The Growing Concern November 2022 by Sandy Munley

Growing Concern

The

NO VEMB ER 2 0 2 2

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: Recruitment Marketing

November 17, 2022 / St. Michael’s Woodside (Broadview Heights, OH) / PAGE 7

SMALL BUSINESS INSURANCE CAN APPEAR COMPLICATED. WE ARE HERE TO HELP! Learn more about the changing world of plans, premiums and benefits, so that you can make the decisions that make sense for you and your business.

WE HELP SOLVE YOUR CONCERNS! • FINDING & RETAINING EMPLOYEES. • KEEPING EMPLOYEES SAFE WHILE WORKING. • HELPING PROTECT & INCREASE YOUR PROFITS. • HELPING YOU SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT.

LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS BENEFIT FROM A SPECIALIZED INSURANCE PROGRAM. Botson Insurance Group is an expert at insuring companies in the green industry. With over 25 years of experience in protecting landscape contractors, we understand your business and know what it takes to keep you up and running if and when something unfortunate happens. We offer over twenty-five (25) industry specific landscape insurance coverage policies.

ONE CALL DOES IT ALL. • Contractor Equipment • General Liability in the Field • Commercial Trucks & Trailers • Buildings, Office Contents & Computers • Cyber Crimes & Employment Related Lawsuits • Group Health, Owner & Employee Life Protection

NEED ADVICE? GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

440.537.2292

BOTSONINSURANCEGROUP.COM

PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N

STRATEGIC PLANNING I am certain for some of you that the concept of strategic planning is not unheard of, as these events are part of every effective organization’s success. Too often, an owner’s vision can become clouded or misaligned with key members of the organization, or perhaps even the company’s clients. In these scenarios, it doesn’t matter the size of the organization – big or small – when a company’s direction starts to veer off, a strategic plan can help to get that company back on track. For larger organizations, finding the people necessary to conduct a strategic plan – such as a consultant – may be simple. For smaller organizations (think in the 1 to 5 people range) an owner may struggle to determine who is best suited to get involved. While I obviously don’t know the specifics of every small organization, I’d venture to say that you might look to a key member of your staff, perhaps a family member or friend, or possibly even a key client that would be willing to participate. In late September, the OLA Board and staff traveled down to Mohican State Park for our most recent strategic planning event. The previous plan, also worked on by the OLA Board and staff, was completed in 2018, but we all know what happened shortly after. For those of you who are unfamiliar with holding a strategic planning event, the cliff-notes explanation is that key members of an organization get together and look back at where an organization was, what it is currently doing, and

BRIAN MAURER, LIC Brian-Kyles

what it needs to do to become more successful. Strategic planning events should be fun and productive, but they can also be a bit overwhelming – even daunting – if too much happens in a short period of time. For that reason, and in order to make this event impactful, OLA Board members and staff arrived a day early and embarked on a river adventure down the Mohican. Afterward, we met up for dinner and then enjoyed time around the campfire. This day was crucial for the success of our event, which took place the following day. First, it gave Board members and staff an opportunity to get work off their minds and to come at it fresh. Second, to engage everyone and their thoughts, we really needed to spend some time bonding outside of a work setting. On day two, the Board and staff discussed our 2018 goals, if we felt they had been met, and what to do about those that we felt had not been completed. Then we determined our next steps for the rest of 2022, and beyond. One of the more pressing issues we discussed was our ability to grow membership and what benchmarks we should set to determine the success and/or failure of this item. While we all agreed that growing memberships was key to the future success of the OLA, there was some great discussion as to where and how we should go about implementing that growth. To that end, we came up with a few actionable items we feel will ensure the future success of this endeavor. continued on page 6 The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 3

TAB LE OF CON TEN TS N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON A L G REEN I N D U ST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440.717.0002 Toll Free: 1.800.335.6521 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com DESIGNER / EDITOR Rick Doll, Jr.

Cover: Landscape Ohio! Awards entry in the category Residential Installation, submitted by Landscapes by Terra.

FEATURES

3 5 8 12 16 20 26 30 34 35

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Strategic Planning

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS PERENNIAL FOCUS

Feeding the Birds, Naturally

FISCAL FITNESS

Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Benefits of Dormant Pruning

FOR SAFETY SAKE

Risks of Working in the Cold

PLANT OF THE MONTH

REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, M3 Wealth Management Dr. Jim Funai, PhD, Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Brian Maurer, LIC, BrianKyles Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of magazine publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org. DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association. OFFICERS President Brian Maurer, LIC

OLA STAFF Executive Director Sandy Munley

President – Elect Stephanie Gray, LIC

Communications & Events Manager Rick Doll, Jr.

Great Western Plant Explorers: The Wardian Age

Treasurer Cameron Maneri

FEATURE ARTICLE

Immediate Past President James Funai, PhD

Listen to the Job: The Right Snow Removal Attachment For Your SkidSteer

DIRECTIONS

Membership

ADVERTISING INDEX

4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

DIRECTORS Brandon Barker Ryan Drake Tina Graver, LIC Rob Morel Bob Ramser, LIC Kate Stone, OCNT

ENVIRONMENTALLY

FRIENDLY PAPER FROM RESPONSIBLE SOURCES. PRINTED USING SOY & VEGETABLE BASED INK.

C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

U P C O M I N G O L A M E E T I N G S , E D U C AT I O N S E M I N A R S & E V E N T S

The Ohio Landscape Association is happy to introduce its newest members.

NOVEMBER

JANUARY 2023

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 OLA ANNUAL MEETING

JANUARY (DATE TBD) OLA EVENING MEETING

Corey J. Halstead is Co-Owner of Halstead Media, a leading provider of marketing & recruiting solutions for lawn, landscape, pool, & outdoor living businesses. Corey will be discussing recruitment marketing, including how to attract top talent, manage applicants, and make better hires, faster. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside. See page 7.

Rachel Shepard, Executive Chairman and CEO at LonaRock, LLC will discuss how your company can become an ideal business banking client, how to understand key credit parameters and what role your bank plays in your company’s succession plan. Registration opens November 2022.

DECEMBER DECEMBER 6 DORMANT PRUNING (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 learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Willoway Nurseries in Avon, Ohio. See page 18.

DECEMBER 8 DORMANT PRUNING (Central Ohio)

REGULAR MEMBERS Greenleaf Landscapes, Inc. 414 Muskingum Drive Marietta, OH 45750 (740) 373-1639 Ben Lang

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS M.H. Eby, Inc. 4435 State Route 29 West Jefferson, OH 43162 (614) 349-0042 Bradley Kitzler

Because your company deserves the recognition. Now is the time to begin preparing your entries for this year’s 26th Annual Landscape Ohio! Awards program! This annual landscape competition was created by the Ohio Landscape Association to increase awareness of quality landscaping and how it improves our environment.

Dormant Pruning of landscape plants is a half-day, hands-on clinic and a timely training opportunity for you and your crews to learn the proper pruning techniques. Held at Premier Plant Solutions in Hilliard, Ohio. See page 18.

