Growing Concern
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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
OLA Meeting: Key Performance Indicators with Kevin Kehoe January 21, 2021 / WEBINAR / PAGE 7
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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N
JAMES FUNAI, PhD
TIME TO PULL SOMEONE ELSE UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS
Cuyahoga Community College
Welcome to 2021 – a year just like every other – where you have the ability to choose how you react to the world around you. I will not belittle the challenges that 2020 threw at us – as individuals, as Americans, or as a global community – because many of us got hit hard. Things certainly become more difficult when we feel we have no control over the events going on around us, and 2020 was full of them. This year, during my presidency, I have no intention of swaying you politically, or scientifically. That is not the role of the OLA’s President. The role bestowed upon me, by ALL of our members, is to serve my 12 months guiding our great organization forward. To that end, and in the wake of 2020, I can’t help but think of the hilarious phrase, “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” If you don’t find this phrase utterly ridiculous, please… stand up, grab your shoes/boots by the laces – or if you have straps – by all means, grab those bad boys. Now, lift yourself up off the ground. If you haven’t levitated yet, you simply aren’t pulling hard enough! You may be thinking in your head, “Well, it isn’t a literal meaning. It just means that, as an individual, I need a better work ethic and determination to succeed in life. That way I get to say, ‘I did it!’ ”
Let’s pretend for a moment that you are the one human on earth to actually be successful with zero help from anyone. Doesn’t this make you want to help others? Whether you acknowledge it, or not, there were a lot of people on your journey that helped you, even in small ways which you may not have noticed. And, there will be plenty more in your future. The truth of the matter is, when you are successful, it is because someone helped you. And, when you realize this, it is time for you to pay it forward. It’s no secret that the Green Industry is suffering from a lack of labor. The sad part is, it’s not because there’s a lack of humans. There are plenty of people that could work in our industry. That being said, it’s time we look inward and ask ourselves why we’re not attracting new people to our industry? continued on page 6 The Growing Concern |
January 2021 | 3
TAB LE OF CON TEN TS J A N UA R Y 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 AL G REEN I N D UST 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! Awards submission in category of Residential Installation: The Bremec Group.
FEATURES
3 8 12 16 18 22 26 27 27
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Time to Pull Someone Else Up By Their Bootstraps
PERENNIAL FOCUS
Old Favorites, New Cultivars: 2021 Edition
FISCAL FITNESS
Financial Jokes: 2021 Edition
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.
FOR SAFETY SAKE
OFFICERS President James Funai, PhD.
OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley
PLANT OF THE MONTH
President – Elect Brian Maurer, LIC
Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.
Why Your Workers Aren’t Wearing Their PPE The Hendricks Experience: A Year With Bill Hendricks
FEATURE ARTICLE
Utilize Your Winter Down Time for Certification
DIRECTIONS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS ADVERTISING INDEX
4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Treasurer Stephanie Gray, LIC Immediate Past President Domenic Lauria DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Keith Clapper Ryan Drake Cameron Maneri Rob Morel Jeff Rupp
C AL ENDAR OF EVENTS U P CO M I N G O L A MEETINGS , EDUC ATION SE MI N A R S, A ND O TH ER GREEN INDUS TR Y EVE N T S
JANUARY JANUARY 21, 2021 OLA MEETING (WEBINAR)
Your success brightens our day... and night.
Kevin Kehoe (The Aspire Software Company) will discuss Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and what both business owners and their managers should be looking for – outside of standard financials. Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, this event will be held via webinar, to accommodate all of our members. See page 7 for more details.
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 11, 2021 OLA CLINIC: LANDSCAPE DESIGN SOLUTIONS FOR CHALLENGING SITES Kevin O’Brien (Lifestyle Landscaping) will present a 1.5 hour webinar discussing the creative process behind design solutions that address both common and unique issues on challenging work sites. Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, this event will be held via webinar, in order to accommodate all of our members.
FEBRUARY 18, 2021 OLA MEETING (WEBINAR) Dan Baron (Baron Law, LLC) and Greg Botson (Botson Insurance Group) will discuss the details of the Consumer Sales Practices Act, how it could affect you and your business, and what your contracts should include to protect you from frivolous lawsuits. In addition, they will explain how carrying insurance for faulty workmanship can help you if you are sued under the CSPA. Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, this event will be held via webinar, in order to accommodate all of our members.
