snow meeting will ensure that they are ready for what is coming. New snow employees will be prepared for what will happen, and seasoned veterans can share stories of what worked and what could be done better. These blizzard training sessions will be extremely valuable to your business. Remember, you can never prepare enough for the winter season. Spending the time, effort, and money up front will increase your profits and allow your business to grow with efficiencies that separate you from your competition. Being prepared, trained, and ready to go is the key to success in this industry. This article was written by Vince Ortiz, Chief Operating Officer at Transblue a Lynwood, Washinton based snow removal service - for Snow Magazine. Snow Magazine is created by the Acccredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA), a trade association dedicated to advancing the needs of the snow and ice management industry. ASCA members are snow and ice management businesses, suppliers of snow and ice equipment, subcontractors performing snow and ice services, and others allied to the field. Visit them on the web at www.ascaonline.org

The Growing Concern | December 2023 | 19

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College European Black Alder is monoecious - both male and female flowers grow on the same tree.

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

NATIVE ALDERS VS EUROPEAN ALDERS Over the years, we’ve had a few readers ask us questions about Alders (Alnus spp.). Members of the Birch family (Betulaceae), Alders are generally a pioneer species with exceptional abilities to thrive in poor soils. All species of Alnus form a symbiotic relationship with specific soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant food. An even more exciting discovery – and one that helps explain why Alders are so good at growing in garbage soils – is they have increased ability to directly remove nutrients from rocks, especially calcium and phosphorus. It gets super sciency to understand how these species access the inaccessible nutrients, but the key point is they can make their own fertilizers! Now, one trick to keep in mind with a pioneer species, is they are not genetically programed to last forever. They are meant to enter a disturbed site, build biomass and soil health, and literally lay the ground work for more permanent species down the road. That being said, with a little maintenance, they can make beautiful landscape plants that are solving

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

problems. Don’t believe us? Check out the Birch Allee at Stan Hywet! The Gray Birch trees (Betula populifolia) are still the original plants from the early 1900s which have been cared for by renewal pruning. Shelley has been removing the oldest trunks for just over 20 years now, and the trees are in fact so beautiful that they made an official United States Postal Service Stamp! Ok, so onto the good stuff. Where do we see the use of these plants being good for your landscapes?

Thank you!

Check us out on the web at www.davistreefarm.com sales@davistreefarm.com When we first moved into our house 15 years ago, we emptied the scrap “soil” bin where Jim was working at the time, about 35 cubic yards of rocky, sticky junk. We used it to build a berm along a busy road and planted Alnus glutinosa (European Alder) at the top of the mound not more than 15 feet from the road. These trees have thrived in this scrap soil with annual salt spray. They grew as multi-stemmed trees and have matured to around 30 feet tall with full canopies hiding the road beyond them when leaved out. They don’t come out screaming with any major ornamental features, but they make a perfect screen and backdrop to much cooler plants in front of them.

6126 Neff Rd. Valley City, OH PH: 330-483-3324 Fax: 330-483-4483 This begs us to question, and this is always controversial, but does it matter anymore? If we can’t find a major difference between the species, can nature? If they are so closely related, won’t they serve the same ecological benefits? Will global trade go away to the point that we don’t have to worry about invasive species anymore? Let’s take a look at some options for Alders:

One concern about the European Alders is reseeding. There are parts of the country where they have escaped cultivation and reseed heavily in open areas. We know that the Cleveland Metroparks has several difficult populations to control. However, we’ve also seen groups like the Metroparks cut down our native Alders thinking they were the European versions.

Alnus glutinosa – European Alder You are unlikely to find the straight species at any nurseries because Alders don’t have a ton of ornamental value and we’ve allowed ourselves to think flower and fruit are all that matter. You may come across a beautiful cultivar called ‘Imperialis’ which is going to hang in the 30 foot range and has nicely dissected leaves giving a fernier texture. This plant is ideal in wet soils and also thrives in dry gravel junk! It can be grown multi-stem or single trunk with ease and can be a perfect parking lot tree.

The truth of the matter is, it is extremely hard to tell the difference between our native species and the European species. Furthermore, over time, many have been listed as subspecies of one another and it seems not even taxonomists can figure out exactly how to classify the various species.

