The Growing Concern November 2016 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

Nov e mb e r 2 0 1 6

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 Annual Meeting

November 17 – Guest Speaker: Nationally recognized security expert, Tim Dimoff. PAGE 7

OLA Education Series

November 29 & December 1 – Dormant Pruning Clinic (Central & NE Ohio Locations) PAGE 31

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PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

BRYAN TAYNOR Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc.

CASTING MY BALLOT Election Day 2016 is almost upon us, and quite frankly, it couldn’t come soon enough. Every election cycle seems to get worse with all the rhetoric and political banter between the candidates, not to mention the verbal abuse we take from all the pundits in the media. Now, I know most people have a particular party or candidate they will always vote for, but it seems that considering the choices this year, most people are holding their nose and pulling the lever when it comes to casting their ballot.

We are all in charge of our own destiny, whether it’s our own individual career path, or the direction of our businesses.

I’m not here to persuade you to vote one way or the other, but I do want to tell you about who I’m voting for – and it didn’t take long for me to come to my decision. Honestly, it was an easy choice. I was looking for a candidate I could have confidence in; someone I believe in and someone who would work hard for the Green Industry. And I’m proud to say, that candidate... is YOU!

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The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 6 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON A L G REEN I N D U ST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440.717.0002, or 1.800.335.6521 Fax: 440.717.0004 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr. REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, King Financial, Inc. Jim Funai, LIC, Cuyahoga Community College Shelly Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb Bryan Taynor, Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc.

FEATURES

3 5 8 12 16 22 26 32 33

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Casting My Ballot

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS PERENNIAL FOCUS

Old Favorites, New Cultivars: 2016 Edition

FOR SAFETY SAKE

Creating the Perfect Safety Meeting

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

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

President – Elect Cathy Serafin, ASLA, RLA

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Year End Reviews

Treasurer Marie McConnell

Membership Coordinator Noreen Schraitle

FEATURE ARTICLE

Immediate Past President Steve Moore

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Populus tremuloides Quaking Aspen

FISCAL FITNESS

Finish the Year Strong

DIRECTIONS ADVERTISING INDEX

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

DIRECTORS Eric Brubeck, ASLA Adam Capiccioni James Funai Jacob Grimm Nathan Kowalsick Domenic Lauria

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

NOVEMBER

JANUARY

MARCH

NOVEMBER 17, 2016 OLA ANNUAL MEETING

JANUARY 16-18, 2017 MGIX – formerly known as CENTS

MARCH 9, 2017 OLA MEETING

Tim Dimoff, nationally renowned security expert, will discuss Security Best Practices for your company. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts., OH. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521, or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Tradeshow with educational sessions held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. For more information contact the ONLA at 800825-5062.

Getting and Keeping the Right Employees, featuring Elise Hara Auvil of EHA Solutions, Ltd. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts., OH. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521, or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

NOVEMBER 29, 2016 DORMANT PRUNING CLINIC (Central Ohio)

Come network with others in the Green Industry. Hosted by OLA. Held at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 501 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 5 pm to 7 pm, across the street from the Columbus Convention Center at the close of MGIX for the day. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-3356521, or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a half-day, hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to get back to the basics and learn the proper way to prune in time for winter and early spring pruning. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-3356521.

DECEMBER DECEMBER 1, 2016 DORMANT PRUNING CLINIC (NE Ohio) Dormant Pruning of Landscape Plants is a half-day, hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to get back to the basics and learn the proper way to prune in time for winter and early spring pruning. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521.

DECEMBER 16, 2016 DEADLINE: LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS ENTRIES The due date for entry into the 2016 Landscape Ohio! Awards is fast approaching. For more rules, regulations and more information on how to enter, go to http://www.ohiolandscapers.org/ landscapeohioawards.html.

JANUARY 17, 2017 OLA HOSPITALITY SUITE

JANUARY 26, 2017 OLA MEETING Ultimate Networking – Learn From Your Peers. A series of roundtable discussions on various topics to help increase your bottom line. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts., OH. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521, or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY ADVOCACY DAY Come to Columbus on February 22, 2017, meet with your legislators and tell them about the importance of the Green Industry to the State of Ohio. This event takes place at the Ohio State House located in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, contact the OLA at 1-800-335-6521.