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MARCH 11, 2021 OLA MEETING (WEBINAR) There are so many times in life that we sit back and wait for good things to come our way. It’s inevitable that storms will come into our lives and there will be nothing we can do to prevent them. Join us as Marvin Montgomery delivers a motivating presentation covering 7 ways we can each maintain and sustain a Positive Attitude even when things are not going our way. Note: Due to state social distancing guidelines, this event will be held via webinar in order to accommodate all of our members.
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The Growing Concern | January 2021 |5 3/1/18 2:13 PM
PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 To start, ask yourself this: “Have I been so busy pulling on my own bootstraps that I forgot to help others?” This colloquial American metaphor has caused a shift in our thinking. We value hard work, we value dedication, we value independence, but none of these are genetic traits. These are skills we learn though observation and by having great teachers and loved ones who want to see us succeed. But, what if someone doesn’t have that in their life? What if that someone is your next star employee?
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For the past 11 years, I have taught at the community college level and love it! It gives me a different perspective than the university educations I was so lucky to receive. The community college model is one where the community comes together to help those who are not as fortunate. We have open enrollment, rather than strict entry guidelines. We offer cheap tuition to help those who aren’t as well-off, or don’t want to force themselves into insurmountable debt. The community college model is designed to pull on someone else’s bootstraps, so they can potentially stand above us. I have graduates who make more money than I do now and it’s the most rewarding part of my job. I helped them get there by pulling them up, just as I got here because of the long list of people who pulled me up. Right now, our industry needs to be laser-focused on pulling people up. We’ve allowed the trades to become demonized for nearly 40 years. And, while we cannot overcome 40 years of decline overnight, or in one year, one thing is certain; If we keep focusing on pulling on our own bootstrap, we are not going to move one step. This year, I’m asking each of our members to begin focusing on building our industry – one person at a time. The OLA will begin to roll out its workforce development initiative and we’re going to ask you to help. We’ll need volunteers to talk to the remaining high school horticulture programs, to perform projects at local elementary schools in effort to expose youth to the potential of this industry, and to push back against counselors who have been brainwashed into shoving kids into expensive, four-year universities – and debt – without a career available to them. And, did I mention, none of this will be easy… I promise, it will be hard work helping with these events. You will find many students who have been abandoned and don’t seem to care. We must help them find the joy of working outside and creating. We must teach them the power of hard work, showing up, and building something great. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Kids these days are just lazy,” I’d ask you, “Is lazy vs. hard working learned, or genetic?”
6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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BUYANSKYMATERIALS.COM What about being shy, or feeling unwelcome? I remember my first job fair. It took place during the CENTS show when it was HUGE! There were hundreds of employers. I didn’t have a teacher to help make introductions, no one. I walked in ready to go, panicked, then ran. I was a white male – in a room full of mostly white males – and I was intimidated… I have two tasks for each of you this month.
1. Tell me one way you think we could, as the organization that leads the Green Industry in Ohio, help encourage someone to enter our industry. 2. Identify a local school that you could offer something to. Maybe a video on how to prune, or plant? Or, a virtual visit (hopefully in person soon). A career presentation? If you need help identifying schools, reach out to our PR/ Marketing Committee, or better yet, join the committee and dedicate yourself to pulling our industry workforce back up. Thank you, I look forward to serving as your President for 2021, a year that will be awesome because we are going to help pull someone else up!
OLA MEETINGS SERIES
EVENT INFORMATION DATE & LOCATION JANUARY 21, 2021 OLA WEBINAR
AGENDA OLA MEETING 3:00 PM TO 3:30 PM PROGRAM 3:30 PM TO 5:00 PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30 REGISTER TO ATTEND BY JANUARY 14, 2021
SPONSORED BY
PLATINUM SPONSOR
OLA JANUARY MEETING
Key Performance Indicators (KPI): Holding Owners & Managers Accountable
Due to current Covid-19 Social Distancing Guidelines, the OLA will be holding this year’s January Meeting live, via webinar, on January 21, 2021. Our special guest presenter for this meeting will be Kevin Kehoe, Founder of The Aspire Software Company. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are measurable values that demonstrate how effectively a company is achieving its objectives. Kevin will discuss what BOTH business owners and their managers should be looking for – outside of your standard financials. Both ‘groups’ should come away with a better understanding of these metrics and what to do with the information they learn from compiling them, including: • •
Three KPIs that Drive Net Profit How to Improve Upon Each KPI
• •
What KPIs are Measured for Which Key Positions What Roles Leadership & Management Play
NOTE: The start time for this event will be 3pm, instead of the normal 6pm start time.
