Growing Concern
The
JULY 2014
A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e O h i o La n d s c a p e A s s o c i a t i o n
Plant I.D. Clinic July 17, 2014 PAGE 9
2014 Golf Outing August 7, 2014 PAGE 20
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President’s column
A CONVERSATION ABOUT PATRIOTISM With Independence Day this month and Memorial Day not too far behind us, I wanted to write something about patriotism and the OLA. This idea started with a question about an OLA custom to which I did not know the answer. It has bothered me ever since and I never did anything about it — until now. When there is a question concerning the history of the OLA, there is, of course, no better resource than our own Sandy Munley. Below is my email to her: “Sandy, my July article will revolve around a question that someone asked me a couple years ago at one of our meetings, and I need your help with some background for the answer. I was asked, ‘Why do we say the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of our meetings?’ At that time, I gave the answer, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’ This answer was pretty lame, but the question caught me off guard. Anyway, my July article will have a patriotic theme starting with that question and any background you can share would be helpful. Thanks – Joe”
Sandy’s reply to me: “It is kind of a cool story. We started to say the Pledge of Allegiance at OLA meetings in 2002. n 9/11 of 2002, OLA members O participated in an OLA community service project that we called Operation Greenscape. It was to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11. We performed landscape maintenance and/or installation projects at 7 area VFWs. We had great participation and would have been able to do more VFWs but we were unable to get a hold of some of the commanders at other posts.
Joe Twardzik, CID Wolf Creek Company
… ‘Why do we say the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of our meetings?’
o thank us, the Berea Post’s Color Guard T came to our annual meeting and presented The Colors. We said the Pledge and they awarded us with the flag that they used. The flag is in the OLA Boardroom. Everyone was high on patriotism at that time and wanted to continue saying the Pledge to open our meetings. We still say the Pledge to start our meetings more than 10 years later. For years we brought that very flag to our meetings at St. Michael’s Woodside.” continued on page 6 The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 3
Ta b l e o f c o n t e n t s J ULY 2 0 1 4 w w w . o h i o l a n d s c a p e r s . o r g
Ohio’s Professional Green I n d u s t r y A s s o c i 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 or www.myohiolandscape.com Editor Brett Della Santina, Ohio Landscape Association
ON THE COVER — The Brickman Group
Features
3
8
President’s Column
A Conversation About Patriotism
For Safety Sake
Sizzling Hot Temperatures Watch Out for Heat Related Illnesses
12
Fiscal Fitness
Using ETFs for Tactical Moves
16
Plant Of The Month
Amorpha Fruticosa False Indigo
22
Perennial Focus
Kniphofia Poker Plant, Torch Lily
26 STOP LOSING EMPLOYEES:
4 TRICKS TO BEAT TURNOVER
30
Directions
Landscape Ohio! Awards
Inside Every Issue
31 32 33
Advertising Index Welcome New Members ClassifiedS
Regular Writers Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Jim Funai, COLP, Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb Joe Twardzik, CID, Wolf Creek Company Advertising Information Submission deadline: 10th of month prior to publication month. For advertising and classified rates, please call 1-800-335-6521 Disclaimer The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attest 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 Joe Twardzik, CID President-Elect Steve Moore
Directors Eric Brubeck, ASLA Adam Capiccioni Nathan Kowalsick Maria McConnell Cathy Serafin
Treasurer Bryan Taynor Immediate Past President James Arch, ASLA OLA Staff Executive Director Sandy Munley Membership Coordinator Jean Koch Communications & Events Manager Brett Della Santina
Ca l e n d a r o f E V e n t s U p c o m i n g OL A m e e t i n g s , e d u c a t i o n s e m i n a r s a n d o t h e r g r e e n i n d u s t r y e v e n t s
JULY
OLA Plant ID Clinic JULY 17, 2014 This is a great opportunity to learn plant material and the type of growing conditions it needs to thrive. Held at and sponsored by Davis Tree Farm in Valley City, OH. Visit For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.
Landscape Industry Certified Technician – Exterior – Written Test – SOLD OUT JULY 23, 2014 Prove your professionalism. Register by May 20 to take the written portion of the test on July 23 and the hands on portion on July 24 at OSU/ATI in Wooster, OH For more information contact Jan Elliott at ATI at 330-287-7511 or visit LandscapeCertifiedOhio.org or OhioLandscapers.org.
Landscape Industry Certified Technician – Exterior – Hands On and Written Test – SOLD OUT JULY 24, 2014 Prove your professionalism. Register by May 20 to take the written and hands on portions of the test on July 24 at OSU/ATI in Wooster, OH For more information contact Jan Elliott at ATI at 330-287-7511 or visit LandscapeCertifiedOhio.org or OhioLandscapers.org.
PLANET Legislative Conference JULY 28-29, 2014 Influence lawmakers and make a difference in your industry. Held in Washington D.C. For more information or to register, contact PLANET at 1-800-395-2522 or visit LandCareNetwork.org.
PLANET Renewal and Remembrance Day JULY 28, 2014 Beautification project at Arlington National Cemetery where green industry companies from across our great nation pay tribute to our fallen soldiers by providing lawn care, mulching, pruning, planting and more! For more information or to register, contact PLANET at 1-800-395-2522 or visit LandCareNetwork.org.
AUGUST
OLA Scholarship Golf Classic AUGUST 7, 2014
NGLCO Field Day AUGUST 12, 2014 This year’s field day will be hosted by Herman Losely & Sons Nursery in Perry, OH. For more information contact Annette Howard at 440-241-7969, info@nglco.com or visit www.nglco.com.