MARCH (DATE TBD) 20th ANNUAL LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS GALA Join Ohio’s Landscaping Community for an elegant, fun filled night of celebration, as we honor winners of the 2016 Landscape Ohio! Awards. Dinner and Ceremony will once again be held at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, located at 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new member to the association:

REGULAR MEMBERS: Frate Landscaping 305 Miner Road Highland Hts., OH 44143 (440) 449-0318 Chuck J. Frate Nelson Land Care, Inc. P.O. Box 646 Wadsworth, OH 44282 (330) 927-0310 Amanda Nelson

ASSOCIATE MEMBER: Landmark 21079 Westwood Drive Strongsville, OH 44149 (440) 638-4540 Matt Smith The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 5

PR E S IDENT’ S C OL UMN continued from page 3

That’s right, I’m voting for you; the business owners and managers, the employees and the entrepreneurial minded individuals who make up the Ohio Landscape Association. After all, YOU are the ones who will get results, not some politician in Washington. See, the truth is there is no perfect candidate to run this country. Sure, some may argue that one candidate is better than the other when it comes to certain issues, but regardless of which administration is in power, WE have always had to adapt to the challenges that affect our businesses and our profession – and this election will be no different. Government red tape, no matter who’s supplying it, will always be an obstacle WE have to overcome. People say you have no right to complain if you don’t vote. I disagree; I say you have no right to complain if you’re not involved! The OLA continues to work hard on the legislative front to monitor the issues that affect our businesses, but we are only as strong as our members. So, as we prepare for 2017 and the setbacks we are about to face from this election, I challenge you to get involved and make a difference. Join a committee. And if you are already on a committee; consider a position on our Board of Directors. Follow your state representatives, and contact them regarding the issues that affect you, your business, and your employees. We are all in charge of our own destiny, whether it’s our own individual career path, or the direction of our businesses. And in the end, it’s up to us to make things happen, not some elected official. We are a strong, resilient group of people and have always found ways to run our businesses, regardless of the political and regulatory barriers that we’re continuously up against. So, as you watch this election shake out, stay informed of what’s coming our way – get involved! It will not be easy, but then again, nothing about our profession is. And as we always do, we will get through this and come out stronger on the other side. Don’t forget about our upcoming annual meeting coming up on November 17th, and stay connected with the OLA on social media for additional news and information.

6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

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PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’ (pictured here in Tenbury, England) boasts light yellow flowers which develop from rich green buds and mature to light ivory.

OLD FAVORITES, NEW CULTIVARS 2016 EDITION Tried and true plants are the backbone of our landscapes – and thankfully – improvements have been made to even the best of them. Our clients can be the beneficiaries of these improvements, if we know about them. Because I’m a plant-a-holic, I love to try new plants to see how they compare to older, but similar ones. I derive a lot of enjoyment from making the comparisons. A mainstay of the summer garden is Kniphofia – the Poker Plant. Until recently, it only bloomed in July. Now there are two series of rebloomers and both of them are quite good. I have the most experience with the Popsicle Series. These Poker Plants are shorter than many of the old ones, usually growing about 18 inches high. I have grown ‘Lemon Popsicle,’ ‘Pineapple Popsicle,’ and ‘Orange-Vanilla Popsicle.’ There is also a ‘Red Hot Popsicle,’ but the one I purchased was mislabeled and is actually ‘Lemon Popsicle.’ I don’t see a lot of color difference between the lemon and pineapple cultivars, but I love them all because they really do rebloom. In fact, my ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ was reblooming last year in November.

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The Echo Series is a bit taller at 22 to 28 inches high and the colors are slightly different. ‘Rojo’ may mean red in Spanish, but is a strong orange; ‘Mango’ is a soft yellow-orange and ‘Duo’ is a white and pale orange bicolor. I planted ‘Mango’ in a xeriscape garden early this summer and it has done beautifully. These are great perennials for the sunny, dry garden, but rebloom will be better with some supplemental water. One of the most striking uses of Kniphofia I’ve ever seen was at Tenbury, in England, where the owner interspersed them with orange Arctotis (a South African daisy-like annual) and Iris pallida ‘Variegata.’

continued on page 11

Kniphofia ‘Orange Vanilla Popsicle’ offers up a taste of summer with red to orange to creamy white spikes. A gorgeous sight in the late summer perennial border and a good companion plant for daylilies, or Echinacea ‘Twilight.’ Enjoy an explosion of color when planted in drifts.