Our awards program recognizes designers, installers, and property owners and is the only green industry awards program in Ohio to successfully promote award winners and the industry to the public, through a unique partnership with Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine. All award winning projects are featured in the fall/winter issue of Landscape Ohio! Magazine, a unique insert placed in the September issue of Cleveland Magazine, a publication reaching over 282,000 readers.

DECEMBER 16 26th ANNUAL LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS DEADLINE

Additionally, award winning projects are recognized at our annual awards gala, placed online for consumers to review, and may potentially be used for the cover of The Growing Concern.

Now is the time to start prepping your entries for this year’s awards program, as the entry deadline is fast approaching. For more information on how to enter, including rules and entry forms, visit www.ohiolandscapers.org/awardsprogram.

This year’s deadline to enter is December 16, 2022, at which time all entries MUST be recieved physically at the OLA office. For full details and tips on how to enter, visit www.ohiolandscapers. org/awards-program or call the OLA office at 440.717.0002. The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 5

PR ES IDEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3 First, something we had already committed to based on input from members in the central and southern portions of the state was the idea of bolstering events in these locations. To that end, we have begun mirroring our NE Ohio evening meetings schedule in Central Ohio by adding a meeting in January and offering a similar sponsorship package for these events. This will give more Regular Member companies the ability to attend OLA evening meetings, as well as allow Associate Members the ability to interact with them. Second, something the Board agreed needing tweaking (continual improvement on) were our offerings of educational events. We feel these events are the backbone of our association and are an invaluable resource to our members. While we’re still identifying what those tweaks might look like, one thing is for certain, your feedback is vital. Which brings me to my third point. As the Board is looking to identify ways to improve, i.e., what it is we should offer, to whom, when is the best time to offer it, and how we can best present it, we will continue soliciting help from our most valuable resource – our members. This is why, in addition to the standard evaluations you have

Container & B&B Stock Trees - (Shade, Ornamental & Evergreen) & Shrubs Ornamental Grasses & Perennials

Bulk Materials

Blended Topsoil ~ Mulch ~ Dyed Mulches ~ Potting Mix

Wholesale Grower of Quality Nursery Stock Making Your Business Easier ~ Quality Without Question

Check us out on the web:

www.davistreefarm.com sales@davistreefarm.com 6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

become accustomed to at almost every OLA event, we have begun incorporating simple online surveys in effort to gather more information so that we may make factual decisions in helping our members get what they desire from their state landscaping association. Finally, as we all know, most of the time it is easier to keep an existing customer than it is to sign up a new one. For this reason, our membership committee will continue to focus and expand upon its current membership retention program (which has been working quite well) while taking on the new task of proactively soliciting new members in areas we think have significant growth potential. This program will be revisited over the next few years, based on goals we have set internally, and will be kicked off with a program leveraging the relationships of our Associate members. More to come! On that note, one last reminder: It is dues renewal season! Notices went out in mid-October and response has been strong, so far! Please be on the lookout for your notice and make sure to renew as soon as possible. As always, thank you for being a member of the OLA.

Visit Us

6126 Neff Road Valley City, OH

PH: 330-483-3324 Fax: 330-483-4483

OLA MEETINGS SERIES

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION NOVEMBER 17, 2022 ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH AGENDA REGISTRATION / NETWORKING FOOD / CASH BAR 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM OLA ANNUAL MEETING 7:00 PM TO 7:30 PM PROGRAM 7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM COST TO ATTEND MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $50 REGISTER TO ATTEND BY NOVEMBER 10, 2022

SPONSORED BY

EMERALD SPONSORS

OLA ANNUAL ANNUAL MEETING MEETING OLA

Recruitment Marketing: Marketing: Attracting Attracting Top Top Talent, Talent, Recruitment Managing Applicants Applicants & & Making Making Better Better Hires, Hires, Faster. Faster. Managing In aa market market saturated saturated with with job job opportunities opportunities itit can be hard to stand out as an In employer. Today’s Today’s hiring hiring market market requires requires owners owners and HR personnel to think like employer. marketers, employing employing techniques techniques from from other other disciplines disciplines to to attract attract candidates. candidates. marketers, Recruitmentmarketing marketingisisaanew new way way of of looking at and solving a traditional problem, Recruitment combining tactics tactics to to “market” “market” your your company and culture to prospective new combining hires. The The aim aim isis not not only only to to drive qualified individuals to apply for open positions, hires. but also also to to keep keep your your company company front front of of mind as they search for job opportunities but in the the future. future. in Join us, us, November November 17, 17, 2022, 2022, as as Corey Corey Halstead - co-owner of Halstead Media Join discusses various various aspects aspects of of Recruitment Recruitment Marketing, Marketing, including; including; discusses •• •• •• •• ••

The secrets of employer branding to attracts key talent. How to target & reach talent using digital marketing strategies. Why leveraging recruiting technology is critical to saving time & resources. How to effectively pre-screen applicants. How to use text-messaging to communicate with candidates for better response rates and faster hires.

PRESENTED BY

COREY HALSTEAD / CO-OWNER HALSTEAD MEDIA

GOLD SPONSORS

KURTZ BROS. INC. BRONZE SPONSORS

1.5 1.5 CEU’S CEU’S

Born into the landscape industry, Corey began working in commercial landscape maintenance at the early age of 14 in his uncle’s business. Transitioning to the landscape and pool construction side in his early 20s, Corey worked his way from installation crew member, to project manager and design/sales roles, eventually switching to the product side of the industry with pavers and walls. Settling into sales and marketing responsibilities in latter roles, Corey combines his hands-on industry experience, with the unique understanding of both the B2B and B2C channels in the business. With over 8 years driving measurable marketing ROI for leading landscape contractors and pool builders, garden center and hardscape dealers, and outdoor living building product manufacturers, Corey heads up sales, marketing, and education at HALSTEAD.

PRESENTED BY

PEREN N I AL FOCUS

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Aster novae-angliae ‘Hella Lacy’ in back, Aster oblongifolius ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ in front in one of my back perennial beds.

FEEDING THE BIRDS, NATURALLY PERENNIALS Many gardeners are now very ecologically oriented. They often ask for native plants in their landscapes; they want to encourage beneficial insects, pollinators, and birds; they do not realize that they can feed the birds without buying birdseed. Birds are most in need of food during late summer, fall, and winter. Planting both native and non-native perennials and grasses can supply a lot of that food. Among these, Asters are a perennial favorite. Aster (Symphyotrichon) novae-angliae (New England Aster) has a number of cultivars from which to choose, some tall and some short. ‘Hella Lacy’ (purple flowers) and ‘Alma Potschke’ (bright rose flowers) are both tall cultivars (4 to 5 feet tall) while ‘Purple Dome’ and the Woods Series are usually only 2 feet high. These Asters prefer average to moist conditions in full sun.