SEPTEMBER
OLA Snow and Ice Management Clinic SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 Go where the pros go! Whether you have been in the snow and ice business for years, or are thinking of adding it to your list of service, this clinic is a can’t miss event for you and your management staff! Details TBA. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.
OLA Landscape Facility Tour Meeting – NE Ohio SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 Join us for a very informative evening at Suncrest Gardens in Peninsula, Ohio, as we tour their operation and enjoy networking with your peers. Suncrest Gardens operation includes Design/Build/ Maintain as well as a beautiful garden center. RSVP by Sept 8. Free for OLA members. $30 fee for non-members. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.
DECEMBER
Landscape Ohio! Awards Program Entry Deadline DECEMBER 5, 2014 All submissions are due in the OLA office by 5 pm. No Exceptions! Be sure to enter Ohio’s most prestigious landscape enhancement awards program. Winning projects are featured in Landscape Ohio! Magazine, a supplement to Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.
OTF Trade Show DECEMBER 9-11, 2014 48th Annual OTF Conference and Trade Show now featuring the OSU Green Industry Short Course! Held at Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio. OLA is partnering with OTF for this event and OLA members will receive member pricing on this event! Visit the OLA Booth at this show! For more information contact OTF at 614-285-4683 or visit OTFShow.org.
Join us for a fun day of golf, networking, food and liquid refreshments at Mallard Creek Golf Club in Columbia Station. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.
The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 5
President’s column continued from pg 3
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I would like to list all of those who participated in Operation Greenscape way back when, but there is not enough space in this article to accommodate them all. However, for those of you interested, we will have printed copies of the media guide from that event at our OLA meetings for the remainder of the year. We will also have the original flag to commemorate those who participated then and to those who continue to participate now. Good deeds are good deeds, even almost 12 years later. A little “Pledge” history – The Pledge was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy originally as a pledge to any country. In 1923, the words, “the Flag of the United States of America” were added. And in 1954, under the threat of Communism, the Eisenhower administration added the words “under God” to complete the 31 word Pledge that we still use today. My favorite commentary on Pledge of Allegiance comes from Red Skelton. If you’ve never seen or heard Red Skelton’s rendition of the Pledge, I challenge you to Google it. You will find this heartfelt performance of the Pledge on You Tube.
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JUNE 2014 Cover Photo
Land Creations Landscaping, Inc. EDITOR’S NOTE:
www.ShearerEquipment.com 6 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
The June 2014 issue of The Growing Concern did not acknowledge credit for the front cover photo. Credit for the photo belongs to Land Creations Landscaping, Inc. We apologize for the error.
Ohio's most prestigious landscape enhancement awards program Winning projects will be featured in the Spring/Summer 2015 Landscape Ohio! Magazine — a supplement to Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine. Entrants will be invited to join us in March 2015 for dinner and awards presentation
9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, OH 44147 Phone: 440-717-0002 Toll Free: 1-800-335-6521 Fax: 440-717-0004 OhioLandscapers.org MyOhioLandscape.com
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F o r Sa f e t y Sa k e
SIZZLING HOT TEMPERATURES WATCH OUT FOR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES It’s hot and humid, and the summer temperatures are climbing! Unless you’re in an air-conditioned environment, you’re most likely sweating and uncomfortable. You’re probably tiring more easily, and you may be working and moving more slowly, too. What you really need to be concerned about is the heightened risk of heat-related illnesses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data, 230 heat-related deaths have occurred from 2003 – 2009 with 81 (40%) of these fatalities in the construction industry. Over that same time period, 15,370 heat-related injuries/illnesses requiring days away from work have occurred with 4,110 (27%) of these injuries/illnesses in the construction industry. It is necessary for employers and their employees to be able to recognize heat-related symptoms and know what to do to combat heat-related illnesses. • H eat cramps are painful muscle spasms in arms, legs, or abdomen (intestines) caused by losing body salt while sweating.
8 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
What to do: Have worker rest in shady cool area. Hydrate by drinking water, clear juice, or a sport or vitamin drink that contains electrolytes. • F ainting may be a problem in the heat, especially if you spend a lot of time standing in one place. What to do: Sit or lie down with feet slightly elevated. Also moving around, rather than standing still, reduces the risk of fainting in the heat. Keep hydrated with clear liquids. • H eat exhaustion can make you feel weak and possibly dizzy and/or nauseous. Other symptoms include headache, chills, clammy skin, and profuse sweating. What to do: Rest in a cool spot, preferably sit or lie down with feet slightly elevated, and drink plenty of fluids. If your condition doesn’t improve, seek medical attention. Following an incident take it easy for a few days and reduce your pace of activity—especially if excessive heat continues to be a factor. continued on page 10
OLA EDUCATION SERIES
July 17, 2014
Presented by
8:30 am to 3:00 pm Instructed by Wendy Moore ~ Davis Tree Farm Bridget Comes ~ Portage Lakes Career Center Russ Luyster, OCNT ~ Impact Grounds Maintenance Held at Davis Tree Farm & Nursery
Sponsored & Hosted by
Valley City, OH
This Plant ID Clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews that will cover the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Zone 6 in Ohio. Many of the plants that will be covered are on the plant list for the Landscape Industry Certified Technician’s Test, including: perennials, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, as well as trees and shrubs - both evergreen and deciduous. Qualifies for 5 CEUs for Landscape Industry Certified
Those who should attend are plant installation staff, maintenance staff, garden center staff, foreman, and anyone studying to take the Landscape Industry Certified Technician’s Test. GENERAL INFORMATION: This seminar is hands-on training with live plant material. Attendees will need to bring their own notepad and pen, and will need to dress appropriately for outdoor practical training. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. Register early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly. Register online by going to www.ohiolandscapers.org and clicking on the EDUCATION button.