The Growing Concern | October2016 2016|| 9 The Growing Concern ||November The Growing Concern November

SCA

S S I F I E

ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS Looking for Classified and Help Wanted ads? Want to post one of your own? You’ll find them at ohiolandscapers.org or myohiolandscape.com. HELP WANTED ADS Help Wanted ads are posted on both our industry website and our consumer website, along with bi-monthly postings via social media. CLASSIFIED ADS (I.E. Equipment for sale) Classified ads are posted on our industry website ohiolandscapers.org COST MEMBERS: $35 plus $3 for each 10 words for 30 days. NON MEMBER: $70 plus $3 for each 10 words for 30 days. Please send all inquiries and ad content to: info@ohiolandscapers.org or call the OLA office at 440-717-0002.

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P ER E NNIAL FOC US continued from page 8

For the shade garden, I frequently specify Aruncus dioicus (Goatsbeard), but it needs a lot of room. For smaller spaces, I now use the cultivar ‘Misty Lace’ which is half the size, growing only 2 and ½ to 3 feet tall and wide. In keeping with the size, the inflorescences are not as large or as full as those of the species; nevertheless, they are quite lovely. I have been growing ‘Misty Lace’ for eight years. The clump has slowly enlarged, but has never overwhelmed the space. There are some other cultivars similar in size but this is my favorite. Sedges, often mistaken for short ornamental grasses, are an extremely useful group of plants for partial shade. I love blue foliage and was sent some trial plants from Hoffman Nursery in North Carolina. One of them was Carex laxiculmis ‘Hobb Bunny Blue,’ also known just as ‘Hobb.’ The name is a mouthful, but the plant is a welcome addition to the palette of Sedges. Its foliage is wide, blue and tough as nails. In fact, it is used in a mass planting on New York’s High Line. I’ve been trialing it in my own garden in two spots, one that gets morning sun and the other that gets bright light all day. The foliage always looks attractive. This is a clumper, so no fear that it will get out of control. The other Carex I’ve fallen in love with is ‘Everillo.’ Its bright, yellow foliage will brighten any shady corner, although the color may be more chartreuse, yet it is still quite bright in deep shade. I’ve purchased it in plugs that quickly grow into large clumps. This one needs more water than ‘Hobb Bunny Blue,’ but is relatively drought tolerant once established. It is an excellent solution for dry shady spaces under or at the base of older shrubs.

In early summer, Aruncus ‘Misty Lace’ produces large, creamy white, feathery plumes on dark red stems atop compact mounds of astilbelike foliage.

Carex laxiculmis is an evergreen sedge that is native to rich wooded areas and supports non-showy, yellowish-white flowers bloom in May-June atop triangular flowering stems.

When you are designing for spring, do consider some of these new additions to our plant palette. 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. Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). She currently serves as chair of the ONLA Plant Selection Committee. She can be reached at (216) 752-9449. Carex ‘Everillo’ is cheery and bright. The lime green foliage progresses to bright golden yellow. Morning sun exposure intensifies the breathtaking ribbons of golden yellow.

The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 11

F OR SAFETY SAKE

CREATING THE PERFECT SAFETY MEETING If you view holding safety meetings as a necessary evil and are not working to engage workers, you are likely driving them away from safety. So says safety communication consultant Kevin Burns, who adds that safety meetings are often organized in a mad scramble at the last minute, with no thought toward engaging workers’ hearts and minds. Burns says workers’ eyes glaze over and they may even feel resentful when they are forced to listen to too much information read verbatim from pieces of paper or PowerPoint slides.

presenter to speak to that theme only, without going off on unrelated tangents. It also lets presenters end the meeting with a call to action for workers—what you want them to do differently after the meeting.

“You need to talk with your people, not at them. It’s a meeting, not a lecture,” he says.

