lich landscape hawaii magazine may jun 2014

Landscape Industry Council of Hawai’iP. O. Box 22938 Honolulu HI 96823-2938

Landscape Industry Council of Hawai’iP. O. Box 22938 Honolulu HI 96823-2938

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDHONOLULU, HI

PERMIT NO. 1023MAY | JUNE 2014

T h E V o i c E o f h A W A i i ’ S G R E E N i N D U S T R Y $5.00

UH CTAHR ExTEnsion TRibUTE

nURsERY LFA bMPsARboRisT 3Rd nATionALLY!

100th anniversary national Cooperative extension serviCe

Best ManageMent praCtiCes for Businesses

JaMilee CliMBs to 3rd plaCe at national CoMpetitions

Waiting s ince 1962.For over 50 years, Victor Stanley has designed, engineered, and manufactured timeless site furnishings so you can bring communities to life. Our new Perenne collection (patents pending) embodies elements

in nature and classical settee furniture design while remaining slim, open, functional, and timeless.

V I C T O R S T A N L E Y . C O M

TM

TM

Patentspending

Hawaii_Landscape_WAITING_8.5x11.indd 1 3/28/14 10:30 AM

Hawaiiscape.com 3THE VOICE OF HAWAII’S GREEN INDUSTRY

DEPARTMENTS

4 PRESIDENT COLUMN

6 LICH NEWS 16 CERTIFICATION CORNER20 PEST COLUMN24 TURF COLUMN30 TOOL TIPS

FEATURES

2 MEMBERSHIP 12 PHONE APP15 CERTIFICATION17 LEGISLATION18 NATIONAL TREE COMPETITION19 MORE ARBORISTS

28 ROADSIDE NATIVES

COVER STORIES

8 ARBORIST 3RD NATIONALLY!

12 NURSERY LFA BMPs

18

Formed in June 1986, the Landscape Industry Council of Hawai’i is a state wide alliance representing Hawaii’s landscape associations: Aloha Arborist Association, American Society of Landscape Architects Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Association of Nurserymen, Hawaii Island Landscape Association, Hawaii Landscape and Irrigation Contractors, Hawaii Society of Urban Forestry Professionals, Kauai Landscape Industry Council, Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, Professional Grounds Management Society, Big Island Association of Nurserymen, and the Hawaii Professional Gardeners Association.

Landscape Industry Council of Hawai’iP. O. Box 22938, Honolulu HI 96823-2938

EditorChristopher A. [email protected]

Advertising SalesMichael [email protected]

MembershipCheryl M. [email protected]

DesignerDarrell Ishida

Cover PhotoPhoto by Nicholas Crawford

2 0 1 4 B o a r d o f d i r e C t o r s

Chris Dacus Brandon AuPresident Vice PresidentMatt Lyum Rick QuinnTreasurer SecretaryNorman Allen Clifford MigitaOrville Baldos Dorothy MulkernChuck Chimera Karen OstborgCarl Evensen Edmundo ReyesRandy Liu Mark SuisoChristy Martin Josh SandChris McCullough

Director EmeritusJay Deputy Steve NimzLelan Nishek Boyd ReadyGarrett Webb

MAHALO TO LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF HAWAII WEBSITE SPONSORS

Waiting s ince 1962.For over 50 years, Victor Stanley has designed, engineered, and manufactured timeless site furnishings so you can bring communities to life. Our new Perenne collection (patents pending) embodies elements

in nature and classical settee furniture design while remaining slim, open, functional, and timeless.

V I C T O R S T A N L E Y . C O M

TM

TM

Patentspending

Hawaii_Landscape_WAITING_8.5x11.indd 1 3/28/14 10:30 AM

27 HENA MIDPAC

10 UH CTAHR EXTENSION

creo

4 LaNDscape Hawaii MAY | JUNE 2014

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Not sure whether to become a LIch member...

LICH has been 100% volunteer based for the past ten years. Most of our volunteers volunteer year after year because it’s a great profession, industry and community. Plus it’s a great group of people – an ohana.