Another native Aster is A.oblongifolius. ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide while ‘October Skies’ is a dwarf at 15 to 18 inches in height. These lavender-blue Asters will grow in average moisture but can also tolerate dry soil in full sun or part shade. The flowers provide a source of late-season nectar for pollinators, followed by seeds fed on by a variety of birds including finches, chickadees, blue jays, juncos, towhees, cardinals, titmice, and nuthatches. Also consider Vernonia (Ironweed), a late-blooming, sunloving, native beauty that feeds the birds. The species fasciculata and noveboracensis are quite tall and best suited to a prairie garden but ‘Iron Butterfly’, a cultivar of V.lettermanii, is well suited to the perennial garden, growing only 2 to 3 feet high and quite drought tolerant. The petals of this daisy-type flower are much skinnier than those of Asters. continued on page 10

8 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

WWW.PREMIERPLANTSOLUTIONS.COM

Rooted to Grow

Avon | Broadview | Hilliard

PEREN N I AL FOCUS Eupatorium at back of High Line bed with Astilbe deadheads, Vitex agnus-castus ‘Abbeville Blue’, Sedum, Rudbeckia missouriensis, and Asclepias tuberosa.

Schizachyrium scoparium turns reddish and during the winter is bronze.

Sedum ‘Neon.’

Aster oblongifolius ‘October Skies’ peeking through Pennisetum ‘Hameln.’

continued from page 8 While Asters can be rambunctious, i.e. spreading, Vernonia is a clumper. I have paired Vernonia ‘Iron Butterfly’ with Aster novibelgii ‘Coombe Fishacre’ in one of my south-facing, relatively dry beds. Although still a young planting, I can tell that it will be spectacular in a year or two. The small rust-colored seeds of Ironweed attract finches and song sparrows. There are several species of Eupatorium/Eutrochium (Joe Pye Weed), all of which are native. Many are tall and appropriate for meadows and prairies (they do like moisture) but some new cultivars are, thankfully, shorter. Watch for chickadees, wrens, titmice, and goldfinches on the Joe Pye Weed. Although not a native, let’s not exclude the beauty and bounty of the numerous cultivars of Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile), which entice finches, chickadees, and other birds with their small seeds.

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES Ornamental grasses are valuable not only as a food source to birds, but also as shelter, particularly for ground nesting birds. Many grasses bloom in late summer, producing a crop of seed in fall. Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) is a gorgeous ornamental grass native to prairies. It provides a high-value food source to rosy finches, juncoes, and several native sparrows as well as those that tend to spend the winter in grasslands. The key to using plants to provide birds with winter food is not cutting plants back in fall. While many gardeners want a tidy garden, allowing plant stems, seedheads, and even dry foliage to stand during the winter months provides valuable food and shelter to wintering birds. Save the tidying for spring cleaning, when seeds have been largely picked over and new food sources become available.

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).

10 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

LAKESIDE

SAND& G R AV E L

• Screened Topsoil (Stored in a hoop house on site.) • Granite & Sandstone Boulders

From 8” to 12’+ priced per ton and per piece on request. 1’-2’ granite and 2’-3’ granite available, presorted, for immediate pick up. • Mixed Boulders (Available for immediate pick up.) • Washed Gravel, Concrete & Mason Sand. • Crushed Gravel & Limestone products available.

- ALL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP OR DELIVERY Call: (330) 274-2569 •

• •

•

3498 Frost Road, Mantua, Oh., 44255

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

•

• •

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

This article first appeared on the The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) website, located at www.cdc.gov/niosh. NIOSH’s mission is to develop new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health and to transfer that knowledge into practice. Their vision: Safer, Healthier Workers. The Growing Concern | September 2021 | 23 The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 11

F I SCAL FI TN ESS

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS The Biden Administration recently announced that it plans to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt, which is likely to affect many of the nearly 43 million Americans who borrowed to attend college. Additionally, under the plan, the pause on student loan payments that was instituted in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic was extended again, through Dec. 31, 2022. New details continue to emerge about the one-time loan forgiveness program, and a lot is still up in the air. Who is eligible for forgiveness and what types of debt will be forgiven? Current students and borrowers who have federally held undergraduate, graduate and Parent PLUS loans that were distributed on or before June 30, 2022 are eligible for the relief. The White House announced that single borrowers earning less than $125,000 per year, or households earning less than $250,000, are eligible for $10,000 in loan forgiveness. Borrowers who fall under the income caps and received Pell

12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Grants in college will receive an extra $10,000 – totaling $20,000 in forgiveness. How is relief administered? Do I need to sign up or apply? Nearly 8 million borrowers may be eligible to receive relief automatically because their income data is already available to the U.S. Department of Education, the White House announced in its press release. The Department of Education may have the necessary data for borrowers based on information submitted for income-driven repayment plans or for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA. Borrowers whose income data isn’t already on file with the Department of Education can expect an application to be available in October 2022. Once borrowers submit their application, they can expect relief within four to six weeks, according to the Federal Student Aid website. The Department of Education advises borrowers to apply before Nov. 15, 2022, to receive relief before the payment pause expires continued on page 14 at the end of December.

The Growing Concern | October 2022 | 13

F ISCAL FI TN ESS

continued from page 12 How does this affect Public Service Loan Forgiveness? In October 2021, the Biden Administration announced a limited-time waiver that relaxed eligibility requirements for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which had faced criticism and investigations for its high ineligibility rates. Borrowers that worked in certain nonprofit and public service sectors for 10 years or more, even if not consecutively, might be eligible for all of their student debt to be canceled or get credit toward forgiveness. This, however, is separate from the one-time student loan forgiveness recently announced by the Biden Administration and will have no impact on a borrower’s eligibility for either $10,000 or $20,000 in forgiveness, according to the NASFAA. What if I continued paying despite the repayment pause during the pandemic and now owe less than $10,000? Can I receive a reimbursement? Relief is capped at the amount of your outstanding debt, according to StudentAid.gov. For example, a student who made payments to bring their balance down to $7,000 but is entitled to $10,000 in forgiveness would only receive $7,000 in relief. The Department of Education hasn’t indicated that it will reimburse borrowers for payments made during the pandemic pause.

14 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Will debt relief be considered taxable income? While debt forgiveness is ordinarily taxable income, it will not be counted toward federal income taxes as part of this plan. However, in some states, borrowers could potentially have to pay state income tax on the amount of forgiveness they receive. What if I didn’t finish my degree? Do I still qualify? Yes. Completion of a degree is not a requirement for debt relief. What does this mean for borrowers who took out private student loans? The debt relief plan does not apply to borrowers with private student loans. Borrowers who consolidated federal loans with a private company are also ineligible because their loans are no longer held by the federal government. Here’s what you can do to get ready and to make sure you get updates:

•

Log into your account on StudentAid.gov and make sure your contact info is up to date. They’ll send you updates by both email and text, so make sure to sign up to receive text alerts. If it’s been a while since you’ve logged in, or you can’t remember if you have an account username and password (FSA ID), they offer tips to help you access your account.

RT. 2

2 RT.

HEISLEY ROAD

DIAMOND CENTER

HENDRICKS RD.

TYL

BLV

PINECONE DR.

440

357-MRLM (6756)

6011 HEISLEY ROAD • MENTOR

www.mrlmllc.com EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

S.O.S = SHORT-ON-SALT? WHOLESALE

PRICING PROGRAM

SAME DAY DELIVERY!

Now accepting new customers. Don’t get frozen out, sign up now and order early!

24-HOUR/ 7-DAY SALT STOCKPILE!

www.mrlmllc.com

for full list of products & services MRLM to the Rescue! BULK SALT... SEMIS OF SALT AVAILABLE!