Cancellations made 8 to 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds will be issued for cancellations less than 7 days prior to the course, no shows, or cancellations on the day of the course. If, for any reason, the course is cancelled, enrollees will be notified, and fees refunded in full.
Register On Time, Payment Received Before 7/8/14 Register Late, Payment Received After 7/8/14 Firm Address City Phone (______)
OLA Members OLA Members
$69 $99
NON Members NON Members
$99 $129
Contact State Fax (______)
Zip
NAME OF ATTENDEE
FEE $ $ $
Check No. ___________ Enclosed
Charge to my
MasterCard
Visa
Acct. No.
TOTAL DUE
$ Exp. Date
Name on Card
Signature
Billing Address + Zipcode for Card
Last Three Digits on Signature Line
PLANT ID CLINIC Make checks payable and send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9240 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., OH 44147 Register online, by mail, phone or fax • Phone 440-717-0002 or 1-800-335-6521 • Fax 440-717-0004 • www.ohiolandscapers.org
F o r Sa f e t y Sa k e continued from pg 8 • H eat stroke is life-threatening. Emergency medical attention is required. A victim of a heat stroke stops sweating, causing the body to overheat. Symptoms include hot and flushed skin, very high body temperature, confusion, and possibly followed by loss of consciousness. What to do: Call 911. While waiting for the EMT’s to arrive, move the victim to a cool place, sponge with cold water, apply ice packs or cold drink cans, or immerse in cold water. Provide water or clear fluids only if the person is conscious.
It is necessary for employers and their employees to be able to recognize heat-related symptoms and know what to do to combat heat-related illnesses.
This article is provided by RiskControl360° LLC. While the information in this publication has been compiled from sources & documents believed to be reliable, accuracy is not guaranteed, nor is any responsibility assumed or implied for any damage or loss resulting from inaccuracies/omissions. Publisher is not engaged or rendering legal advice. Discuss any questions with your attorney.
Support those who support You! They are... • OLA members and advertisers who supply goods and services • OLA members who sponsor OLA events
You’ll find them... • Inside the pages of the OLA Membership Directory • Among those advertising inside The Growing Concern and the OLA Membership Directory • Displaying as a sponsor at OLA meetings and education events • Inside The Growing Concern’s pages with event sponsor acknowledgements 10 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 11
Fiscal Fitness
Michael J. Donnellan King Financial, Inc.
USING ETFs FOR TACTICAL MOVES Some investors adjust asset allocations only for periodic rebalancing, but others see opportunities in the market and want to take tactical advantage of them. For the second group, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be ideal. While ETFs don’t eliminate market risk, their broader-based portfolios can mitigate company and sector risk. ETFs can help with tactical allocations, which can be anywhere from 5% to 20% of a total portfolio, though usually about 10%. Constructing a well balanced portfolio takes time, tools, and discipline in order to implement a plan that will meet your goals. Exchange-traded funds are usually low-cost, transparent, liquid, and easy to trade. In addition, they allow you the ability to set automatic stop losses as a function of managing risk and have greater flexibility than a traditional mutual fund. After you determine your goals, time horizons and risk tolerances the next step in this process of constructing your portfolio is selecting core holdings that will be the foundation from which you can ultimately expand upon. These core positions will give you broad-based exposure and directional bias in the market to keep pace with rising stock prices. However, a core position will only take you so far. Ultimately getting exposure to specific
12 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Exchange-traded funds are usually low-cost, transparent, liquid, and easy to trade. sectors or tactical trading ideas will shape your portfolio to your specific investment preference. Tactical positions represent a sector, industry group, or special situation that you want to take advantage of. Often times these positions start out as short-term trades that can turn into long-term investment themes. They give you a measure of overweight exposure towards a certain area of the market that you continued on page 14
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Fiscal Fitness continued from pg 12 feel is offering excellent potential for capital appreciation. Investors can actively shift holdings to take advantage of new trends or capitalize on an innovative strategy when the timing is right.
Sectors One of the easiest ways to add instant tactical exposure to your portfolio is to select a sector fund. By owning an ETF that only invests in technology or healthcare stocks you can get pinpoint exposure to a group of companies that are in a similar economic segment.
Industry Groups
Non-Correlated Asset Classes Another advanced way to add tactical exposure to your portfolio is through the use of non-correlated asset classes such as currencies, commodities, or even inverse positions. These give you the benefit of diversification in securities that will likely move in a different direction than traditional stocks or bonds. Currency related ETFs have been on a roller coaster ride the last two years. These ETFs have whipsawed up and down as traders have digested economic data, central bank policy, and political turmoil.
Slicing the markets down even further leads us to industry groups, which give you even more concentrated exposure to a select group of similar companies. Some great examples include biotechnology or solar stocks.
Often times these positions can be used to pair risk with another holding such as international equities, gold, oil, or a broad-based commodity fund. Commodities have had their own problems lately, but have also seen periods of exceptional growth
More concentrated positions (fewer underlying companies); will likely have more volatility than a traditional sector or broad-based core ETF. Smaller position sizes in industry specific ETFs might be prudent.
There are hundreds of different ways that investors can use tactical ETF positions in their portfolio to enhance their returns, play defense, or take advantage of short-term opportunities. The key is being able to structure your holdings to achieve your goals while keeping an eye on managing risk.
Country or Region-Specific As the name suggests, investors can select specific countries or regions to invest to hedge against their U.S. holdings. Be aware of small countries where the holdings could be dominated by one or two names. Also, as with any ETF, make sure there is enough liquidity, or trading volume in these specific shares.
As always, consult with your financial advisor for information specific to your individual situation.
Michael J. Donnellan is President of King Financial, Inc., in Strongsville, Ohio specializing in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments. Phone number (440) 878-9676.