Take this magazine for example: all the writers, photographers and editors are volunteers. That’s over 40 people volunteering just for this issue alone and we

publish 6 times a year. That’s really unbelievable and our writers are the best. Make sure you thank the writers you like or write a quick email to [email protected] and I will pass it along.

Our volunteers make it possible to have a magazine that averages less than 25% of advertising pages while the national average is 60%. That translates to double the amount of pages devoted to what’s going on in our community. Many thanks to our great advertisers that make it possible to print this magazine when the trend is to publish digitally. These businesses are the passionate landscape professionals of our industry. Make sure you thank our advertisers too!

The magazine is mailed to 6,000 landscape professionals every 2 months in a full-color glossy 32-page format. I must be getting old but I love to kick back on the couch with a cup of coffee or wine and read a paper magazine after working all day on my laptop.

For the price of $30 a year, you can become a member and play a role in keeping our industry connected. It’s the best $30 I spend every year and I believe you will agree too. Membership benefits include a free subscription to Landscape Hawaii ($30 value), 10% discount on LICH event fees and a cool LICH Ohia logo window decal. Use the membership form on the facing page or hop online and complete your membership at www.hawaiiscape.com/join-lich/.

Join the ohana and enjoy the magazine J

Chris Dacus LICH President

PS And visit our FaceBook page for breaking news at www.facebook.com/hawaiiscape.


LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF HAWAIIRenew your membership online at www.hawaiiscape.com

Privacy Disclaimer – LICH reserves all rights to contact all magazine subscribers via mail or electronic with option to opt out of communications. LICH reserves all rights to print contact information for an industry directory. LICH will not sell or provide contact information to any third party unless legally mandated.

Individual Membership: $30 per year | Company Membership: $30 per year includes one individual; Additional employee memberships @ $15 each

Company: Individual member names: Circle Renew or New Address: 1. R N City: State: Zip: 2. R N Phone: Fax: 3. R N E-Mail: 4. R N Web Site: Add more on additional sheet if necessary

Enclose Check @ $30 for first member and $15 for each additional member. Make check payable to LICHYou may also pay by credit card, (Master or VISA only)

Name on card: Amount to charge $: Card number: Card Code: Expiration date:

Mail to: LICH Membership, P.O. Box 22938, Honolulu, HI 96823-2938

Renew your membership online at www.hawaiiscape.com

2014 Membership New / Renewal ApplicationValid through December 2014M

▪ Arborist/Tree Worker▪ Botanist/Conservation ▪ Facility/Site Manager▪ Landscaper

▪ Owner▪ Landscape Architect/Designer▪ Manufacturer▪ Pesticide Applicator

▪ Researcher/Student▪ Retailer/Wholesaler

Other: _______________________________

▪ Botanical Garden▪ Conservation Agency▪ Golf Course▪ Government Agency

▪ Landscape Design Firm▪ Landscape Construction ▪ Landscape Maintenance ▪ Plant Nursery

▪ Retailer▪ School/University▪ Wholesaler▪ Tree Trimming

▪ LICH ▪ AAA▪ ASLA▪ BIAN

▪ GCSAA▪ HAN▪ HFBF▪ HFNA

▪ HILA▪ HLICA▪ ISA▪ KLIC

▪ MALP▪ ONGA▪ USGBC

Others: ________________Others: ________________Others: ________________Others: ________________

5 How many full-time and part-time employees in your company?

▪ 1 to 10 ▪ 11 to 25 ▪ 26 to 50 ▪ 50 to 100 ▪ 101+

4 Company’s Specialization: *Required Field _________________________________________________________________________

3 Associations: *Required Field (Select all that apply):

2 My Company or Department is: *Required Field (Select all that apply):

1 I Am A: *Required Field (Select all that apply):


Congratulations to Helber Hast-ert & Fee Planners for receiving the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Preser-vation Commendation Honor Award for the Fort Kamehameha Historic District Cultural Landscape Report, Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) and Interpretive Trail Plan. Fort Kamehameha was established in 1911 as an Army Coastal Artillery post to protect the entrance to Pearl Harbor, and its extant features are within what is today Hickam Field. The award will be presented to HHF Planners at the 40th annual Pres-ervation Honor Awards ceremony to be held May 30th. The Historic Hawai’i Foundation honor awards are Hawai‘i’s highest recognition of preservation projects that perpetuate, rehabilitate, restore or interpret the state’s architectural, archaeological and/or cultural heritage.

coNgrats to hhF PLaNNers!