Direct Drop Shipping now available to Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Medina & Summit Sign Up Now For MRLM Landscape Material’s Deeper Discounts for OLA Members! Mention this ad.

• •

•

SALT & DE-ICING PROGRAM

Don’t get frozen out...order early • Bulk & Bag Products (Wholesale Customers)

If you don’t have a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID), you should create an account to help you manage your loans. Make sure your loan servicer has your most current contact information so they can reach you. If you don’t know who your servicer is, you can log in and see your servicer(s) in your account dashboard. To be notified when the process has officially opened, sign up at the Department of Education subscription page.

Scenarios illustrated are hypothetical in nature, results may vary. Investing is subject to risk which may involve loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Trust services are provided by third parties. Neither our firm nor our financial professionals can serve as trustee. Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management Office at 17601 W. 130th Street – Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio. Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com Securities and advisory services offered through L.M. Kohn & Company Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (800) 478-0788

The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 15

F EATURE ARTI CLE

THE BENEFITS OF

DORMANT PRUNING

When it’s your job to ensure your client’s property is healthy, safe, and visually appealing, you know that landscape maintenance isn’t only done during the warm weather months. There are many maintenance services — dormant pruning being one — you can be doing during the offseason so when the warm weather does arrive, your client’s property is ready to be enjoyed. Winter is the ideal time to perform dormant pruning on trees and shrubs in Ohio for three main reasons: 1. It’s easier to identify dead and diseased branches when plants aren’t teeming with foliage. 2. Corrective pruning will not damage new growth while plants are in “sleep mode” for the cold season. 3. This is a perfect task to take advantage of during the ‘slower times’ at your landscaping business. Let’s take a look at what dormant pruning is, the differences between dormant and restorative pruning, and the dormant pruning benefits your customers will reap come spring.

WHAT IS DORMANT PRUNING? As the name implies, this type of pruning is done only when plants are dormant — after summer growth stops and before new growth appears in spring. The ideal window of time for

16 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

dormant pruning in Ohio is November through the end of March, though this schedule is dictated by the weather. Dormant pruning involves “corrective action” — really getting into the tree or shrub canopy and hard pruning branches to: • • •

Remove diseased, dying, or dead branches Reshape an overgrown plant so it can be salvaged rather than replaced Restore the health of a suffering tree or shrub

During the growing season, maintenance pruning is performed to maintain the shape of trees and shrubs and to keep plants within their footprints in a landscape bed. More serious pruning happens once plants go dormant.

DORMANT PRUNING VS. RESTORATIVE PRUNING Simply put, dormant pruning is trimming plants while they are not actively growing. Dormant pruning can involve light shaping or simply removing branches that are unhealthy. Restorative pruning involves aggressively cutting back plants and removing approximately one-third of old wood. Restorative pruning is more visually obvious. Both dormant and restorative pruning take place during late fall and winter, will preserve plant health, and ensure the safety of your client’s property.

DORMANT PRUNING BENEFITS If done correctly and at the proper time of year, dormant pruning promotes plant health. Here are the dormant pruning benefits that you and your customers will see: •

•

• •

Healthy growth: If a shrub has branches that are diseased, or there is driftwood within the plant’s canopy, that shrub is expending energy on branches that just aren’t going to make a comeback. As a result, the healthy branches can suffer. Corrective dormant pruning removes those unhealthy branches so the plant can rejuvenate. Also, a lack of pruning can restrict airflow to a plant and block sunlight. Plants need air and sun to grow effectively. Improved aesthetics: Flowers bloom more fully on new wood, so both dormant and restorative pruning will reinvigorate leaf and flower quality. Also, “witch broom growth” is the natural result of power-shearing shrubs during the growing season. This is when the interior of shrubs is mostly bare, with foliage growth focused on branch ends (like a broom). A safer property: An overgrown shrub might be overtaking a landscape bed or blocking a sightline, causing a potential pedestrian safety hazard. Plants may block exit signs or window views. Trees and shrubs can encroach on walkways. And when plants grow too close to buildings, they can introduce pest problems and other structural concerns. Storm protection: Dormant pruning helps plants endure severe winter weather. Right-sized plants: Plants can outgrow landscaping beds as they mature, especially when plants are packed into tight spaces. Sometimes, plants are not appropriately spaced in the first place. Or, pruning is neglected and shrubs can lose their natural shape. Restorative pruning right-sizes plants and improves the appearance of landscape beds.

DORMANT PRUNING IN OHIO Winter is an ideal time for dormant pruning because plants are not stressed. Also, during winter, major pruning efforts are not as noticeable to your clients. For example, if you severely pruned a large hydrangea or rose bush in the middle of the summer, people would wonder, “What happened to that shrub?” There’s a good chance they won’t notice dormant pruning, since deciduous trees and shrubs have lost their leaves and people are less actively using outdoor spaces on their property.

klynnurseries.com Over 1800 Different Species And Cultivars To Meet Your Needs! bamboo grasses perennials ferns vines roses dwarf conifers bog & marginals shade & ornamental trees

Visit Our Website For Product Availability, 2021 Catalog, Quote Form, And More! Our 2016

(contact us to receive your username and password.) klyn nurseries, inc.

1-800-860-8104 klynnurseries.com

Registration for the OLA’s Annual Dormant Pruning Clinic is now open. See page 18 for more details. Space is limited. This article was posted by Jerry Schill to the Schill Grounds Management blog, located at www.schilllandscaping.com/blog 0116 Klyn Half.indd 1

The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 17 12/16/2015 3:27:07 PM

FOROLA SAFETY SAK E EDUCATION SERIES

Sponsored & Hosted by

SPONSORED & HOSTED BY EVENT INFORMATION DATE & LOCATION NORTHEAST OHIO DECEMBER 6, 2022 WILLOWAY NURSERIES 4534 CENTER RD. AVON, OH 44011

CENTRAL OHIO DECEMBER 8, 2022 PREMIER PLANT SOLUTIONS 6981 SCIOTO-DARBY RD. HILLIARD, OH 43026 AGENDA REGISTRATION / BREAKFAST 8:30AM - 9:00AM

DORMANT PRUNING CLINIC The most important landscape maintenance practice is the control of plant size by the correct method of pruning to retain the natural branching characteristics of the plants and integrity of the landscape design. 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. GENERAL INFORMATION: This seminar will include a lecture as well as hands-on training. Attendees will need to bring their own notepad and pen, hand pruning shears, a small pruning saw, and long handle lopping shears, and will need to dress appropriately for outdoor practical training.

INSTRUCTED BY

TINA GRAVER/ BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS

After earning both her B.A. in Botany from Ohio Wesleyan University and her Master’s in Environmental Science from Indiana University, Tina continued her education by earning a Plant Health Care Certificate from the University of Maryland. She has also earned designations such as Certified Arborist, Certified Tree Care Safety Professional, and is Ohio-licensed in Pesticide Application. In her role as Thrive’s Lawn and Plant Health Care Coordinator, Tina was instrumental in analyzing and revitalizing Thrive’s Lawn and Plant Health Care programs. She is now an Arborist Plant Healthcare Specialist with Bartlett Tree Experts.