Burns says attendees want to know:

A properly planned safety meeting has a theme and a desired outcome. The message cannot be vague, such as “be safe.” Having a theme planned out before a meeting allows the

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

• • • •

Why they are there. What will be covered during the meeting. Why the topic is important. What you want them to do following the meeting.

FOR SAFETY SAKE “People don’t want to know what not to do,” says Burns, adding that trying to scare your workers into working safely by showing them gruesome pictures or gory videos often backfires, because negative messages don’t engage people. Burns says 71 percent of North American workers are not actively engaged in their work, which means that 7 out of 10 workers are not engaged in their personal safety. A low-quality safety meeting certainly isn’t going to change their attitudes.

MAKING SAFETY TRAINING MORE ENGAGING: TIPS FROM SAFETY MANAGERS Recently, Convergence Training posted a simple question into a number of LinkedIn groups that deal with safety: “What do you do to make your safety training more fun and engaging for your employees?“ Here’s what they heard.

Games, Competition, and Rewards

A number of people said they tried to include some form of game, competition, and/or reward in their training.

Humor

Quite a few people brought up the importance of humor.

Active Participation

Many of the replies involved different forms of having the trainees be active participants in the training.

Two-Way Discussions

It seems basic enough, but often we forget to have discussions instead of monologues.

Demonstrations

A common thread was the importance of giving real-life demonstrations. This is another that could have gone into “active participation” but the demonstrations really come alive here.

Storytelling

Storytelling is a proven way to capture people’s attention, and it came up in this aspect as well.

Speaking Their Language

It’s important to speak the correct language (like English and Spanish), of course. But it’s also important to speak in a way that your employees relate to.

For more in-depth responses to this Convergence Training study, go to http://blog.convergencetraining.com/how-tomake-safety-training-more-fun-and-engaging-tips-fromsafety-managers.

One easy way to engage workers is to go around taking pictures of people working safely in your workplace before the meeting and include these pictures in your presentation slides. Burns cautions against copying Internet photographs of unknown workers, because your audience will not engage with these strangers. He offers these additional tips for making safety meetings interesting: • Don’t hold meetings in the “dirty back shop.” Move them to another area of the building, or perhaps off site and encourage workers to get out of their dirty coveralls and ball caps and dress appropriately. • Put out fewer chairs than you anticipate you will need. If you have more people than chairs, escort workers to the front row chairs—generally the last ones taken—and add more chairs to the back row. • Speakers should stand in the middle of the stage, not off to the side. Ensure there is enough light so workers can make eye contact with the speaker, because people connect through eye contact. • Limit presentations to half an hour and don’t follow with a question/answer period, as this can bring an otherwise strong safety meeting to a screeching halt. If people wish to ask questions, let them do so after the formal presentation has ended and those who wish to leave have done so. • Don’t go crazy on PowerPoints. Present one thought per slide and don’t read the slides verbatim, because people will get bored. • Require your workers to take notes so they will retain important information afterwards. • Create a follow-up safety campaign. For example, if your safety meeting is on safe driving during the winter, you might hand out windshield sweepers/scrapers with your company’s logo to each worker at the end of shift, or set up a group to check that vehicles are properly equipped with winter emergency supplies. • End the meeting on a high note by recognizing workers who are working safely. Offer them a reward, such as a lunch or coffee gift card.

Originally posted in In Compliance & Risk Management, Training and Leadership on the SafetySmart blog site located at https://blog.safetysmart.com. Post was made by Obi Oniah. Posted April 14, 2015.

The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 13

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Substantial base rate reductions helping many members save thousands of dollars on their BWC premiums!

The OLA offers increased public awareness through the distribution of press releases and participation in public events. Landscape Ohio! Magazine, a supplement to Cleveland and Ohio Magazines, runs twice a year and features projects completed over the past 5 years by members who enter the Landscape Ohio! Awards Program (200,000+ readers).

EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS The OLA offers many continuing education opportunities to help fine tune your business, as well as your employees’ technical skills. Members receive discounted pricing and wait list priority for all seminars and clinics.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Meetings with great speakers are held in the Cleveland and Columbus regions at NO COST to members.