GUEST SPEAKER
KEVIN KEHOE / FOUNDER OF THE ASPIRE SOFTWARE COMPANY
EMERALD SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSORS
Before launching The Aspire Software Company, Kevin was a nationally recognized consultant for more than 35 years, including 26 years in the landscape industry. He’s provided practical solutions, systems and advice to over 400 landscape contractors in the areas of sales management, financial management, budgeting, pricing and merger and acquisition – all with the goal of growth and profitability. He is known for his sales system and his benchmarking expertise.
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REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG/MEETINGS
PEREN N I AL FOCUS
BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb
Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Little Henry’ close up.
OLD FAVORITES, NEW CULTIVARS 2021 EDITION
Talk to any gardener about the stalwart perennials and each one will have different favorite. The stalwarts are usually those that are long-lived, have few if any disease – or insect problems – and are long-blooming. Although Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ should be considered a stalwart, sadly, many gardeners are not acquainted with it, and most perennial nurseries don’t grow it. Why? Perhaps, because it grows 5 feet tall. Happily, there is now a shorter cultivar, called ‘Little Henry,’ that would be a great addition to any sunny garden. At only 3 feet high, this Rudbeckia bears slightly golden-yellow, lovely, quilled petals that surround
a brown center which resembles a flattened acorn. It starts blooming in July and continues blooming into September. I’ve grown its parent for twelve years and have been extremely happy with it. It does not seed like other Rudbeckia species, nor does it run. It blends well with pink Phloxes and orange perennials like Crocosmia and Echinacea as well as ornamental grasses. This pollinator plant should be more widely grown. continued on page 10
8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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PEREN N I AL FOCUS
Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Crystal’ close up.
Anemone hybrida ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ close up.
The problem with most Phlox paniculata is powdery mildew. Although some phloxes are touted as mildew-resistant, my experience has been that even the most resistant get some mildew. I’ll keep my fingers crossed but I am happy to report that in 2018, I planted Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Crystal’, a hybrid, and have been thrilled. First, absolutely no mildew (the leaves are thicker than those of straight paniculata cultivars – perhaps this is the explanation?). Second, and a great surprise, the length of bloom was astonishing: from early June until November. Supposedly, this phlox will grow 28 to 32 inches high and 26 to 30 inches wide, although mine – so far – have only been 18 inches high and I am still waiting for them to spread. Patience I say to myself; they are young. As one might guess from the name, Phlox ‘Fashionably Early Crystal’ is white but it has two cousins, ‘Fashionably Early Flamingo’ (magenta) and ‘Fashionably Early Lavender Ice’ (pale purple). This perennial, of course, should be grown in full sun but mine is shaded in the morning.
I love Anemone hybrida for its fall bloom, but have to admit that I would be a bit happier without its rambunctious nature. I have also wished that there were shorter cultivars, because the stalwarts always grow 3 feet high. Now, there are several new cultivars that are clumpers and shorter. One group is the Pretty Lady Series that includes both white and pink. These only grow 12 to 15 inches high, blooming in September and October. I’ve been growing ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ since 2012 in partial shade. In 2018, she started blooming in mid-August. Another is the Swan Series. All the cultivars in this series are white, although some have blue or purple backs. These range in height from 15 to 24 inches high and some of them start blooming in July. A third group is the Fantasy Series. All these are varying shades of pink and are short, only 12 inches. A more recent addition in my garden (2017), ‘Red Riding Hood’ is a very deep rose pink. I only have three but need to get more so that they have more of an impact.
continued from page 8
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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). Bobbie’s new book, Garden Renovation: Transform Your Yard into the Garden of Your Dreams, was published in November 2017 by Timber Press.
Buddleia ‘Pugster Amethyst’ close up.