CLINIC 9:00AM - 12:00PM COST MEMBERS BEFORE 11/22/22 - $89 AFTER 11/22/22 - $139 NON MEMBERS BEFORE 11/22/22 - $119 AFTER 11/22/22 - $169

GIVEAWAY ITEM

As an attendee, you will receive a gift of a set of hand pruners, a soil knife, and sheath ($89 value), all provided by our giveaway sponsor, A.M. Leonard. Cancellations made 8 to 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds, or credits will be issued for cancellations 7 days or less 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 early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly.

2022 DORMANT PRUNING CLINIC / REGISTRATION CLOSES 11/29/22 (Make checks payable and send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9240 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., OH 44147) Company Contact Address City State Phone (______)

Zip

Fax (______) Email

NAME OF ATTENDEE

FEE

 December 6, Avon, OH

 December 8, Hilliard, OH

 December 6, Avon, OH

 December 8, Hilliard, OH

 December 6, Avon, OH

 December 8, Hilliard, OH

 December 6, Avon, OH

 December 8, Hilliard, OH

 Check No. (Enclosed)

 MasterCard  Visa  AMEX  Discover

Charge to my:

Acct. No.

Exp. Date

Name on Card

Signature

Security Code

Billing Address + Zipcode for Card 3.018 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association CEU’S

CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED

Discover what a game-changer certification can be for your team and your business! Empower your team and give them the subject-matter expertise clients demand. Customers look for certifications as a way to validate your company’s skills and expertise.

FOCUS ON THE CORE PILLARS OF YOUR BUSINESS WITH THESE CERTIFICATIONS Landscape Technician Business Manager

THE BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION • Rise above competition in the bidding process • Demonstrate superior knowledge, dedication and professionalism • Ensures that you are providing the best knowledge and expertise to clients

LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED: LANDSCAPEPROFESSIONALS.ORG/CERTIFICATION

FEATURE ARTI CLE

RISKS OF WORKING IN THE COLD Anyone working in cold weather may be at risk of cold stress. Some workers may be required to work outdoors in cold environments and for extended periods, for example, snow cleanup crews, sanitation workers, police officers, and emergency response and recovery personnel (firefighters and emergency medical technicians). Cold stress can be encountered in all of these types of work environments. Workers in cold weather can be exposed to serious health problems such as hypothermia, frostbite and trench foot. In certain instances, workers exposed to severe weather without personal protection equipment can also suffer shock that could lead to death.

COLD STRESS SAFETY TIPS FOR WORKERS • • • • • •

Know the symptoms of cold stress. Monitor your own physical condition, as well as that of your coworkers. Dress properly for the cold. Stay dry, because moisture or dampness, e.g. from sweating, can increase the rate of heat loss from the body. Keep extra clothing (including underwear) handy in case you get wet and need to change. Drink warm sweetened fluids (no alcohol).

20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

•

Use proper engineering controls, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by your employer.

HOW COLD IS TOO COLD? What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions that are not used to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered “extreme cold.” A cold environment forces the body to work harder to maintain its temperature. Whenever temperatures drop below normal and wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly. Wind chill is the temperature your body feels when air temperature and wind speed are combined. continued on page 22

independent tree

Healthy Trees, Beautiful Landscapes

Pest Disease

Cabling Pruning Bracing Bracing

Decay Management

Trunk Trunk Injections Injections

Aeration

Fertilization

Composted Chip Bed

independent From canopy to root, INDEPENDENT TREE is tree your full service tree care company. TRUST our team of certified arborists, plant health care specialists, and tree care professionals to provide the highest quality of tree and plant care for the optimum benefit of your landscape.

independent tree

440-564-1374

IndependentTree.com SERVING NORTHEAST OHIO & EASTERN CLEVELAND AREA

FEATURE STORY

continued from page 20 For example, when the air temperature is 40°F, and the wind speed is 35 mph, the effect on the exposed skin is as if the air temperature was 28°F. Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature (core temperature). This may lead to serious health problems, and may cause tissue damage, and possibly death.

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO COLD STRESS Some of the risk factors that contribute to cold stress are: • Wetness/dampness, dressing improperly, and exhaustion; • Predisposing health conditions such as hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes; • Poor physical conditioning.

HOW THE BODY REACTS TO COLD In a cold environment, most of the body’s energy is used to keep the internal core temperature warm. Over time, the body will begin to shift blood flow from the extremities (hands, feet, arms, and legs) and outer skin to the core (chest and abdomen). This shift allows the exposed skin and the extremities to cool rapidly and increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Combine this scenario with exposure to a wet environment, and trench foot may also be a problem.

22 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

MOST COMMON COLD INDUCED ILLNESSES • • •

Hypothermia Frostbite Trench Foot

HYPOTHERMIA What is hypothermia? Hypothermia occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced and the normal body temperature (98.6°F) drops to less than 95°F. Hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, but it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F), if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. What are the symptoms of hypothermia? Mild symptoms: An exposed worker is alert. He or she may begin to shiver and stomp the feet in order to generate heat. Moderate to Severe symptoms: As the body temperature continues to fall, symptoms will worsen and shivering will stop. The worker may lose coordination and fumble with items in the hand, become confused and disoriented. He or she may be unable to walk or stand, pupils become dilated, pulse and breathing become slowed, and loss of consciousness can occur. A person could die if help is not received immediately.

FEATURE STORY What can be done for a person suffering from hypothermia? • Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible. • Move the person to a warm, dry area. • Remove wet clothes and replace with dry clothes, cover the body (including the head and neck) with layers of blankets; and with a vapor barrier (e.g. tarp, garbage bag). Do not cover the face. • If medical help is more than 30 minutes away: • Give warm sweetened drinks if alert (no alcohol), to help increase the body temperature. Never try to give a drink to an unconscious person. • Place warm bottles or hot packs in armpits, sides of chest, and groin. Call 911 for additional rewarming instructions. • If a person is not breathing or has no pulse: • Call 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately. • Treat the worker as per instructions for hypothermia, but be very careful and do not try to give an unconscious person fluids. • Check him/her for signs of breathing and for a pulse. Check for 60 seconds. • If after 60 seconds the affected worker is not breathing and does not have a pulse, trained workers may start rescue breaths for 3 minutes. • Recheck for breathing and pulse, check for 60 seconds. • If the worker is still not breathing and has no pulse, continue rescue breathing. • Only start chest compressions per the direction of the 911 operator or emergency medical services.* • Reassess patient’s physical status periodically.

What can be done for a person suffering from frostbite? • Follow the recommendations described previously for hypothermia. • Do not rub the affected area to warm it because this action can cause more damage. • Do not apply snow/water. Do not break blisters. • Loosely cover and protect the area from contact. • Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area before getting medical help; for example, do not place in warm water. If a frostbitten area is rewarmed and gets frozen again, more tissue damage will occur. It is safer for the frostbitten area to be rewarmed by medical professionals. • Give warm sweetened drinks, if the person is alert. Avoid drinks with alcohol.