2014 goLd LeaF award wINNer JuL/Aug 2014

Theme: Low Impact DevelopmentStory Deadline: June 13

Sep/OCT 2014Theme: Resort Landscaping/ LICH ConferenceStory Deadline: August 8

NOv/DeC 2014Theme: Equipment & VehiclesStory Deadline: October 10

Upcoming ISSUES:

Tell a great story! Email the editor at [email protected].

By Carol KWan

The Kawananakoa Middle School Na-tive Hawaiian Tree Arboretum project was awarded the Gold Leaf award by Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA) as an outstand-ing landscape beautification activity. This project provided students with an

opportunity to learn about trees and places to meet and socialize in the shade of the trees. Students planted the trees themselves, giving them a sense of pride and ownership. This project will have significant impact upon the community for many years to come. Congratulations to all involved in bringing this project to fruition!

Photo: MICHAEL SUGANO

The KMS Rejuvenation Committee who planned and led the implementation of the Kawananakoa Middle School Native Hawaiian Tree Arboretum, pictured here along with Governor Abercrombie and Prince Kawananakoa (left to right): Gover-nor Neal Abercrombie, Cindy Alm, Representative Takashi Ohno, Senator Susan Chum-Oakland, Danny Mew, Jason Chin, Principal Sandra Ishihara-Shibata, Land-scape Architect and Certified Arborist for the project Lester Inouye, Barbara Wata-nabe-Chun, Grace Imai Smallman, and Prince David Kawananakoa. Not pictured: Bill Denham and Calvin Nakata. Lester Inouye in particular took the lead and used his connections in rounding up an impressive number of highly qualified green industry volunteers from a diverse background to assist with this project.This project was funded in part by Kaulunani, an Urban & Community Forestry Program of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service.

W h A t S h A p p E N i N G

NEWSlich

THE VOICE OF HAWAII’S GREEN INDUSTRY Hawaiiscape.com 7

03-10-09/0000229489

KOOLAU SEEDS & SUPPLY R 2.00 X 2.00

3009 PMP-PENARO Proofed By: jmahoney

Susan OwenManager

Contact

(808) 239-1280 Office

(808) 239-2151 Fax

[email protected]

48-373 G Kamehameha HwyKaneohe, Hawaii 96744

Susan OwenManager

Contact

(808) 239-1280 Office

(808) 239-2151 Fax

[email protected]

48-373 G Kamehameha HwyKaneohe, Hawaii 96744

Calendar of events

www.hawaiiscape.com (For complete listing go to the website.)

May 10Breadfruit – From Tree to TableHo‘oulu Lahui, Big Island

May 16Pesticide Violation & Label InterpretationKauai Community College, Lihue

May 20John Ball Tree Care Safety WorkshopMcCoy Pavilion, Honolulu

May 22John Ball Tree Care Safety WorkshopUniversity of Hawaii Maui Campus, Kahului

May 23John Ball Tree Care Safety WorkshopQueens’ Marketplace, Waikoloa Village

May 24Friends of Honolulu Botanical Garden Spring Plant SaleFoster Botanical Garden, Oahu