14 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Plant Of the Month
Jim Funai, COLP Cuyahoga Community College
Shelley Funai Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
AMORPHA FRUTICOSA
FALSE INDIGO
Sometimes common names can be harsh. To be kind we stuck with “False Indigo” instead of this plant’s less used alias, “Bastard Indigo.” We didn’t want to bring up the pain of its parents not being married. Come to think of it, aren’t all plants bastards? The plant world isn’t known for monogamy, wedding ceremonies and lifelong partnerships is it? So why do a few plants out there get called out for being “bastards”? As it turns out, some time ago (we have no idea when) the term “bastard” was used in place of “false.” Certainly you’ve heard that term used as in False-cypress or False-spirea? False came to be a term for a plant that resembles another but is not actually of the same genus. Bastard became a slang term for the same thing. So, our Bastard Indigo? You guessed it — looks like Indogofera or the real Indigo. It seems a bit unfair to call-out our plant of the month for being a bastard when its namesake, the true indigo, is in the same family, Fabaceae — which means they are at least cousins. One thing we all should know about the family Fabaceae (also called the pea family) is their tendency to form beneficial relationships with soil microorganisms (usually a bacteria called ‘rhizobia’) that assist in feeding the plants in poor soil conditions. This bacterium “infects” the plant roots and forms little bumps called nodules. Inside these nodules the bacteria is protected and allowed to live and feed. To hold up its end of the deal, these bacteria take a form of nitrogen from the atmosphere (N2) which is completely unusable by plants
16 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
and helps start a chemical chain reaction that ends up feeding the plant with the nitrates they need to live. If you think about it, it is a great relationship. This relationship allows plants in the pea family to survive where many other plants would have a difficult time; such as really poor soils that have little ability to hold on to nutrients. Rain gardens happen to be a place where soils may have a bit of difficulty hanging onto their nutrients; because as of now, the specification for building them requires a high amount of sand which is not good at nutrient retention. This very topic will be part of the work Jim is doing as he works towards his PhD. The continued on page 18
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The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 17
Plant Of the Month continued from pg 16 Fruticosa is a specific epithet used in several different plant names stemming from the Latin word “frutex” meaning shrub. Typically when you see fruticosa used, it is because the rest of the genus is not as shrub-like as this particular plant (think Potentilla fruticosa, “bush cinquefoil”). This holds true here as well, as the other plants of Amorpha are much smaller than this 8 feet to 15 feet tall by 5 feet to 15 feet wide large shrub. Yes, this is a large range of size, but this is a bit of a wild plant that will do what it wants and not pay too much attention to the label we put on it.
hope is to continue to improve our understanding of the entire system that makes up stormwater management gardens and find the right balance of function and form. We always have to use great caution when discussing plants and discussing the design of our landscapes. As we all know too well, people often try to simplify nature into categories and want us to commit to a statement like: “so this plant always needs full sun?” While all we can think is: “IT DEPENDS!” For us to tell you that Amorpha fruticosa (False Indigo) should be used in every rain garden would be just as useless as any blanket statement. We would be a bit hesitant to put this plant in the smaller residential garden where ornamental values likely outweigh functional abilities, and viewing distance to the garden is likely close. However, in a larger scale garden that may see a little less TLC, may be viewed from a further distance, and will likely see a heavier salt load — now we are talking.
The best way to use this plant in larger scale gardens is to place it in the middle of the garden as a major filler plant. Instruct crews to cut back heavy in the early spring during cleanup to help maintain a better form on the plant. Do not let it go without this pruning, as you will end up with a very unkempt look. The plant will begin to spread by both seed and suckers, forming a dense thicket. You will likely come across references to this plant being invasive. We ask anyone trying to make that statement to show us where it has invaded, and then explain how a native plant is invasive to the place it is native. Does it seed? Yes. Don’t all plants? Okay, most plants? Just remind them if we don’t temper our definitions of “invasive” we could make a solid argument that humans are an invasive species!
…explain how a native plant is invasive to the place it is native.
False indigo is a champion of junk soils. Commercial rain gardens are junk soils. They have high sand content, are a swamp sometimes, a desert most times and will get bombarded by salt. This is not an ideal place for many plants. False indigo, with the help of its bacteria buddies, will step up to the plate on this one. A bonus of the plant is that it is Native to the entire Eastern half of the United States. In form, the leaves look like Robinia (black locust), pinnately compound with blueish-green oval leaflets giving a softer texture in spring and summer. When in bloom it may remind you of a Buddleia (butterfly bush), with spikes of deep purple flowers in the middle of summer. Orange anthers stick out of the flowers adding a little more interest to the inflorescence. The genus name, Amorpha, comes from the Latin prefix “a” and word “morphus” meaning “without form” in reference to the individual flower only having one petal and not looking like a “complete” flower. We like them as they look kind of like a little, purple burrito at first; then slowly unwrap to hold their purple tortilla overtop the orange tipped anthers once fully open. After bloom, each flower will turn into a small swollen seed pod which will persist in winter and provide a coarsely textured plant of some interest.
18 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Consider this bastard when planning a large scale rain garden and you just might find a new plant to add to the arsenal for deployment in the junkiest of sites that you may come across. You may have years where rust fungus drops a lot of the leaves off the plant, but that is part of the deal when we are working with nature and building “green infrastructure.” We have to find a balance of form, function and ability to maintain when designing these gardens!