Buddleia will never be classified as a perennial, but I can’t live without it. Most of the older cultivars are quite large. My ‘African Queen’ grows to 8 feet every year in spite of cutting it way back each spring. There are now a number of dwarf cultivars but I have been quite impressed with ‘Pugster Amethyst’. The leaves are quite thick and I was amazed during the winter of 2019/2020 that they remained evergreen. The lavender blooms are very fat and dense and last a long time. This year, it was still blooming in November. It is planted in a sunny, fairly dry area of the garden so I am waiting for it to attain its purported height and spread of 2 feet. Right now it’s only half of that. I hope that more of our local nurseries will begin to grow these newer cultivars, so that more landscape designers can integrate them into their designs. I’ve been able to purchase the Phloxes and the Buddleia locally, but have had to rely on mail order for the others.
15 6 5 6 c h i l l i c o t h e r o a d chagrin falls | OH | 44022
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F I SCAL FI TN ESS
MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management
FINANCIAL JOKES 2021 EDITION
It has been a couple years since the last time I ran some financial jokes, and we could probably all use a good laugh after closing out 2020, so here you go! An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn’t happen today. Q. What leads most people into debt? A. Trying to catch up with people who are already there. If you think no one cares about you, try missing a couple of payments. Stockbroker: What’s a million years like to you? God: Like one second. Stockbroker: What’s a million dollars like to you? God: Like one penny. Stockbroker: Can I have a penny? God: Just one second…
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A preacher gets up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: “The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new chapel!” “The bad news is, it’s still in your pockets!” After years of scrimping and saving, a husband told his wife the good news: “Honey, we’ve finally got enough money to buy what we’ve been saving for since 1997.” “You mean a brand new Mercedes?” she asked eagerly. “No,” said the husband, “a 1997 Mercedes.” During the most recent stock market downturn, a stockbroker was asked how he slept at night. The broker responded, “I sleep like a baby. I wake up screaming and crying every two hours.” continued on page 14
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F I SCAL FI TN ESS continued from page 12 A businessman had a meeting with his new son-in-law... “Welcome to the family!” said the businessman. “To show you how much we care for you, I am making you a 50% partner in my business. All you have to do is go to the factory every day and learn the operation.” The son-in-law interrupted. “I hate factories. I can’t stand the noise.” “I see,” replies the father-in-law. “Well, then you’ll work in the office and take charge of the administration and accounting.” “I hate office work,” said the son-in-law. “I can’t stand being stuck behind a desk.” “Wait a minute,” said the father-in-law. “I just made you a half-owner of a very profitable business. You would be financially set for life. But you don’t like factories, and you won’t work in the office. What am I going to do with you?” “Simple,” said the son-in-law. “Buy me out.”
A father is someone who carries pictures in his wallet where his money used to be.
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.
“They usually have two tellers in my local bank, except when it’s very busy when they have one.” — Rita Rudner
Late one night a mugger wearing a ski mask jumped into the path of a well-dressed man and stuck a gun in his ribs. “Give me your money,” he demanded. Indignant, the affluent man replied, “You can’t do this – I’m a US Congressman!” “In that case,” replied the robber, “Give me MY money!” It was graduation day and Mom was trying to take a picture of their son in a cap and gown, posed with his father. “Let’s try to make this look natural,” she said. “Junior, put your arm around your dad’s shoulder.” The father answered, “If you want it to look natural, why not have him put his hand in my pocket?” I wish I had enough money to buy an elephant. Why the heck do you want an elephant? I don’t. I just want the money. Roy was a single guy, living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune, he decided he needed a wife to share his fortune with. One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like just an ordinary man,” he said to her, “but in just a few years, my father will die, and I’ll inherit $200 million.” Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three weeks later, she became his stepmother.
14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
What do you call a reptile that gives sound financial advice? An “Invest-i-Gator.” “Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money.” – Jackie Mason “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” – Robert Quillen “If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss bank.” – Milton Berle
“Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.” – Steven Wright In this new year, make sure to review your portfolios with your advisors. And that’s no joke! 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: (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com Securities & advisory services offered through L.M. Kohn & Company Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (800) 478-0788
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F OR SAFETY SAK E
WHY YOUR WORKERS AREN’T WEARING THEIR PPE All safety managers should know the signs of a worker who isn’t properly protected from jobsite safety hazards. Maybe your employees are refusing to wear their work uniforms, leaving their safety glasses in their lockers, or getting too many warning for not wearing their safety footwear. Unaware of the hazards of not wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE), these employees are putting themselves and others at risk by not protecting themselves properly on the worksite. The question is, why aren’t these workers wearing their PPE? And, what dangers are they exposing themselves to as a result of these actions? By gaining an understanding of exactly why this is happening managers can more effectively address the root causes and create a safer workplace for everyone.