May 24-25Bonyu Bonsai Club ExhibitWaimea Community Center, Big Island

June 7HILA LICT Test Prep Intensive Kailua Kona, Big Island

June 12 & 14LICT Test in Kona Kailua Kona, Big Island

June 12-August 2HLICA LICT training classes Pearl City Urban Garden Center

June 14The Historic Preservation Basics SeminarPaia, Maui

June 17-18Pesticide Risk Reduction Education Short CourseLanai City, Lanai

June 28Wahine Tree ClimbingLyon Arboretum, Honolulu

July 29-31 & August 9HLICA LICT TestsOahu

September 12-19Hawaii International Tropical Fruit ConferenceAll Islands of Hawaii

October 9thLICH Green Industry Conference and TradeshowNeal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Oahu

October 9-10The Hawaiian Botanical ForumKoolau Golf Club, Oahu

october 24-26UH Master Gardener Statewide ConferenceMaui

MAY/JUNE 2014

uh basebaLL game outINg For the LaNdscaPe INdustry outINgLeft to right: Bryan Grady of Ewa Beach Golf Course, Rob Dunford of Crop Production Services, Scott Ushijima of Landscape Hawaii, Matt Lyum of Performance Landscapes, Kalani Voeller of Hoakalei Golf Course and Al Kakazu of B. Hayman.

Photo courtesy: MATT LYUM


By dana anne yee

The O‘ahu Nursery Growers Associa-tion (ONGA) plant sale was held April 5-6, 2014 at the historical Thomas Square in Honolulu. Entomologist, William D. Perreira and Landscape Architect, Dana Anne Yee were there to promote the Early Detection of Invasive Insect Pest Species.

The tables were exhibited with Wil-liam’s pinned invasive insect species for everyone to have a hands-on look at the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and some of the latest invasive insect pest

Jamilee Kempton placed 3rd overall in the Women’s Division of the North American Tree Climbing Championship (NATCC) held April 5-6, 2014, in Pasadena, Cali-fornia, as well as finish-ing first in the women’s head-to-head footlock event. She was also hon-ored with the Spirit of the Competition award. Congratulations!

oNga PLaNt saLe

coNgratuLatIoNs JamILee KemPtoN!

Photo: DANA ANNE YEE

Landscape Architect, Dana Anne Yee at the educational table.

Two future entomologists with live invasive insect species

Photo: NICHOLAS CRAWFORD

Jamilee Kempton during the work climb event at the North American Tree Climbing Championship.

species. The most popular display was the live invasive insects that William had recently caught, including the new Centipede Scolopendra morsitans.

Please join us for the next plant sale with the early detection of invasive species table at the Honolulu Botanical Gardens on May 24, 2014.

Dana Anne Yee of Dana Anne Yee, Landscape Architect, LLC has over 27 years of professional experience in Land-scape Architecture. Dana was honored to the ASLA Council of fellows in 2012.

THE VOICE OF HAWAII’S GREEN INDUSTRY Hawaiiscape.com 9

Maureen Murphy gave climbing a try at the WCISA Conference Trade Show.

Photo : SHANNON SPERATI

cLImbINg hIgh

The Kunia Orchid Society Show was on March 21 – 23 with about 5,500 people attending. HDOA set up the In-vasive Species Booth along with other organizations who helped man the booth including CGAPS, OISC, and AAA. The booth was a big draw with children of all ages and their parents who got to see in person live specimens of the coqui, a giant day gecko and a ball python snake. This was the first year for the Invasive Species booth and it proved to be a popular stop.

By dudley hulBert

I was enrolled at the U.H when I arrived in Honolulu from Denver, my home for jr. high and high school. I left a job as the manager of Fratellis Pizza Parlor and accepted a job at Pizza Hut with the promise I would move up. When I left the dark store at the end of my third day I was blinded by the sun, the sky, and the green of the “outdoor” Hawaii. I answered an Advertisement the next day for a grounds crew worker at a tree company. That was 1976. To this day my office is outside, soaked with sun, some rain, and earth mindful people.

KuNIa orchId socIety show

Photos: CAROL KWAN

Christy Martin wielded her tools of chopsticks and peanut butter to test the vendors’ wares including orchids, anthur-iums, and hapu‘u pieces for Little Fire Ant prior to the Ku-nia Orchid Society’s Annual Show. Fortunately all items were clean.