The OLA is involved with vocational schools & colleges throughout the state, promoting the landscape industry & offering scholarships to high school and college students studying horticulture.

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The OLA’s monthly magazine, The Growing Concern, features articles that will help you run your business professionally and profitably. Our Membership Directory will keep you in touch with other members.

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ADVOCACY OLA monitors legislative issues, both at the state and national level, to help protect your business interests.

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The OLA is home to two unique websites Our consumer site, MyOhioLandscape.com, is geared towards the property owner – and among other useful information – houses a searchable database of members by location, as well as by the types of work they perform.

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Our industry site, Ohiolandscapers.org, features a Member Center which offers OLA members exclusive access to important industry information, the ability to download OLA logos, our membership directory, and useful business resources such as links to sites that will help you run your business more efficiently. We offer downloadable forms to keep your business in compliance with PUCO regulations, and online registration for classes and meeting opportunities.

Group discounts on drug free workplace programs, employee manuals and more.

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9240 BROADVIEW ROAD, BROADVIEW HTS.,Association OH 44147 • PHONE: 440-717-0002 1-800-335-6521 • FAX: 440-717-0004 The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 15 Publication of The Ohio Landscape 15 | Official OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG • MYOHIOLANDSCAPE.COM

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC The common name, Quaking Aspen, comes from the effect of flat, vertical petioles holding the leaves, allowing the leaves to flutter back and forth in even the slightest breeze.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

POPULUS TREMULOIDES QUAKING ASPEN

If we asked you to name the biggest living thing on earth, what would your answer be? Perhaps you might say the Blue Whale? Maybe dinosaurs – which we all know are alive and well at Jurassic Park, right? Or possibly, being the great plant nerds we all are, you might consider the Redwoods of California? Well, in the fun – but not overly important game of ranking living things by size – it usually helps to add some qualifiers. Is it the tallest living thing we’re talking about? If so, a tree named Hyperion, a redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in California takes that prize at 379+ feet tall. How about the oldest? That likely goes to “Old Tjikko,” a 9,500+ year old Norway Spruce (Picea abies) in Sweden. Or maybe sheer volume of space? “General Sherman,” another Redwood in California is rocking an impressive 1,385 tons (2.7 million pounds). Truthfully, most of this is just estimates, as the only thing we can truly measure is height, so let’s just agree that all of these plants are equally impressive!

16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

That said, an equally or if not more impressive plant can be found in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah. Meet Pando! Pando is the name given to a massive colony of Quaking Aspen that is estimated to be over 80,000 years old, making “Old Tjikko” a little baby in comparison. Pando, like all Populus tremuloides, forms a grove of genetically identical trunks all growing from the same sprawling root system. In this case, over 47,000 separate tree trunks rise from the ground covering nearly 110 acres, weighing an impressive 13.2 million pounds. There go some of those records we were discussing. continued on page 20

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SUPPLY ValleyCitySupply.com The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 17

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Winning projects will be featured in the Spring/Summer 2017 Landscape Ohio! Magazine — a supplement to Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine. Entrants will be invited to join us in March 2016 for a dinner and awards presentation.

Fight the Urge to Procrastinate • Keep designs current and show the job as it was actually installed. • Take pictures throughout the different seasonsespecially if entering for seasonal color! • Always carry a camera with you. It is easier than finding time to get back at a later date and missing that perfect photo opportunity. • Take plenty of shots so that you can submit the very best. • Take pictures early enough so that you have time to shoot again if needed. • Take before and after shots from the same location. Let the Picture Tell the Story • Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. • If you framed a great view, created an outdoor room or have a great focal point, allow the picture to show it. • Use appropriate lighting – Judges can’t make out details of dark or bleached out pictures. Morning, late afternoon, or cloudy days are often better for your photo shoot. Allow the Jobs to Mature • Sometimes a season or two of growth on plants or aging of fresh cut stone can make an average job a great one. (Make sure that the project is maintained.) • Projects that are up to 5 years old qualify to enter. Help the Project Look "Lived In" • You created an outdoor room. If the grill is in the garage, move it out to the patio. If the table umbrella is closed, open it. Cushions can also add color and warmth. • Also, an empty bench or table looks better with a pitcher of iced tea and a pair of drinking glasses on it. Tidy Up Before You Shoot • Remove any debris or clutter such as litter, leaves, garbage cans, children’s toys or hoses. • Shoot High – Shoot Low • Sometimes the angle of a shot can make a nice picture even better. • Be creative – take aerial shots from a ladder or rooftop, but remember to put safety first! • Shoot low to the ground or from inside a planting bed with the tops of a tree, shrub, or some flowers framing the picture.