3 REASONS YOUR WORKERS AREN’T WEARING PPE As the last line of defense in preventing workplace injuries or health-related issues, PPE has long served a core purpose on jobsites where hazards can be lurking around any corner. Falling objects, arc flash, contaminated air, chemicals, electric
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shocks, and excessive noise are just a handful of the perils that PPE can help protect against. But when that PPE doesn’t fit right, looks awkward, or feels like overkill, it may be cast aside. Here are three main excuses employees give for leaving their PPE on the sidelines: 1. “It’s uncomfortable, too hot, or the wrong size.” Worker comfort is an ongoing concern for safety managers whose workers are on the front lines, dealing directly with situations where they can easily get hurt or even killed.
Handing out safety glasses without taking into account those workers who might need a larger or smaller size, more face coverage, or a model that provides better ventilation, for example, virtually ensures that the safety glasses will be left in the worker’s car, or locker. To avoid this problem, select PPE that’s not only appropriate for the hazards faced, but are physically comfortable as well. Sizing also matters, so be sure your workers are fitted properly for their apparel, helmets, safety glasses, and other PPE before letting them loose on the jobsite. 2. “I’ve done this task a million times and I know what I’m doing.” It only takes one arc flash, electric shock or flying particle to change a worker’s life forever, yet many workers assume that since they’ve done the work for years, they’re somehow immune to these hazards. A veteran construction worker who is using a grinder, for example, and whose eye gets hit by a flying chip of wood—all because he chose not to wear safety glasses that day—could be seriously injured as a result. Safety managers should keep a close eye on veteran employees who leave their safety glasses/goggles behind or who proceed onto jobsites without the right head protection. It’s a lot like having automobile insurance in that PPE truly proves its worth when those hazards rear their heads, and not just in the everyday work environment. 3. “I look like an idiot when I’m wearing this.” Much like a skateboarder would rather forgo his or her helmet and kneepads in order to look “cooler” while riding, employees who have unsightly or unfashionable PPE forced on them may opt not to wear it. Fortunately, this image issue can be resolved by not only educating employees about the importance of PPE, but also by making them a part of the selection process. By allowing a small group of workers to “test drive” the PPE and give feedback on it, you can determine any comfort, fit or related issues upfront. Order several trial samples of the PPE and have those workers test it out, keeping in mind that different people may prefer certain products, which means you may need to supply them with multiple options in order to meet your workforce’s needs. With the wide variety of PPE available on the market today, safety managers can easily find products that not only provide the right level of protection from hazards, but that also cater to the worker’s need to be comfortable, stay cool, be agile and look good while doing it. This article first appeared on the Grainger Health and Safety Blog, located at https://www.grainger.com/know-how/safety-health.
The Growing Concern | January 2021 | 17
PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH
JIM FUNAI, PhD
Cuyahoga Community College Are you experienced?
SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
THE HENDRICKS EXPERIENCE A YEAR WITH BILL HENDRICKS
2021 will mark one decade of us writing about great landscape plants for our members. It’s hard to believe we’ve been at this for ten years! Having started in April of 2011, this April will mark our 120th plant. Over these ten years, our goal has always been to encourage OLA members to expand their plant pallet, in effort to increase the diversity of our urban landscapes. This, in turn, makes our landscapes more resilient to rapid climate change and a constant influx of pests and diseases, as well as increases the overall beauty of our landscapes. It has been a tough task, to say the least. Many landscapers find a set pallet of plants they know will work and rarely stray from these staples. We get it. Warranties and lack of ownership of installed plants are a challenge for landscapers. We’ve both felt the sting of pushing it too far with a client. Being as it may, we still continue to challenge you to find new favorite plants and increase what you are asking for from the nursery. Conversely, we also know the troubles our nurseries face when they are only asked for Hydrangeas and Spiraeas, seemingly
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unable to sell other exciting plants. We continue to challenge our nursery affiliates to educate contractors throughout the sales process. If you are short on a certain plant – which you are sure to be in 2021 – offer a quality substitution and push diversity back into our landscapes. To this end, the two of us met up with the Bill Hendricks to start a yearlong collaboration which we are calling “The Hendricks Experience.” While this is obviously a fun play on words, our point is this: Bill has a ton of plant knowledge and
is a true student of the landscape. Of course, we’ve had this idea for a while, but wanted to wait until we wrote about 100 or so plants, so it was extra hard for Bill to think of something we haven’t already covered! So, without further ado, with guidance from Bill, some exciting trips around the nursery to nerd out on plants, and combining our experiences and stories about plants, we present a year of some really neat plants for you to try! This month, we present Photinia villosa, known as Oriental Photinia.