InspireWhat inspired me to become a Landscape professionaL?


Courtesy of Ctahr

Look around at the lush greenery and brilliant patches of color from flow-ering plants in Hawai‘i’s attractive parks, public and private buildings, athletic

fields, school grounds, golf courses, and residences. These visual delights repre-sent a century of collaboration between the landscape professionals who design, create, and maintain them and the lead-ing-edge work in tropical floriculture and landscapes done at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Just as important as the CTAHR researchers who discover crucial informa-tion about propagation, weed and insect control, and plants’ fertilizer and water requirements are the Extension personnel who bring this information to the com-munity, working with industry leaders and professionals to create best prac-tices that serve the workers, clients, and

ctahr aNd hawaI‘I’sLaNdscaPe INdustry:

A BeAutiful PArtnershiP

Photos courtesy: CTAHR

East-West Center garden at UH Manoa

The first Extension hibiscus is planted by 4-H members in 1928.


environment. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the national Cooperative Extension Service, which offers commu-nity outreach that, along with research and education, fulfills land-grant univer-sities’ tri-partite mission. Though CES didn’t officially reach Hawai‘i until 1928, the university had been offering classes to agricultural and horticultural workers since its inception in 1907.

Working with government agencies, industry groups, and producers, college outreach to the landscape industry has taken many forms over the years, from education programs to publications. In 1950, extension horticulturist Arcy Hiero-nymus wrote the first landscape design booklet for Hawai‘i, Fundamentals in Landscape Gardening. Complete with lists of trees, shrubs, and vines recommended for Hawai‘i’s gardens, many of which are still in use today, it may be said to have launched the state’s landscape industry.

The college has also helped grow-ers organize and work cooperatively in organizations, including LICH, which in 1985 brought together nurseries, arborists, landscape contractors, landscape mainte-nance firms, and landscape architects and designers to work together to better meet the increasing demand for their services.

The college’s involvement with the turf-grass industry of Hawai‘i began earlier, in 1962, with the formation of the Hawaii

Turfgrass Association (HTA), followed by the creation of a turfgrass emphasis in the college in 1970 in response to requests from the industry. The university’s turf-grass management courses have pro-vided a strong foundation in the subject for many of the people responsible for maintaining Hawai‘i’s golf courses, parks, and resort landscapes, while extension workshops provide guidance and new technical information for golf course su-perintendents and other turfgrass manag-ers. CTAHR extension workers have also disseminated important information on control of turfgrass insects and weeds.

One challenge the college faces in the future will be to reinvigorate and build upon programs that in the past have so well met the research and educational needs of different components of the landscape industry. The next century holds exciting promise for a continued collaboration between the CTAHR exten-sion workers who offer the fruits of the college’s research and Hawai‘i’s landscape professionals, who build on Hawai‘i’s legacy of prominence in flowers, foliage, and landscaping.

Much of this story was drawn from “Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Celebrating the First 100 Years.”

THe SeArCH fOr THe exTeNSION HIbISCuS

One of the college’s early contribu-tions to diversifying landscape plant selection involved the hibiscus, now considered Hawai‘i’s iconic plant. Between 1909 and 1916, assistant horticulturist Valentine Holt pro-duced over 30,000 hibiscus cut-tings for distribution to the public, helped with the first hibiscus show in 1911, and donated his private collection of 300 specimens to the Experiment Station.

The ‘Minnie Lee’, Hawai‘i’s “Exten-sion hibiscus,” is one of the oldest artifacts of Hawai‘i’s Extension Ser-vice, becoming a beloved symbol of the statewide outreach organiza-tion. This large yellow hybrid flower with a pinkish-red throat was named for the wife and daughter of William Lloyd, who formally established the CES in Hawai‘i in 1928. First planted on Maui on May 25, 1929, it was planted on Manoa campus at the first annual Territorial Extension Conference later that year.