Sell the Project • Explain how you solved a unique problem, met some unusual challenge, or worked out a difficult client request. • Be sure to note if you feel one part of the garden is of questionable taste, but was a client’s desire or own addition. • If you enter a project in more than one category, always write a new description that relates to the category and describes details relevant to that category. Make the Judges' Job Easy • Your photos and descriptions should represent the work you did on the property. Work done by others should not be the focal point of your entry photos and descriptions. • Be very concise and to the point in the descriptions of your project. Do not exceed the word limits, but do tell your story. However, be sure to explain your project thoroughly. Saying only “view from the east, view from the west, etc.” does not help the judges understand your project. • Make sure that designs are readable and that the photos are in their proper sequence. Think BIG • Even the smallest of jobs can be an award winner! • Occasionally, it may be advantageous to enter a particular section of a larger project. • Be confident! If you have never entered in the past, don’t be intimidated. Never, Never, Never Quit • If at first you don’t succeed, try again. • Network with association members and others who have entered projects in the past.

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

continued from page 16

But don’t give our friend Pando all the records; we know of several fungal specimens that span over 1,000 acres under the soils of Oregon, and any day now Ol’e Nessie should be showing up again in Loch Ness to put them all to shame! From a landscape perspective, Quaking Aspen may not make the top of too many designers’ lists, but it is a tree worth some consideration. Like most plants, there is a time and place for their use. (Yes, we’ll finally concede that even the evil Yucca has a time and place – which was 1980 – when we didn’t know what looked good anyways, or in Arizona where it doesn’t look so out of place!) The common name for this plant name comes from the effect of flat, vertical petioles holding the leaves, allowing the leaves to flutter back and forth in even the slightest

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

breeze. It makes these trees look as though the entire plant is trembling in place like a dog on the 4th of July. And while all Populus species have this flat petiole and some shaking, this is the most exaggerated of the bunch, and the reason the old French botanist André Michaux named this plant tremuloides, while traipsing through North America in the early 1800s. With a widespread native distribution from Newfoundland south to Pennsylvania, then moving west to Alaska and Oregon and chasing the mountains south to Arizona, this is one of the most widespread tree species in North America. One reason it is so widespread is its seemingly complete disregard for soil types. Often found in rocky, dry slopes, the tree is just as common on moist loams to heavier clay soils with high levels of moisture.

P L ANT OF THE MONT H

Much like other members of the family (Salicaceae or Willow family), these trees tend to grow fast and may die young due to insect and disease issues. We find a lot of reference to this whole they will die young bit, including reference from Dr. Dirr stating the trees have no ornamental importance, but question that assertion. Let’s study the way these plant grows, as a continually expanding colony.

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Just like a lot of our Birch trees, the ability to keep forming new trunks may be a ticket to keeping the plant alive and well. Perhaps the trick is to treat this like a large – ok, very large (perhaps over 60 feet) – shrub? What if we keep it on the smaller side, remove the oldest trunks as the colony forms, and try to keep the trunks to less than 20 years old or so. This keeps the tree young and vigorous and able to withstand the disease and insect issues that catch up to it in older age.

grasses

With minimal care, this tree can reward with great physical movement in the landscape, beautiful clear yellow fall color and stark white trunks reaching for the sky. Flowering and fruit is not of note on these trees, so we rely on the colony of white barked trunks in mass effect to add to the ornamental features of the landscape. We can’t recommend that the right place for this tree is in the front yard in a typical suburban neighborhood, but perhaps in a mass planting in the backyard property border, or near a stand of woods it may look right at home. Keep in mind that the tree is not picky about soil types and almost seems to prefer poor soils to fertile sights. You may not be creating the next Pando engulfing a hundred acres, but we urge you to consider the beautiful impact of a mass of white trunks and shaking leaves in the next naturalistic planting you take on.