Jim Funai is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a PLANET accredited, associate of applied science in horticulture degree program, offering many paths to higher education to the green industry. He has an MS from Colorado State and is a licensed arborist. Shelley Funai is the Grounds Manager at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio that offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. Both are graduates of The Ohio State University. Contact Jim and Shelly via email at hortsquad@gmail.com
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REGISTER TO GOLF
14th Annual
OLA Scholarship Golf Classic August 7, 2014
Mallard Creek Golf Club Columbia Station, OH 4-person Scramble Shot gun start 9am
Each Golf Registration Includes: 18 Holes of Golf Golf Cart Driving Range Game Day Contests
Beverages Continental Breakfast Lunch Dinner
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Don’t Golf? Join us for dinner!
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$30 each
Number of Dinner Only
____
X $30
= $ ______
Tee Sponsorship (includes signage)
...
$100
Number of Tees
____
X $100
= $ ______
TOTAL
$ ______
Firm _______________________________________________________ Contact ____________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________________________________ State ___________ Zip _______________ Phone (______)____________________ Fax (______)____________________ Email ___________________________________________
NAME OF GOLFER (Correct Name is Mandatory or Forfeit Shall Occur)
COMPANY
1
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
2
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
3
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
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Payment must be included with registration. Sorry no refunds after July 11, 2014
Check No. ___________ Enclosed
Charge to my
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Acct. No. ________________________________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date_______ Name on Card ________________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Billing Address + Zipcode for Card ___________________________________________________ Last Three Digits on Signature Line___________ Make checks payable and send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9240 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., OH 44147 Register online, by phone, mail, or fax: Phone 440-717-0002 or 1-800-335-6521 • Fax 440-717-0004 • www.ohiolandscapers.org
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES Sponsorship Opportunities We’re not asking ... We’re begging!
Tee Sponsorships Tee Sponsorship ......................................................................... $100
We are excited to be holding our 14th annual golf outing at Mallard Creek Golf Club on August 7, 2014. But we need your help to make it a success! This event helps to generate funding for our scholarship program, targeting qualified students interested in a vocation within the green industry.
Door Prize(s) Please Specify: Item(s) will be: shipped to OLA
Call us for Sponsorship Features & Benefits
Cash Donation $ Let us shop for you!
(Your company name will appear on a sign at your designated tee)
dropped off at OLA
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Make Checks Payable and Send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9240 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147 Sponsorships and Donations also taken online: www.OhioLandscapers.org • 440-717-0002 • 1-800-335-6521 • Fax: 440-717-0004
THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR AND CONTEST SPONSORS Dinner Sponsor Beverage Cart Sponsors
Closest To The Pin Contest Sponsor
Long Drive Contest Sponsor
Cornhole Sponsor Trophies Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor Driving Range Sponsor
Commemorative Gift Sponsor
Long Putt Contest Sponsor
Continental Breakfast Sponsor
Hole-In-One Sponsor
Perennial Focus
Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb
Kniphofia ‘Border Ballet’
KNIPHOFIA
POKER PLANT, TORCH LILY I wonder if Poker Plant is so named because the long, thin, flowering spike looks like something you could use as a poker to move logs in a fireplace? Torch Lily is quite apt since the red and orange cultivars look like flaming torches. I love the boldness of this perennial but have had only variable success with it. I think the key is excellent drainage so that the roots don’t rot during the winter. Native to South Africa, it’s hardy to zone 5 but needs full sun. Allan Armitage, the perennial guru, suggests that we tie the foliage over the crown of the plant in late fall to exclude water accumulation that would subsequently freeze and thus kill the plant. Known best for its vividly colored orange-red spikes, Kniphofia also has cultivars that are shades of yellow, orange, and green as well as bicolor. The long, gray-green basal foliage is somewhat stiff yet mounding. There are an incredible number of cultivars, many of them being hybrids of different species (at least one being K.uvaria) or derived from seedlings that tend to show variability. Deadheading is essential if you want repeat bloom.
22 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
The combination of color and height makes it quite arresting. In zones 5 and 6, Kniphofia tends to begin blooming in June but they can also bloom in July and August depending on the cultivar and deadheading. Flowering of the spikes starts at the bottom; the lower half is often out of bloom by the time the upper half blooms. One of the tallest cultivars, at three feet, is the bicolored ‘Flamenco.’ It is orange on the upper half and yellow on the bottom half. The combination of color and height makes it quite arresting. In my west bed, I have it planted next to ‘Citrina’, a pale yellow, somewhat shorter cultivar. continued on page 24
Perennial Focus continued from pg 22 In a nearby bed, I have ‘Border Ballet’, a two-foot seed cultivar that is sold as a mix of colors. All of mine just happen to be a soft orange with a bit of pale yellow at the bottom. Across the lawn, in my east bed, are two species that I purchased from specialty nurseries. Kniphofia thompsonii snowdenii is a slow spreader and also looks different than other poker plants because its individual tubes are more separated. It only grows 18 to 24 inches tall for me although it can supposedly grow up to 36 inches. Kniphofia triangularis ssp.triangularis, a two-footer, has yellow flowers and blooms in early June. I have just started trialing the rebloomers. The best known is the Popsicle Series from Terra Nova but there is also the Echo Series from Itsaul Plants. At a future date, I’ll have to let you know how they perform.
Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, free-lance 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 currently serves as chair of the ONLA Plant Selection Committee. Bobbie can be reached at (216) 752-9449.
Kniphofia ‘Citrina’
24 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Kniphofia ‘Flamenco’
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The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 25
STOP LOSING EMPLOYEES: 4 TRICKS TO BEAT TURNOVER By Jon Byrum No matter what industry you’re in, turnover is a problem you can’t ignore. If you’re lucky, it’s relatively low compared to industry standards, but if it’s not, it’s time to do something. Because turnover is, in fact, something you can prevent if you’re proactive.