In the early 2000s, a search was made for any ‘Minnie Lee’ plants, but none could be found, so CTAHR horticulturist Hisayao Niitani recreated the hybrid. Now cuttings from the only two remaining plants are being grafted again in honor of CES’s Centennial, and will be planted later this year to celebrate Hawai‘i’s Cooperative Extension.

County extension agents evaluate grasses in 1966.

GreAt APPs forLaNdscaPe

coNtractorsTurfpath, Free

Turfpath is an extensive collection of information about turf diseases, insects and weeds. Detailed informa-tion with pictures and recommended control make this app a great choice for all landscapers.

Mix Tank, FreeDesigned by Precision Laboratories,

Mix Tank helps pesticide applicators calculate mixes and log their infor-mation. It also recommends mixing order based on products selected from its library and calculates rate per acre for those mixing chemicals. I haven’t tried it out yet, but it looks like Mix Tank has a lot of potential for the landscape industry.

How to Tie Knots 3D, FreeLandscape contractors are con-

stantly tying materials and equipment onto their trucks. This app is an easy, free reference guide for knots. It has animated step-by-step

By dorothy MulKern

The next big tool for Land-scape Contractors is… the Smart Phone! The following list can help any landscaper get the job done.

Landscaper’s Companion, $4.99

A database with over 25,000 plants in 17 categories: annuals, ground covers, grasses and trees. It even has a water plant section! Browse or search for a specific plant. Information provided includes water and light requirements, growing information and more. The pro upgrade allows users to add their own plants, pictures and notes.


The Plant Doctor, FreeThis app is the Holy Grail for Hawaii

landscape contractors. Developed by CTAHR professor Scot Nelson, the Plant Doctor app walks you through necessary questions to assess a sick plant. Dr. Nelson promptly puts a name to the pest or disease and includes information on how to treat it. I tested this app and got a response in 2 hours. That’s pretty amazing.

Harvest Landscape Calculator, Free

A great tool to figure out how much mulch, stone or soil you need for a landscaping project – just type in the square foot-age and desired depth and the app does all the math. It even breaks down the amount into how many bags or truckloads necessary to complete the job.


Hawaiian Cast Stone Veneer & Landscaping Stone products Made in Hawaii We’ve been Making Hawaii Rock for more than 30 years!

Moss & Lava Pavers

1050 Kikowaena Place, Honolulu HI 96819 Call 834-7625 Toll 866-344-7625 www.bigrockhawaii.com

Weekly 8-4:30 Saturday 8-2:00 WE SHIP TO ALL ISLANDS!

Bamboo Fountain Kits

Made on Oahu with pride & aloha

Stock readily available . We ship weekly

Hundreds of items, a landscaper’s dream!

Wholesale pricing for business orders.

instructions and a list of when to use what knot. The original download comes with tons of knots but there’s a library with many more to add to your collection.

Square, FreeEver wish you

could get money faster? Square is one of many mobile payment applica-tions out there. Set

up is easy – get a free card reader and connect to your bank ac-count. This simple credit card reader at-taches to your headphone jack. That’s it. Now you can run credit card payments immediately using your smart phone.

Card Munch, FreeJust take a photo of business cards

you’ve collected at an event. Card Munch loads all the information for you and makes a directory of business contacts.

Up & Coming AppsA few apps are still being developed

but my fingers are crossed for their futures. The National Pesticide Informa-tion Center (NPIC) has many resources on their website that is accessible via smart phone. The NPIC’s Mobile Access to Pesticides and Labels (MAPL) provides access to pesticide information. Unfor-tunately, even with the mobile optimized site it’s still difficult to use and I hope they make an actual app soon!

Many irrigation companies like Rain-bird and Hunter created apps to partner with smart irrigation controllers. These apps make it easy to monitor systems and even know which sprinkler head or valve is broken. Users are sent alerts or emails. Hopefully these systems will become more affordable and available as our industry and customers start seeing their value.