TRENCH FOOT What is immersion/trench foot? Trench Foot or immersion foot is caused by prolonged exposure to wet and cold temperatures. It can occur at temperatures as high as 60°F if the feet are constantly wet. Non-freezing injury occurs because wet feet lose heat 25-times faster than dry feet. To prevent heat loss, the body constricts the blood vessels to shut down circulation in the feet. The skin tissue begins to die because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients and due to the buildup of toxic products. What are the symptoms of trench foot? • Redness of the skin, swelling, numbness, blisters

*Chest compression are recommended only if the patient will not receive medical care within 3 hours.

What can be done for a person suffering from trench foot? • Call 911 immediately in an emergency; otherwise seek medical assistance as soon as possible. • Remove the shoes, or boots, and wet socks. • Dry the feet.

FROSTBITE

PREVENTING COLD STRESS

What is frostbite? Frostbite is an injury to the body that is caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. The lower the temperature, the more quickly frostbite will occur. Frostbite typically affects the extremities, particularly the feet and hands. Amputation may be required in severe cases.

Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold temps/environments, employers have a responsibility to provide their workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including cold stress, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970). Employers should, therefore, train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.

What are the symptoms of frostbite? • Reddened skin develops gray/white patches. • Numbness in the affected part. • Feels firm or hard. • Blisters may occur in the affected part, in severe cases.

continued on page 24 The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 23

FOR SAFETY SAKE

continued from page 23 Employers should train workers on how to prevent and recognize cold stress illnesses and injuries and how to apply first aid treatment. Workers should be trained on the appropriate engineering controls, personal protective equipment and work practices to reduce the risk of cold stress. Employers should provide engineering controls. For example, radiant heaters may be used to warm workers in outdoor security stations. If possible, shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill. Employers should use safe work practices. For example, it is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Employers therefore, can provide plenty of warm sweetened liquids to workers. Avoid alcoholic drinks. If possible, employers can schedule heavy work during the warmer part of the day. Employers can assign workers to tasks in pairs (buddy system), so that they can monitor each other for signs of cold stress. Workers can be allowed to interrupt their work, if they are extremely uncomfortable. Employers should give workers frequent breaks in warm areas. Acclimatize new workers and those returning after time away from work, by gradually increasing their workload, and allowing more frequent breaks in warm areas, as they build up a tolerance for working in the cold environment. Safety measures, such as these, should be incorporated into the relevant health and safety plan for the workplace.

Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. The type of fabric worn also makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. The following are recommendations for working in cold environments: •

• • • •

• • •

Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation. Do not wear tight fitting clothing. An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to keep moisture away from the body. A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet. An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating. Wear a hat or hood to help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head. Use a knit mask to cover the face and mouth (if needed). Use insulated gloves to protect the hands (water resistant if necessary). Wear insulated and waterproof boots (or other footwear).

Learn all about working in the cold with by visiting the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health‘s (NIOSH) website at www.cdc.gov/niosh.

This article appeared in the safety section of OSHA’s Training University blog, located at oshatrainingu.com/safety-articles. OSHA Training University is a leading occupational and OSHA safety training online provider.

24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Fences of

Beauty

Quality

• Cedar fences (Many styles available). • Aluminum & Vinyl fences (In stock). • Several styles and colors to choose from.

Wholesale Prices to OLA Members, or Professional Installation by our Crews. 1053 Bank St. Akron,OH 44305 330-784-0456 www.acmefence.com

BOULDERS DIRECT

BOULDERS - OUTCROPPINGS - STEPS - TOP ROCK/FIELDSTONE. GRANITE - SANDSTONE - LIMESTONE. PHONE: 330-324-5336 / EMAIL: BEDROCK109@SBCGLOBAL.NET

WWW.BOULDERS-DIRECT.COM

The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 25

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College A Wardian Case, as featured at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s annual Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming exhibit.

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

GREAT WESTERN PLANT EXPLORERS THE WARDIAN AGE Don’t you just love a good Wardian Case? Nothing shows off a specimen houseplant – such as an orchid – like an ornate Wardian Case. Are we right, or are we right? Not sure what we are talking about? That’s because, today, we call them terrariums. The terrarium was invented during the Victorian Era in England (1837-1901), and was created by Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward (1791-1868). Like many European doctors of his time, Dr. Ward was more interested in entomology and botany than practicing medicine. Perhaps this is why we were still hacking off limbs during the Civil War – because most of the doctors were gallivanting around the world, collecting plants? One of the biggest challenges of early plant exploration days was getting live specimens to survive the months-long journey back to Europe from wherever they were taken.

During one experiment, in 1829, Dr. Ward wanted to see what species of moth would come from a chrysalis he found. To that end, he grabbed a jar with a tight seal, placed some soil in it and laid the chrysalis on top, closing the jar. And, while he left no record of what happened to the moth, he was very excited to witness a Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) and some Meadow Grass (Poa annua) sprout and thrive in the jar, despite it having been completely sealed. At that point, he placed the jar on a windowsill with good sun exposure and observed it. During the day, the plants would transpire, and the moisture would collect on the sides of the glass jar. In the evening, this water would be pulled back down continued on page 28

26 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Since 1986, VanCuren Tree Services has been Northeast Ohio’s complete tree care specialist. We provide comprehensive services for any residential, commercial, or utility tree care need. The tree professionals at VanCuren Tree Services have helped home and business owners throughout Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio maintain the beauty, vitality, and safety of their trees. We are proud to offer a full range of tree care services, from tree and stump removal to storm damage clean up to utility work and beyond.

To find out more about what VanCuren has to offer, visit our website at www.vancurentreecare.com, or call us at 440.338.5005 today for a free consultation. • Complete Tree Maintenance Programs

• 75’ Bucket Trucks

• Certified Arborists on Staff

• Deep Root Fertilization

• Tree Removal

• 24-Hour Emergency Service

• Tree Trimming

• Stump Grinding

• Land Clearing

• Tree Moving

• 178’ 50 Ton Crane SALES REPRESENTATIVES: Michael Sowul, Certified Arborist James DiRosa, Certified Arborist David R. Van Curen

PHONE: 440.338.5005 FAX: 440.564.9319

Your Complete Tree Care Specialists www.vancurentreecare.com

PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH

continued from page 26 into the soil to be reused by the plant. The plants thrived and set seed/spore for nearly three years until the lid rusted off and the experiment ended. This led him to hire a carpenter to construct a larger case made of wood and glass for bigger experiments. He specified, “the hardest of woods to resist decay from the condensation” so there would be a tight seal within the box. This was different to the cases used to ship plants prior, which were not built to be airtight. He built several ornate models and soon filled his London apartment, drawing the attention of many plant geeks of the time and sparking the very first house-plant craze. Ward set his mind to improving the invention for travel purposes, adding wooden bars to the outside of the glass to help prevent breakage while enduring long sea voyages. In 1833, he sent two of his cases filled with ferns, mosses, and grasses from London to Sydney, Australia. The ship’s captain reported back in a letter that the experiment worked, and all plants survived. In February of 1834, the cases were packed back up with Australian plants and set sail to return to Ward. In Sydney, it was in the upper 80s when they set sail. The ship rounded Cape Horn (southern

28 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

Wardian Cases packaged for transit.