First, Assess the Situation There’s a reason people are quitting your company. They might not all leave for the same reasons, but if you do some sniffing, you can probably find a few root causes. Maybe one manager is pretty harsh on his staff and they’re running for greener grass. Or maybe other companies are paying
more than you are. Whatever the cause, identifying it is the place to start. There are even tools available on the web to assess staff happiness. Now let’s look at a few tricks to reduce your turnover numbers and keep employees engaged, happy, and in place. continued on page 28
26 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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www.masonsteel.com The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 27
continued from pg 26 1. Give Them Props
3. Reward Them
Everyone likes being recognized for a job well done, but 76% of employees say they aren’t satisfied with the amount of recognition they’re getting from their employers. And around that same number say they’d work harder if they were recognized more.
Certainly, if your sales team hits its quarterly goal, you can reward them with a fancy dinner, but there are other ways to reward staff without spending much — if any — money. Give them extra days off if they achieve their goals, provide them with schedule flexibility, or let them name your next product. Get creative in your rewards and keep them on their toes. I know a company president who, during a particularly stressful project, brought in a masseuse and gave his entire staff massages. You can bet that was an appreciated treat.
It doesn’t take much to notice an employee doing a good job and giving him a pat on the back. And it doesn’t have to be major accomplishments. Bringing up a good point in a business meeting, finding a time-saving shortcut, or referring a new hire to you are attention-worthy as well.
2. Engage Them Better Everyone talks about employee engagement, but for many companies, it remains a nebulous concept. You don’t need to invest in Beer Thursdays or a foosball table to engage your staff. Instead, listen to their input, act on their ideas, and help them feel like an important part of your company. After all, you’re a small business, and you provide more opportunity for an employee to feel like his contributions matter than he’d get at a giant corporation. Just make sure you’re treating each employee like a valued member of the team.
Everyone likes being recognized for a job well done…
4. Keep Your Promises Employees who don’t feel they can trust their employers are usually among the first to hit the Help Wanted ads. Consider whether you’ve delivered on promises to your staff. Maybe an employee came to you and asked for a promotion, and you brushed him off, telling him you’d “do your best.” (often managerspeak for “never.”) It’s important that you deliver to your staff, and when you can’t, it’s important to maintain clear communication. If you can’t get a couch in the breakroom, tell them why not. If you’re working on getting new office chairs, update everyone on the status. That way they know you’re working for them. You can’t please all your staff all of the time, but by looking at your work environment and making it as pleasant and welcoming as possible, you’ll cut down on the number of people who leave your company.
AllBusiness.com is one of the world’s largest online resources for small businesses, providing essential tools and resources to start, grow, and manage your business. AllBusiness.com brings you real-world expertise and practical advice from some of the best minds in small business.
28 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS The Landscape Ohio! Awards program has continued to be very exciting and very successful at a time when we understand some awards programs are struggling. It is wonderful to be able reward your great landscape work.
Sandy Munley Executive Director Ohio Landscape Association
Each year competition culminates into two great outcomes: The Landscape Ohio! Awards Dinner and Presentation – Each spring, everyone who has entered the Awards Program is invited to the dinner and presentation. The evening begins with a red carpet entry, followed by networking, cocktails and an exquisite dinner. After dinner, the Academy Awards style presentation begins. It is always a very exciting evening, because the winners are kept secret and attendees find out which projects win only when the envelope is opened and the photos of the projects appear on the big screen! The semi-formal event is very festive and uplifting. It is fun to see which projects win. It is fun to see your peers dressed up and out of their work clothes. And it is even more fun when it is your project and company announced as a winner! The Landscape Ohio! Magazine – Since 2006, winning projects are featured in Landscape Ohio! Magazine and distributed with the May issue of Cleveland Magazine and select areas of Ohio Magazine. This is the missing link to most industry awards programs. The public does not get the opportunity to hear about the great work being done! Great Lakes Publishing will, again, be offering special rates for OLA members to advertise in this section,
30 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Don’t be intimidated. There is a category for every size of job. so please support Great Lakes Publishing in this exciting partnership! The ad close date is July 10, so hurry to reserve your space today. You do not have to participate in the awards program to purchase advertising space. I encourage you to enter your projects in the competition. Don’t be intimidated. There is a category for every size of job. There are many specialty categories for maintenance, hardscapes, lighting, water features, as well as for small jobs. Remember to think of every job as a potential entry and start taking those before, during and after photos. It is especially helpful when you can provide a before and after photo taken from the same vantage point. continued on page 32
Advertising Index
35 Botson Insurance Group
19 Chagrin Valley Nurseries, Inc
13 Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc.
23 Electronic Merchant Systems
31 Empaco Equipment Corporation
25 Irrigation Supply
11 Klyn Nurseries, Inc.
19 Lakeside Sand and Gravel
27 Mason Structural Steel, Inc.
25 Medina Sod Farms
15 NGLCO Field Day
17 O’Reilly Equipment
13 RCPW/Sohar’s
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11 Zoresco
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The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 31
Directions Effective and Affordable Advertising for Green Industry Suppliers
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I will let you in on a little secret...(hint, hint)…last year, we didn’t have any entries in the maintenance categories and only one entry in landscape lighting. Please consider entering these categories! This year, we are introducing a couple of exciting changes to the program. First, we are encouraging entrants to include a short video of their project. This is not a required element to enter. It is purely optional. We want to see how beneficial video will be for the judging process and also how it can be incorporated into the presentation to enhance the awards dinner event. Second, we have created a fee system that lowers the price to enter when you have multiple projects entered. The more projects you enter, the more money you save! And lastly, per member request, we have moved the entry deadline back to December 5th to allow you more time to prepare your entries. This should make it much easier to find the time to enter.
ber 201
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continued from pg 30
Growing octobeR 2011
Concern
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
io September Central Oh 4, 2011 – October page 30
Drainage Clinic November 9, 2011 Page 17
OLA Annual Meeting November 17, 2011 Page 7
This year’s entry rules, regulations and entry forms are available on our website – ohiolandscapers.org. Look for the awards page. If you do not have internet access, we will be happy to mail you the entry information. I am also always very happy to answer questions and help you work through the process of entering. It is very typical for first time contestants to call the office several times. We are glad to field those calls and want you to have the best opportunity to submit a winning entry!