“The biggest shortcoming of the plant is that it has been ignored by designers who are too young to remember when the plant was popular and has so many attributes that can make it a valuable addition to today’s landscapes.” -Bill Hendricks
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Photinia is a tricky genus in the Rosaceae (Rose) family. Over the years, Photinia has included several other genera that are now separated out from DNA research, indicating further division. Most important to note is the distinction between Photinia and Aronia. Aronia (Chokeberry) should be listed separate from Photinia, though many nurseries still list these common landscape gems as Photinia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry) and Photinia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry). Aronia are native to the Eastern United States, while any of the landscape worthy Photinia are all Asian natives. If you’ve traveled in the southern U.S. and paid any attention to the landscape plants, you’d have come across a million of the most famous of all the Photinia called “Red Tip Photinia” (Photinia x fraseri). This evergreen shrub is the spirea of the south, planted in mass, in every landscape scenario imaginable. Couple that with the south’s obsession with shearing everything and you will find these little red-tip meatballs everywhere!
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This month, our plant is related, but not the same as the Red Tip Photinia of the south. For starters, Photinia villosa is deciduous and best left un-sheared. In addition, a noteworthy difference between our native Chokeberries (Aronia) and this plant is its ability to obtain a larger size, reaching into the 10 to 15 foot range. Most Chokeberries max out closer to 8 feet.
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We’ve witnessed a bit of the southern trait in new growth. In spring, emerging leaves having a bronzy-red hue, fading to deepcontinued on page 20 0116 Klyn Half.indd 1
The Growing Concern | January 2021 | 19 12/16/2015 3:27:07 PM
PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH
continued from page 19 green in the summer. Photinia is a Greek-derived name (from photeino) which means “shiny.” It is in reference to the shiny upper surface of the leaf. Interestingly enough, villosa is of Latin descent (from villosus) which means “hairy.” This is in reference to the hairy underside of the leaves. Keep in mind, often these descriptions are relative to other species in the genus and not absolute. Don’t expect to lift up this leaf and see a wildebeest armpit hair underneath, just some light fuzzy hairs that are a bit more apparent than on other Photinia species.
expect beautiful corymbs of white flowers from late April into May, followed by bright-red pomes (tiny apples) in October. The fruits will persist into winter, giving rise to another common name, “Christmas Berry.” However, one quick brush with a flock of starlings and this may not even make it to Thanksgiving Berry!
In the Dirr manual, you may find references to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) destroying these shrubs, but Bill refutes this. Proper siting and care should take care of this issue. In truth, Dr. Dirr references his observations of fireblight during a time when crabapple cultivars and pears were also highly susceptible, thus creating landscapes ripe for fireblight. Since we’ve addressed this issue in crabapples, there seems to be less fireblight in general in our landscapes.
Klyn has this plant available if you find yourself wishing you had a slightly taller Chokeberry. Call them up, or your preferred member-nursery, to inquire if they have it in stock! Stay tuned all year, as we have some pretty cool plants you’ve probably never heard of to share. 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.
Oriental Photinia should be sited in as much sun as possible, though there is tolerance to light shade. Take the oldest stems out at the ground each year and you’ll form a nice, open, multistem colony of beauty. Much like the Chokeberries, you can
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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 EATURE ARTI CLE
Utilize Your Winter Down Time for Certification During the winter months, if your crews aren’t busy with snow care, you might be looking for ways to keep them engaged and involved. Working to get your team Landscape Industry Certified is one way to make the most of the slower months while providing professional development opportunities for your employees.