tip of South America) with temperatures in the teens and made its way north to Rio de Janeiro where it sailed in temperatures over 104 degrees. After eight months at sea, the ship sailed the Thames to London and arrived in a 39-degree city where Ward excitingly witnessed the full survival of all plants in the cases. This was truly an impressive feat accomplished by what seems like a very simple invention. Following this, Wardian Cases were widely adapted and had a major impact on the entire world – so much so that we call this era of plant exploration the Wardian Era. Soon, botanists across the world were trading plants, causing a full-on house plant obsession and ushering in the Victorian Fern craze where middle to upper class homes across England and the East Coast of the United States featured an ornate terrarium filled with exotic ferns. The impact wasn’t witnessed at just the ornamental level, either. There are severe cultural and environmental impacts (many negative) from the invention of these cases. In 1848, Robert Fortune traveled to China and stole 20,000 tea plants, taking them to India (a British Colony) to establish their

Fall Special $2/sf off

9718 Avon Lake Road Lodi, OH 44254 (330) 948-1006

• • • •

Project packs and 24”x24” Over 9,000sf in stock. Available at 2020 pricing. Save big! Colors available; Promenade, Golden Fossil, Lakeland, and Harvest.

own supply of tea, effectively cutting China out of a very lucrative market. The Dutch stole the Cinchona Tree (used to make quinine-based antimalaria drugs) from Bolivia, cutting off their ability to profit from their native plant. The Rubber Tree (Hevea) was stolen from South America and transplanted in English colonies in “Ceylon” (Sri Lanka) and “Malay” (Malaysia and Indonesia). The British stole the Dwarf Cavendish Banana (Musa acuminata) from China, relocating it to another colony in the Samoan Islands and took over production of this crop. There is a terrible exploitation of the world by colonial powers in this time that still negatively impacts former colonies to this day. Not a great history for such a cool invention.

Unfortunately, this shipment also contained Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) which – to this day – is a very annoying invasive plant. Tree of Heavan (Ailanthus altissima) and Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), along with many of our most invasive plants, also survived their journeys thanks to the Wardian Case.

There are, thankfully, positive uses of the Wardian Case for ornamental plant discovery and trade. Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata), Japanese Dogwood (Cornus kousa), Yaku Rhododendron (Rhododendron yakushimanum) and Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) are among many others that arrived in Boston in 1861, after a 70-day journey from Yokohama, Japan and became part of the collections at the Arnold Arboretum (Harvard University).

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

Next to the invention of ocean faring ships themselves, the Wardian Case may have had the biggest (both positive and negative) impacts on global trade in the 19th century. Such an incredible invention, now reduced to a $5 knick-knack on a big box store shelf!

The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 29

FEATURE ARTI CLE

Listen to the Job

The Right Snow Removal Attachment for Your Skid Steer What’s the right snow removal attachment for your skid steer? Listen up… To choose the ideal attachment, put your ear to the ground you’re going to clear. Hear that? It’s the project telling you how much snow you need to move and to where. There are only four general categories of snow removal attachments for skid steers to begin with. Pay attention to those two factors – how much and where to – and the answer to which you should buy quickly becomes loud and clear.

SNOW BUCKETS Snow buckets are the least expensive skid steer attachments for moving snow. They’re fine for limited use in some applications, but they also have significant drawbacks. First, to clarify – snow buckets shouldn’t be confused with dirt buckets, which have much less capacity. Snow buckets are taller and deeper because snow isn’t as heavy as soil, gravel or anything else you might move and lift with a dirt bucket. Even though they’re larger, they don’t cause any additional stress on the attachment or machine. You’d use a snow bucket in three scenarios: • • •

It’s a small job and you don’t have to push a lot of snow. The snow needs to be loaded into a truck and removed from the site. You have to load salt or sand.

30 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

The issues with snow buckets are: • •

They don’t have a lot of capacity when compared to other snow attachments. They can be hazardous because the bucket is a solid piece of metal that does not give or have a tripping mechanism. If you hit a bump, crack, curb, manhole cover or anything else below the snow’s surface, that it. Boom! Full stop! And that might throw you into the windshield, or worse.

It also could cause damage to the surface. For example, since there’s no give or trip, when a bucket catches a crack it could tear up a chunk of the surface. That’s why many commercial and residential contracts prohibit the use of buckets. •

You can’t angle a bucket. Once it’s full, snow is going to be pushed out the sides and you’ll have to go back to clean up the trickles. That takes extra time.

•

The moldboards on many snowplows and snowpushers are tightly curved to allow for what we call “live rolling” of snow. Snow moves up the face of the plow and curls over at the top, which causes the snow to roll rather than stacking up in front of the attachment. When the snow rolls, you can move more in the same amount of time. You simply don’t get that effect with a bucket.

Many snow removal contractors own both a plow and bucket because they need the plow’s capacity and efficiency, but they also need the bucket’s lifting ability.

SNOWPUSHERS Snowpushers clear away the two primary drawbacks to snow buckets: lack of containment capacity and poor safety. You also gain capacity with a snowpusher because: • •

Even the smallest snowpusher has more carrying capacity than a snow bucket. You gain the “live rolling” effect.

Safety wise, snowpushers have two advantages over buckets: •

•

The rubber cutting edges on most snowpushers fold backward when they encounter obstacles and the attachment rides right over. There’s no jolt to the operator or damage to the attachment or machine. Snowpusher sideplates are engineered with angled boot edges to provide a “ski over” effect; rather than jamming into an obstacle, the sideplates rise up and, again, the attachment rides right over.

So what are the disadvantages? • •

You won’t be able to load salt, sand or snow. Since you can’t angle and window, you won’t be as efficient as you would be with an angle plow.

ANGLE PLOWS You gain tremendous efficiency with angle plows compared to buckets and snowpushers, and they’re much safer than buckets. They have a greater capacity than buckets because of their greater height and width. Add wings and the capacity advantage grows even further. And while it seems counterintuitive, snowplows actually stack snow higher than continued on page 32 buckets that lift and dump. The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 31

F EATURE ARTI CLE

continued from page 31 With a plow, you roll the attachment back and keep pushing up to the fully extended height of your boom. A bucket, on the other hand, needs to be tilted back to hold snow, then rolled forward to drop it. You lose about three feet in the process. Compared to snowpushers, angle plows with wings are more efficient on big lots. Much of this efficiency comes from the fact that you can turn a skid steer at the ends of rows and plow both ways rather than returning to the starting point before making a second pass. You also can windrow with an angle plow rather than chasing after the snow trickles off of the end of a pusher.

Blowers are also essential in areas that get lots of snow each year and storage or stacking space is at a premium. When snow is blown it becomes much denser, so piles don’t take up as much surface area and they don’t need to be as tall. (Tall piles can block lines of sight and create dangerous driving situations.) And when more space is needed for the next snowfall, blowers do a great job of throwing piles farther from the edge of the surface.

For safety, angle plows have a trip-edge mechanism or full-trip blade to protect the operator, machine and attachment if there’s an obstacle strike.