Sales Clinic
For Landscape Professionals December 13, 2011 Page 13
How To Set Goals For New Employees Page 32
Beautiful and full color throughout, The Growing Concern provides Ohio’s green industry advertisers an extremely cost-effective option to deliver their message!
CONTACT THE OLA FOR MORE INFORMATION phone: 1-800-335-6521 email: info@ohiolandscapers.org web: OhioLandscapers.org
32 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
Make sure you enter this year’s Landscape Ohio! Awards Program. It will be the most exciting ever!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS !
The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association: ASSOCIATE MEMBER: Nick Mayer’s Marshall Ford / Lincoln 6200 Mayfield Road Mayfield Hts., OH 44124 (440) 449-1000 David Massucci
CL A SSIFIED s For an up-to-date listing of all classified/help wanted ads, please visit ohiolandscapers.org CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN S.A.M Landscaping, Inc. is now hiring a Construction Foreman. Position requires 3 or more years of industry experience with the ability to communicate with designers and clients. Layout of job sites, excavation, grading, drainage, and hardscape installation along with various other landscape functions will be required. Detailed craftsmanship, self-motivation, execution of ideas, honesty, and delegative skills are required. Competitive pay will be based on experience and knowledge. Benefits include medical, dental, life and 401(k) with company match. Year-round employment is available. Drug free work environment. To learn more about our team or to apply for a position, please call (440) 286-7697 or e-mail steve@samlandscaping.com COMMERCIAL PROJECT MANAGER / ESTIMATOR D. Peterman Landscaping & Snow Plowing, Inc. is a commercial landscape and snow maintenance contractor located in Walton Hills, Ohio. D. Peterman, Inc. has been in business for over 20 years, servicing Northeast Ohio and is focusing on expanding into larger commercial projects.
information. If interested, please send resume with salary requirements to dcp@ petermanservices.com. D. Peterman, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and drug free work place. OPENINGS - ACCOUNT MANAGER + DESIGN/ARCHITECT/SALES + SALES + FOREMAN Moscarino Outdoor Creations is an award winning design company, a leader in commercial lawn maintenance/snow management and has exceptional opportunities to join our team of professionals as we expand our service line. LANDSCAPE ACCOUNT MANAGER Responsibilities include managing a portfolio of landscape maintenance contracts, providing excellent customer service and personnel management, recommend enhancements, prepare proposals, develop and train employees and deliver quality services to ensure maintenance contract renewals. Applicants with background in landscape management or horticulture and the snow industry are preferred. This position also requires excellent organizational, leadership, communication, and time management skills.
Candidates must be professional, well organized and have a strong knowledge of landscaping and snow maintenance, especially regarding commercial accounts. Applicants must be able to work as project manager/ estimator with the skills to create landscaping and snow maintenance bids. Strong computer skills are required. Must work independently, be self-motivated, and possess exceptional time management and oral and written communication skills.
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER/ARCHITECT/ SALES Seeking an industry professional with minimum 5 years landscape design/build and aggressive sales experience. Must have superb horticultural and construction knowledge as well as strong computer skills, including CAD (we currently use Dynascapes software). If you are up-to-date, energetic, computer savvy and love working with plants and hardscapes this is the dream job for you!!
Responsibilities of candidate also include scheduling, purchasing, coordinating with other employees and suppliers, expediting submittals, controlling documents and being present at job sites. Candidate must uphold company values and continue to provide exceptional customer service with current and prospective customers while maintaining good vendor relationships. This is a salaried position with benefits and bonuses.
LANDSCAPE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SALES Essential functions of this position include:
Please visit our website at www. petermanservices.com for further company
• Generate sales by obtaining leads from industry and community resources including calling on prospective clients, gathering and analyzing the client’s needs and then providing up to date information on product services and pricing. • Deliver and follow up on bid packages to ensure that clients have enough information to make an informed decision.
Requirements of this position include: • Relevant business to business commercial contract sales experience in the service industry. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. • Organized and able to manage time. • Proficient with computer software programs including MS Office suite. • Industry or local knowledge and contacts preferred. CONSTRUCTION & LAWN MAINTENANCE FOREMAN Please see website for this and other job positions and job descriptions Compensation packages will be tailored for experienced individuals. Valid Driver’s License Required. EOE/Drug and Smoke Free Workplace. Please email resume to: info@moscarino.net or apply online at www.createmylandscape. com/job-opportunities/ PLEASE SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL LIST OF JOB POSITIONS AND JOB DESCRIPTIONS VIZMEG LANDSCAPE OPENINGS To be considered for any opening listed below, please send your resume to Jodi.destefanis@ vizmeg.com. Thank you! Vizmeg Landscape is one of the leading landscape firms in Northeast Ohio with over 90 team members. We have successfully been in business for over 20 years and each year continues to grow. Our expertise ranges from Landscape Design to Snow Removal and from Design/Build to Multi-faceted full service Landscape Maintenance. LAWN MAINTENANCE ACCOUNT MANAGER Vizmeg Landscape is searching for a hardworking and passionate team player to come on-board and help GROW and manage our Landscape Maintenance accounts. As an Account Manager you will need to know the Green Industry; from horticulture to managing a broad range of generations who are starting or ending their careers in the industry.