For those newer to the industry, certification can help develop individuals in the skills and knowledge they are lacking while those who have been in the industry for years can learn additional pieces of information.
“This is the time when they have the opportunity to specifically teach them industry best practices,” says Margo Rash, NALP’s director of professional services and programs.
“It does require concentrated effort,” Rash says. “Your 20 years in the industry does not guarantee you a passing grade. This is very typical of a college course where you have to attend class, read the book and study. This is a concentrated time now for them to do that and even together if two of them or more were willing to work together to educate each other.”
WHY CERTIFICATION “In our minds, employees who make the effort to become certified are also making the statement that they are serious about their careers and about being able to perform at the highest levels for our customers,” says Bill Leidecker, of Five Seasons Landscape Management.
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Rash says certification not only requires you to know how to do something but why you’re doing it, so individuals need to understand the science behind the task. continued on page 24
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The Growing Concern | January 2021 | 23
F EATURE ARTI CLE
continued from page 22 “They have to be able to read the question and then from a series of possible answers they have to choose the best one, the one that’s most correct,” Rash says. Valerie Shuford, NALP’s manager of professional services and programs, notes the exam can be more difficult for those who have only had one or two years of experience but those who have 15 years of experience shouldn’t assume they don’t have to study. “It’s a combination of their work experience and their reading of the books and the study materials,” Shuford says. Rash says individuals typically spend four months studying for the exam, but she says making a concentrated effort over three months combined with industry experience is doable. Some choose to study before they enroll, while others decide to study after they enroll for the exam.
HOW IT WORKS There are 6 different certification types: business manager, exterior technician, interior technician, horticulture technician, lawn care manager and lawn care technician.
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The certification exam is typically 2 to 4 hours, depending on which one you choose. The business manager exam has seven modules and covers everything from corporate finance to strategic planning. Meanwhile, the lawn care technician and horticulture technician exams focus on the science of plants and turfgrass. The exterior technician certification is more about the maintenance of landscapes and is also offered in Spanish. NALP can help guide individuals to the right certification exam that is the best fit for them if they are unsure which is the right one to take. “Once you enroll and when you’re ready to take the exam we send the link immediately,” Rash says. “It’s an invitation that gives them the ability to set up the exam on the date and time of their choice, so they have full flexibility on that. Then it’s just a matter of showing up for the test.” Rash stresses that the certification exam assumes the individual has a certain level of skills and expertise. “Certification assumes that you’ve been in the business and know the standards and the steps,” Rash says. “So, if that’s
BECOME A
Landscape Industry Certified Exterior Technician The Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) is proud to partner with the National Association of Landscape Professionals to promote the new Landscape Industry Certified Exterior Technician Program. Please be sure to select the OLA as your Referring Partner when enrolling.
WHY CERTIFY?
An NALP certification is:
• A globally recognized certification • A distinction of excellence that set you apart from the others • An investment that is guaranteed to have a positive return
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Landscape Industry Certified Exterior Technician program is the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) flagship program for the lawn and landscape industry and is highly sought after as an essential credential nationwide.
To learn more or enroll, please visit landscapeprofessionals.org/certified
not the case then certainly those are the areas that need concentration because we’re being very specific in our exams where we’re asking people to identify steps in sequential order.”
Rash and Shuford both advise taking the exam section by section as the pass rate is much higher taking one module at a time.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Shuford says individuals can choose how far apart they want to space the tests. They have the flexibility of doing it at different parts of the same day, a week later or a month later.
If you’re considering pursuing certification this winter, here are some tips on how to best prepare for the exam. Shuford suggests setting aside an hour or even 20 minutes a day to prepare through studying. “Set up designated times during your day when that is what you’re planning to do,” Shuford says. “It’s just like when you were in school when it was time for class or it’s time to be studying. That was all that you were doing.” Companies planning to certify a number of their staff over the winter should take advantage of that by setting up group study sessions. “The key is that the commitment has to also be at the company level,” Rash says. “If you want your people to be landscape industry certified then you have to help them in their pursuit and that effort.”
If someone doesn’t pass they have to wait 30 days to retake the exam and they have to pay a retake fee and the proctor fee again. “Take time and do your due diligent study,” Rash says.