If you need to haul snow away from a site, a high-capacity blower can be a one-pass solution. Park the truck and point the blower’s chute right into the body, clear the adjacent area, move the truck and do it again. If you have the manpower, you can clear snow even faster by having a driver roll the truck alongside the skid steer.

SNOW BLOWERS

LISTEN CLOSELY

A snow blower is the best way to go for moving snow away from the edges of a surface. Let’s say you’re doing a lot of residential work and the snow needs to be moved into the middle of a yard. With a blower you can throw that snow up to 30 feet, depending on the machine’s power and capacity. You also get a clean, square edge, and compared to using a plow, there’s much less risk of damaging the turf underneath.

Whether you only need to clear one piece of ground over and over, you’re just getting started in snow removal or you’re an established operator who needs multiple attachments, the advice is the same. Pay attention to the terrain, figure out how much snow you need to move and where you need to move it to, and you’ll be on the road to a sound decision about the right attachment for the job.

This article appeared on SnowWolf ’s ‘The Edge’ blog. SnowWolf is obsessed with crafting revolutionary solutions that contractors love and are committed to giving your business a serious competitive edge. This means professional-grade equipment that’s intelligently designed to improve the way you work – game-changing products. For more information, visit snowwolfplows.com.

32 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

1-866-666-SALT (7258) DRY BULK SALT & BAGGED MATERIAL 24 hour / 7 days a week availability 10-25 ton dry salt—same day delivery pick up of bulk salt every order weighed and ticketed state

- approved scale / delivery of bagged salt or deicing material

pickup

volume discounts available we supply clearlane™ enhanced deicer by cargill a sodium and magnesium blend

bagged deicing chemicals

DOME LOCATION 11444 Brookpark Rd • Brooklyn, OH, 44130

ROYALTON SUPPLY LOCATION 11528 Royalton Rd, North Royalton, OH 44133

SERVICE - SALES - PARTS OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT Most makes and models

Al Pniewski & his son, Allen Jr., look forward to serving your winter equipment needs!

12126 York Rd., Unit A North Royalton, OH 44133 440.230.3807

w w w. A 1 p o w e r. u s

Large selection of new machines year round

The Growing Concern | November 2022 | 33

D I RECTI ON S

MEMBERSHIP We couldn’t do it without you! The OLA has been very fortunate over the years to have wonderful members! Each member finds their own unique way(s) to be a part of our organization and we need and value everyone one of you! Membership in the OLA leads to business contacts which can result in new business opportunities and/or assistance in solving problems you may be having in your own business. Why not tap into the years of experience of others? Many times, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel and you can save a lot of time and money. Don’t forget, the OLA is run by OLA members! Our board of directors is made up of members who have your best interest at heart. They work with committee members to pinpoint the issues that are important to your business and find ways that OLA can help you. Our programs committee works to provide our evening meetings that concentrate on business topics. These meetings are a great time to meet others in the association. November 17 is OLA’s Annual Meeting. We will hear from Corey Halsted who will discuss Recruitment Marketing. The annual meeting is also where we announce the results of the election of our board of directors, when we introduce new members, and when we give out membership awards for milestone years of membership. Our education committee finds topics and presenters for our educational events. Topics for these can be either technical or management based. These seminars and clinics are a great way for you to train your employees. For example, the technical

34 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

SANDY MUNLEY

Executive Director / OLA skills learned at our upcoming Dormant Pruning Clinics (Dec. 6 and Dec. 8) will give your employees the knowledge they need to use immediately out in the field. The investment in this training will come right back to you! Training your employees is a tool for retention. Your employees will feel you have investing in them and they will take pride in their work. The PR/Marketing committee is working on workforce development. In 2022, they developed a relationship with Brecksville/Broadview Hts. High School and will be working with several teachers to incorporate landscape into their curriculum. The CAD teacher is excited to teach his students how landscape drawings can be created in CAD and the science teacher that teaches sustainability wants his students to learn what plants would be great choices for a landscape at the main entrance to the school. The Key Club would help install the landscape designed. The goal is to get students thinking about all the career possibilities in the green industry and get OLA member companies working directly with students. We hope this can be a pilot project that can be replicated in other schools. Our membership committee is tasked with helping to grow the association. As Brian Maurer mentioned in his article, one of the goals of our strategic plan is growth. They have already come up with some great ideas – so – stay tuned for some announcements. Participation in OLA’s Landscape Ohio! Awards program is a great way to boost staff moral and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment in the work that your company produces. Many of our members use it to enhance their team building

ADVERTI SI N G I N D E X

A-1 Power Equipment

Abraxus / Royalton Landscape Supply

Acme Fence & Lumber

2 25

Boulders Direct

Buckeye Stone Works, LLC

efforts. The program is a celebration of the great work you do and we make sure the public knows by publishing the winners in Landscape Ohio! Magazine through our partnership with Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine. The awards are presented at the Landscape Ohio! Awards Gala. This event is an upscale evening that includes networking, dinner and a great slideshow presentation. You can purchase tickets to attend even if you haven’t entered. The deadline to enter this year’s competion is December 16. If any of this has intrigued you, and you would like to join a committee, please let me or Rick know. You can hop onto a committee now, or wait until our Committee Kick Off on February 15 that will be held at Woodside Event Center. These are just a few of the ways that the Ohio Landscape Association benefits your business. We hope we are hitting the mark and that you will continue your support and involvement with OLA. Our membership year begins on November 1 and runs through October 31. So, if you haven’t already done so, please take a moment and renew your membership TODAY! You can do so on our website www.ohiolandscapers.org. We look forward to seeing you at upcoming OLA events!

Botson Insurance Group, Inc.

Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc.

Ditch Witch Mid States

Frank Brothers Landscape Supply

Independent Tree

Kurtz Bros., Inc.

Klyn Nurseries, Inc.

Lakeside Sand & Gravel

MRLM Landscape Materials / JTO, Inc.

O’Reilly Equipment

Premier Plant Solutions

Sohar’s / RCPW, Inc.

VanCuren Tree Services, Inc.

Zoresco Equipment Company The Growing Concern | November 2022 |35

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cleveland, OH Permit No. 2280

9240 Broadview Road Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517

11/22

Mid-States

DARE TO COMPARE

Ditch Witch Stand-On Skid Steers - Built to OUTperform

SK600

Small

SK800

Big

1-888-DITCHWITCH ditchwitchmidstates.com

SK1050

Bigger

SK1550

Biggest

Columbus, OH Full Service Branch

Louisville, KY Full Service Branch

Pittsburgh, PA Full Service Branch

Erlanger, KY Service Branch

3660 Interchange Rd, Columbus,OH 43204 400 Sparrow Dr, Shepherdsville,KY 40165 Phone 614-443-9751 | Fax 614-443-9219 Phone 502-543-3309 | Fax 502-543-9613 9052 Marshall Rd, Cranberry Twp,PA 16066 3461 Piedmont Cr, Erlanger KY 41018 Phone 724-742-2844 | Fax 724-742-2877 Phone 859-263-5050 (by appt. only)

SK3000-Full Size CTL

“The Beast”

Cincinnati, OH Satellite Service Phone 513-672-3060

Cleveland, OH Satellite Service Phone 330-220-6585

Rochester, NY Satellite Service Phone 585-334-2920