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many paths to higher education in the green industry. He is pursuing a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care. Both are graduates of The Ohio State University. Contact Jim and Shelley via email at hortsquad@gmail.com.

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The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 21 12/16/2015 3:27:07 PM

FI SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN King Financial, Inc.

YEAR END REVIEWS As the end of the year quickly approaches, here are a couple things all investors need to do in preparation for 2017. These are a few of the most pressing issues and most do not take too much of your time. TAX ISSUES Probably the most complicated and time-consuming issue, but the one that can cost you, or save you, the most money. Some clients may need to generate gains or losses this year while the tax environment is still favorable. Most taxpayers pay 15% in Long Term Capital Gains (20% applies for those in the highest tax brackets).

ESTABLISH RETIREMENT ACCOUNT Small business owners might want to establish a 401(k) plan, SEP-IRA or Simple IRA for their business in the current tax year. Also check out the Individual 401(k) Plans that many fund families and firms are now offering. Most of these plans have to be established by year-end. Maximize your 401(k) or IRA contributions and ensure your beneficiaries are up to date.

Another issue in this category is the Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from qualified retirement accounts. Clients over 70 ½ must take their RMD this year or face stiff tax penalties of 50%. Also be aware of required distributions from Beneficiary IRAs.

ESTATE PLANNING This is often an area that gets brushed to the side if for no other reason than many clients don’t like to think about their own mortality. It is important, however, that you ensure that your desires for the distribution of your assets would be met were you to die suddenly.

MUTUAL FUND DISTRIBUTIONS As a general rule, don’t buy a mutual fund near the end of the year, without first checking when, and if, the fund will be paying out a capital gain for the year. If you buy Fund ABCDX on December 5th and they distribute a capital gain for the year on December 15th, you are responsible for the tax on this year’s capital gain, even though you held the fund for only 10 days.

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Make sure beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies are up-to-date. These instruments rely on the beneficiary designation and not what is in the will. Has your family situation changed? Is there another child or grandchild to be accounted for? Did you get married? Divorced? Spouse pass away? continued on page 25

The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 23

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FI SCAL FI TN ESS continued from page 22 BUDGET

CHARITY/GIVING

The holidays can be a busy time, but also a good time to set a budget. This is the time of the year when lots of your money is being spent. No better time to look at your finances than now. Think of ways to cut down on some of your expenses and/ or plan on contributing more to retirement or college savings plans.

The highest tax bracket is currently 39.6%.

SET GOALS FOR 2017 This can go hand-in-hand with budgeting. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also advising clients to not only set financial goals, but personal, professional, entertainment and educational goals. This is another great time to do that.

SCHEDULE REVIEW Arrange meetings with your advisor. Make it a priority and prepare by creating a list of topics to help get the most out of your discussion.

ANALYZE PORTFOLIO AND REBALANCE This is a great time to sell a large position in one stock and diversify. Also, as markets have been volatile lately, it is important to structure your portfolio in the correct balance. With a six-year bull market in stocks, you could be overweight in areas and underweight in others. Make sure your investment strategy is on track.

I have recommended clients donate highly appreciated stock, which gives them the full deduction and avoids the Capital Gains Tax. Good charities/foundations appreciate your charitable gifts.

Talk to your financial and tax advisors for information specific to your individual needs and goals. Michael J. Donnellan is President of King Financial, Inc., with offices in Strongsville and the M3 Wealth Management office in North Royalton, Ohio specializing in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with at (440) 652-6370, or donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com. Securities and advisory services offered through L.M. Kohn & Company Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (800) 478-0788

The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 25

FEATURE ARTI CLE

FINISH THE YEAR STRONG

Fourteen Strategies to Drive Profit by Year-End

by Jeffrey Scott

FEATURE ARTI CLE

YO U R P ER FOR MANC E IN TH E FI N AL QUARTER OF 2016 W I LL H AV E A N OVER S IZED IMPACT ON H OW M UCH N ET P RO F I T Y OUR C OMPAN Y EARN S TH I S YEAR.