Originally published by Jill Odem, Content Manager for National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), this articles was featured on their blog, located at Blog.landscapeprofessionals.org/ utilize-your-winter-down-time-for-certification. For more information concerning the LIC test, visit Landscapeprofessionals.org/certified The Growing Concern | January 2021 | 25
D I RECTI ON S
WELCOME 2021! I have never heard so many people anxious to leave a year in the dust and welcome in the New Year. Let’s hope, or better yet, let’s make 2021 a fabulous year! There is no question that 2020 was challenging for everyone, and it forced everyone to retool our business practices as well as our personal lives. At OLA, we embraced technology. We learned to work from home for a few months. We made temporary changes to our events to take them virtual – a change that will be carried into 2021. To this point, I was recently asked if we planned to continue everything online indefinitely. The answer is a huge NO! As soon as we can hold safe and effective events in person, we will! We miss seeing all of you in person and we know that you are missing the opportunity to network with each other. We cannot wait to get back to “normal” – whatever that looks like in the future. Another big change of 2020 was holding our Annual Meeting virtually and having the election of our 2021 Board of Directors held online. I am happy to report that both went off without a hitch. The election was held prior to the Annual Meeting and the outcome of the election was announced during the meeting. For those who were unable to participate, here’s what our board looks like for 2021:
2021 OFFICERS
President - James Funai, PhD, Cuyahoga Community College President-Elect - Brian Maurer, LIC, Brian-Kyles Treasurer - Stephanie Gray, LIC, BrightView Landscape Services Corporate Secretary/Exec. Director - Sandy Munley, OLA Immediate Past President - Domenic Lauria, Vizmeg Landscapes
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SANDY MUNLEY
Executive Director The Ohio Landscape Association
2021 DIRECTORS
Brandon Barker, J. Barker Landscaping Keith Clapper, Schill Grounds Management Ryan Drake, J.F.D. Landscapes Cameron Maneri, Kurtz Bros., Inc. Rob Morel, Morel Landscaping, LLC Jeff Rupp, LandCare
Leaving the board, after serving since 2014, is Adam Capiccioni of Ohio CAT. In 2019, Adam served as the OLA President. Thank you Adam for your time and devotion to the OLA! We certainly hope you will continue to be active. The 2021 Board will have two new members – Brandon Barker of J. Barker Landscaping and Jeff Rupp of LandCare. Welcome! I look forward to working with you both! A fun fact about this year’s board is that we have two board members who are second generation board members. Ryan Drake’s father, Joe Drake, served on the OLA board from 1998 to 2003 and was OLA President in 2001 and 2002. Brandon Barker’s father served on the OLA board for one year in 1992. While some associations struggle to get the younger members involved, we are exceptionally lucky to have many of our younger members not only involved by attending OLA functions, but participating in our leadership!
ADVERTI SI N G I N D E X
OLA’s NEW MEMBERS The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association:
REGULAR MEMBER A’s Lawn Service, LLC 5991 Derby Drive Medina, OH 44256 (330) 241-2392 Andrew Ellis
Designing With Nature 772 Franklin Blvd. Highland Hts., OH 44143 (216) 529-1661 Chris Ursetti
Aqua Environmental Services, Inc. PO Box 823 Hilliard, OH 43026 (614) 541-9111 Alex Daugherty
Kah Nursery., Greenhouse, Garden & Landscape 17447 Pasco-Montra Road Botkins, OH 45306 (937) 596-6206 Nick Baughman
AFFILIATE MEMBER
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
SiteOne Landscape Supply 1354 Lear Industrial Prkwy. Avon, OH 44011 (440) 934-1482 Greg Mateyka
Koenig Equipment Inc. PO Box 549 Botkins, OH 45306 (937) 693-5000 Greg Mateyka
19
A-1 Power Equipment
23
Abraxus Royalton Landscape Supply (SNOW)
13
Acme Fence & Lumber
11
Artform Nurseries
2
Botson Insurance Group, Inc.
6
Buyansky Brothers Landscape Materials
5
Cascade Lighting, Inc.
15
Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc.
28
Ditch Witch Mid States
15
Frank Brothers Landscape Supply
19
Klynn Nurseries, Inc.
25
National Association Landscape Professionals
27
O’Reilly Equipment
21
Premier Plant Solutions
23
Sohar’s / RCPW, Inc.
9
VanCuren Tree Services, Inc.
17
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