continued on page 34 The Growing Concern x July 2014 x 33
CL A SSIFIED s c o n t i n u e d For an up-to-date listing of all classified/help wanted ads, please visit ohiolandscapers.org We need YOU to help sell new jobs and HELP keep our clients LOVING US! A beautiful landscape doesn’t happen by itself – Join our team to keep our accounts and clients GROWING and LUSH! Mission: Provides direction and leadership to the Landscape Maintenance Team. Maintenance services performed by the team are detail oriented and designed to provide only the highest level of service and profitability. Job Responsibilities and Duties: Sales to existing and prospective clients, both residential and commercial; • Assists with planning and scheduling of all phases of Lawn Maintenance work; Confirmation of quality in all field work performed; Managing human resources (selection, hiring, training, evaluations); Working with Field Manager to handle customer complaints and resolve any issues; Retain existing clients; Directs general operation of the Maintenance team; Efficiently schedules clients to routes; Ensures material are available for crews use; Implements training programs with Field Supervisors; Participates in weekly safety tailgate meetings; Trains team members on equipment and expectations; Makes recommendation to Division Manager; Up sells to clients for additional landscape work and services not currently provided; Ensures the satisfaction of clients with the services that are provided; Takes an active roll in weekly monitoring of actual man hours vs. budgeted man hours on the clients property and make suggestions to Crew Leaders and or clients on a solution Education/Experience: Associates degree in Horticulture or an equivalent combination of education and experience as determined by the hiring manager. A minimum of 3 year’s experience with similar job and scope. Maintain or acquire Pesticide License; Maintain or acquire CLT Maintenance. IRRIGATION INSTALL SPECIALIST Duties and Essential Job Functions: Ability to read and interpret blue prints and job specs for the lay out and installation of sprinkler systems; Repairs and replaces pumps, main feeder, sprinkler heads and clocks; Oversees sprinkler system preventative maintenance program; Responsible for electrical troubleshooting; Adjusts clocks and heads
depending on the water needs and time of season; Solves problems such as fixing leaks, broken head replacement and other irrigation system concerns; Works with customer on ensure satisfaction with their system and adjust accordingly; Supervises employees who assist and need trained on areas of irrigation; Completes necessary paperwork including timesheets, work orders, change orders and materials used or needed for each job; Operates landscape equipment -- including but not limited to; trencher, skid steers and hand tools; Maintains a safe work environment. Other Functions and Responsibilities: Ability to work and communicate with all levels of the team. Required Licenses/Certifications: Certified Landscape Technician; Valid driver’s license LANDSCAPE/HARDSCAPE FOREMAN A Landscape Foreman oversees and works landscaping projects, both commercial and residential; Responsible for Softscape tasks such as; planting, seeding, topsoil applications, mulching and pruning; Responsible for Hardscape tasks such as; patio installations, deck installations, walls, concrete applications, irrigation and lighting; Manages the creation of landscape features; such as flowerbeds, water features, ponds and fountains; The job requires heavy lifting, up to 70 lbs; Ability to operate heavy equipment used on the job; Skid steer, Excavator, Trencher, Tractor, Sod Cutter, Tiller, Tamper, Carpentry Tools and Hand Tools; Must have a broad knowledge of plants, shrubs and trees commonly used in the region; As the leader of a working crew, the foreman must have excellent communication skills – able to communicate effectively and able to listen to details of the job from other managers; Ability and confidence to initiate changes and improvements while maintain forward direction; Layout and installation experience of plants, hardscape, masonry, carpentry, and excavating, grading, drainage and snow removal; Ability to develop self and those reporting to you; Prepares soil, loads and unloads materials and equipment; Must have a valid driver’s license LAWN CARE APPLICATOR Duties and Requirements: Ability to identify weeds, lawn diseases and insects; Applies fertilizers and pesticides to lawns according to season, schedule and label instructions; Ability
34 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
to safely handle and apply the appropriate amount of lawn fertilizer and herbicides; Ability to safely operate and maintain a work vehicle, must have a valid driver’s license; Communication with customers, responds in a timely manner; Measures lawns and provides estimate of service; Assures the timely and accurate execution off all service call logs and customer care notes; Ability to lift 20 to 30 lbs frequently and up to 50 to 80 lbs occasionally; Have an aptitude for grounds-keeping/ landscaping; Ready to work in all types of weather; Thorough reports to both customer and manager on services provided; Perform other duties as required Licensed applicator preferred, but not required. MUST have experience. Must be able to pass criminal background check, have a VALID DRIVERS LICENSE and pass a pre-employment DRUG TEST. LAWN MAINTENANCE FOREMAN Duties and Requirements: Ability to run and manager a 2-man crew lawn maintenance route; Ability to work with lawn maintenance landscapers and instruct properly; Ability to perform daily tasks within budgeted man hours; Understanding of equipment and the proper pieces to use with the different weather conditions; Understanding of basic turf grass, weed and pests; Ability to look at and manager entire landscape for both turf and landscape beds; Conduct regular tailgate safety meetings; Proper care of tools/equipment on job site and safety lock up tools when not in use; Develop and maintain motivated, effective crews; Ability to identify 50 common plants on CLT list by common and botanical names. Must have experience as a Foreman or Supervisor on a Maintenance Crew and have a Valid Driver’s License. Vizmeg Landscape is a Drug Free Workplace and Equal Opportunity Employer. We look forward to receiving your information and hope that you’ll be JOINING our TEAM SOON! To be considered for any of the Vizmeg openings listed above, please send your resume to Jodi.destefanis@vizmeg.com. Thank you!
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9240 Broadview Road Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517
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