WEEKLY THROUGHPUT The main driver of net profit in the fourth quarter is measured by your company’s Weekly Throughput i.e. the amount of billable production work your company can produce (“put through”) each week. Here is why this is so important: Even though you estimate for net profit with each and every sale, starting with your first sale in January, the fact is that all the profit from those sales goes towards covering your overhead (OH), until all your overhead is paid for. Once your overhead is covered, you have reached what accountants call your break-even date. Once you hit your break-even date – all the profit you then make from every sale goes straight to your bottom line. Not only the net profit, but also the operational profit (that previously went to pay for overhead) now goes straight to the bottom line. This date is generally hit right before or in the 4th quarter, i.e., now or next month. OPERATIONAL MARGIN My high performing clients are able to achieve an Operational Profit Margin in the upper 30%’s up to 45% depending on the type of business they are in (and how long they have been working with me). If your operational margin is, for example, 40%, then after you hit break-even, every dollar that gets produced will put approximately 40 cents towards your bottom line! That is a lot! To this end, the more sales that your team can produce and bill in this final quarter (called: Weekly Throughput), the more net profit you will ultimately earn. Conversely, if you have too many hiccups this fall, you put your net profit at risk.

HERE ARE 14 WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR WEEKLY THROUGHPUT. 1. Keep salespeople motivated to continue selling strong up through December. Use situational and year-end incentives to keep up the selling momentum. Having an increased backlog puts positive pressure on the crews, so they have more than enough work to chew through. 2. Decrease the non-billable time (morning, travel, deli and gas stops, evening) so more time is spent on billable work. 3. Decrease (eliminate) the unnecessary go-backs needed to complete a job by ensuring crews are properly equipped and dispatched, with trucks and tools operating smoothly. 4. Ask crews to be flexible in bad weather, so you can hit your Weekly Throughput goals. 5. Use overtime (OT) to get your extra backlogged work done; the incremental cost of OT will be more than offset by additional operational profit that will drop straight to your bottom line. Do the math! 6. Sell more fall and winter add-on services. Remember, enhancement sales can be sold at a higher margin than your standard work anyhow, so it is a double win. 7. Take lower margin install work if you can be guaranteed that doing it will not displace other high margin work. 8. Walk every maintenance property and sell them (e.g., pruning) services to be done a.s.a.p. continued on page 29

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F EATURE ARTI CLE FEATURE continued from page 27 9. Find extra work that can be performed by crews already on maintenance properties. 10. Sell holiday decor now to be done this fall. For example, how about selling front door arrangements like you see in the magazine Southern Living? 11. Sell fireplaces and hardscapes to be done now (and during the milder winter). 12. Raise your 2017 hourly rate right now in 2016, and apply it to your fall work. Who says you have to wait till January to raise rates? 13. Deliver your holiday presents to clients early; and they will likely give you more work to take care of. 14. Incentivize your crews to increase their Weekly Throughput. Make crews accountable for their weekly production goals, and motivate them to be as efficient as possible. Share the winnings when they sprint through the finish line.

Connect the dots: Many employees may not immediately grasp how sprinting through the finish, and ensuring a healthy net profit, will benefit them and their family. Take the time to explain it to them by connecting the dots on how it benefits the company and how it benefits them directly. Using an incentive plan helps them see directly how it benefits them. BREAKTHROUGH IDEA Speeding up in the fourth quarter and sprinting through the finish line will greatly impact and increase your net profits. TAKE ACTION Pull everyone together and explain to them which day in your calendar you hit break-even, and how the production during the 4th quarter will help the company hit and beat its year-end profit goals, thus benefiting everyone.

Jeffrey Scott, MBA is an author, business coach and hall-of-fame consultant. He is the expert in growth and profit maximization in the lawn & landscape industry. He grew his company into a successful $10 million enterprise, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now devoted to helping others achieve profound success. Over 6000 read his monthly newsletter. He facilitates the Leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edge peer group for landscape business owners; his members achieved a 27% profit increase in their first year. To learn more visit www.GetTheLeadersEdge.com.

The Growing Concern | November 2016 | 29

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