Alnus serrulata – Smooth Alder (Native) This native Alder looks just like the European Alder but tends to top out no taller than 20 feet. As a member of the Birch family, you will find beautiful yellow catkins in early spring, but you do have to be a bit of a... continued on page 22 The Growing Concern | December 2023 | 21

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

continued from page 21 ... plant nerd to fully appreciate (or notice). There are many great examples of these found in the bogs around Streetsboro, Ravenna, and Kent. This large multi-stem shrub can be ideal for stormwater control, along large swales, near ponds/rivers, and in low spots that just won’t dry up. Alnus incana subspecies rugosa – Speckled Alder This native may also be listed as Alnus rugosa. It will grow much like Smooth Alder with a more wrinkled leaf (rugose) and more prominent lenticels on the stems which look just like pretzel rods! This is another great species for habitat restoration, stream bank stabilization, wildlife plantings, filling in an area of wet soils, etc. The Alders all have the beautiful yet subtle spring catkins that signal the coming of more showy flowers through spring, but they also hold a common Christmas decoration in fall/ winter. The dried remnant of the seed dispersing fruit looks like a little dry rounded cone. Technically a “woody strobile,” they are half inch little globes that hold their shape when cut and are often added (either naturally, or spray-painted gold/ silver/white) to holiday decorations. This is a tradition that has been harvested from European Alders for centuries but can be just as effective with any of our native Alders as well!

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Speckled Alder

We’ll see you next year for another twelve months of cool plants to add to your palette. Have a great holiday season!

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.

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F E AT U RE A RT IC L E

WAYS TRAINING CAN BOOST A

LANDSCAPER’S BOTTOM LINE

We see the positive impact of training on the landscaping companies we work with every day, but usually we simply smile to ourselves or share the story with our team. There’s no reason to keep the bottom-line benefits of training a secret, though. Here are 8 ways training can make your landscaping business more successful.

“OUTSKILL” THE COMPETITION

ATTRACT THE BEST EMPLOYEES

A trained crew works faster, with greater confidence and fewer errors than an untrained crew. Training also leads to consistency in performance, minimizing the chances that customers will have different experiences depending on which crew and supervisor are onsite that week. If your team can “outskill” the competition (with “skills” including everything from the ability to use a trimmer properly to providing superior customer service) you’ll have happier clients, who are more likely to stay with you and pass your name along to friends and family.

Offering effective onboarding of new recruits and ongoing training of your current team are excellent ways to position yourself as a “destination company” (thanks to landscape consultant and Greenius fan, Jeffrey Scott, for that great phrase!). When you provide training you also increase your talent pool, since you’re free to hire for attitude and company fit, instead of hiring only people who come to you with experience. You can include the fact that you offer training in your job ads, which will attract candidates. But you’ll also find that if your training program is top-notch, word will spread on its own (and the quality of your applicants will increase).

24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

continued on page 26

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F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 24

IMPROVE EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT Training sends a strong message that your employees matter. It also helps provide consistent, clear direction and an understanding of expectations. For new employees, training helps them feel competent and welcome. For employees who have been with you awhile, training can help them feel valued and even prepare them for advancement (see #6). All of these increase employee engagement, improve morale and encourage employees to feel proud of where they work and their individual accomplishments. They’ll also save you money, since it costs 33% of a worker’s salary to hire a replacement, according to Work Institute’s 2017 Retention Report.

INCREASE EFFICIENCY A training program can help a landscaping company strengthen performance in areas that are affecting efficiency, for example, correct use of equipment or time management. Training can also prepare your team members to handle situations so they can be immediately dealt with by the crew or supervisor without having to involve the landscaping company owner or senior management. Equipment that’s used properly will last longer, which will save a landscaping company in the long run, too.

ELIMINATE RE-WORK Proper training helps ensure that jobs are done right the first time, every time. This is of definite bottom-line benefit, since re-work costs landscaping companies in the short-term, by making both management and frontline crews less efficient, and in the long term, as customers leave and probably bad mouth your business at their next pool party.

DEVELOP TALENT It’s a job seeker’s market, and landscaping businesses have to work harder to keep their best employees. The 2017 report from Work Institute that we referenced earlier, which is based

26 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

on interviews with 240,000 employees since 2010, says that career development is the number one reason employees leave. A training program that helps employees build their skills and better prepare themselves for a promotion within your company is an excellent reason to stay with you.

REDUCE RISK Crews and supervisors that are trained to do their day-to-day work safely will be less likely to have an accident and, if they do have an accident, they’ll be more likely to be using protective equipment properly. Landscaping companies with good safety records and a documented training program are also likely to have reduced Workers Compensation rates. In the event of an incident, businesses with good training programs will be looked on more favorably by both the authorities and the justice system.

BUILD A POSITIVE CULTURE Landscaping companies that link their training programs to their company values create the kind of workplace culture that people want to join. These programs should also train members of your management team in mentoring and coaching, time management and customer service since culture starts at the top and what they learn and practice will influence the behavior and attitude of crews as well. Of course, an inconsistent and poorly delivered training program with dated or irrelevant content won’t get you these benefits. It can be time-consuming to develop your own highquality program, so proactive landscaping companies often choose to outsource their training. This article was for the GoGreenius blog located at www.gogreenius. com. Join us January 18th, 2024 as Matt Crinklaw, Senior VP & CoFounder of Greenius, discusses this topic in-depth at our Central Ohio evening meeting, held at Grange Audobon Center in Columbus, OH. See page 28 for more details.

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