In ClosingRemember, a lot of great things

come standard with smart phones now. Make sure you take the

time to learn about your

phone, so you can use it to its fullest potential. Some helpful features on the iPhone I regularly use are Remind-ers to keep track of my to-do list, Calendar to remind me of appointments, the flashlight feature and maps.

When considering an app, one of the best things you can do is read the reviews.

Unfortunately, I’ve noticed many landscape industry apps don’t have comments. Since I know you will all be inspired by this article, please help out our industry by taking a minute to write up your experience with apps you try in the future. Comments can be as simple as “don’t do it” or “I use it all the time”. Hopefully next time you’re looking at an app someone will have left a useful review for you, too.

Dorothy Mulkern is Assistant Vice presi-dent at her

family’s busi-ness, Mulkern

Landscaping & Nurs-ery. In early 2014, she will be a certified Master Gardener after

completing the University of Hawaii Master Gardener program.


Reach Landscape Professionals,

advertise today

Call Micheal Roth Phone: (808) 595-4124

Email: [email protected]

BAsic KnowledGe inBecominG A ProfessionAl

certIFIcatIoN:

By Brandon au

Getting certified is the first step to becoming a professional. Certi-fication demonstrates that you have the basic knowledge and skills. As

you put your skills into practice, become more experienced, and attend seminars and conferences, you will be proficient in your techniques and be up-to-date in the most current practices. In time, you will become a professional in the trade. Even though you may be a professional without certification, there’s always room to learn, grow, and become better at what you do…

Residential, commercial, and gov-ernmental entities are recognizing companies with certified personnel and requiring certification as part of the specifications for projects. As with any trades, certified and licensed contrac-tors are more desirable and accountable. Qualified Arborists (certification plus demonstrated applicable experience) have been a requirement in State and City projects for a number of years to

include tree health assessment, tree protection, and mitigation. Some Federal projects require a Commercial Applica-tors of Restricted Pesticides certification and the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation requires a Landscape Industry Certified Technician (LICT).

As you can see, certification is becom-ing a requirement. Take it upon yourself to get certified and open the doors to opportunity, respect, and recognition in the industry and your profession.

The Hawaii Landscape and Irrigation Contractors Association (HLICA) is hav-ing their LICT training classes starting on June 12, 2014, at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center. The training program is

focusing on the LICT certification. This will allow candidates to concentrate on the specific certification for which they are being tested.

For more information, please call Mad-eleine Shaw at (808) 597-0708 or email at: [email protected].

Brandon Au is the head of the Nursery and Land-scape Section for the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of

Urban Forestry, O‘ahu Co-Chair for the LICT program, and

Vice President for LICH.

20,450

creo


G A R R E t t W E B B

CORNERcertification

877.683.1032 nessturf.com

RentalSpecialReceive One FREE Non-Hydraulic Attachment with Every Dingo Rental

Dingo® Compact Utility Loader

Minimizes hand labor and increases productivity

Tackles any task with a multitude of attachments

Works with a light footprint in tight spots

Provides reliable hydraulic power

THE DINGO®

DOES IT ALL

from here?where do we go

Most landscapers who become LICTs do so to make a state-ment about their level of professional-ism, and some get

certified to comply with Department of Transportation maintenance con-tracts that require an LICT on site to be awarded the contract. The DOT require-ment has motivated many to be certified and every year fifty to sixty landscapers take the LICT Test on Oahu for Turf Maintenance, Ornamental Maintenance or Irrigation. But where do we go from here? If we look to the Certified Arbor-ist designation as a model for a growing certification program, we might consider that there needs to be another level of requirements for certified landscapers to help the LICT program to continue to thrive and reach its goals of training and certifying a significant percentage of the landscape industry.

What if Landscape Architects were to require or even just to recommend that an LICT be on the job for the installa-tion of their project? In order for this to become a reality, we need to see a lot more landscapers achieve certification in Installation. It used to be that the Installa-tion Certification test offered by PLANET included hard scape and instrument problems that did not reflect the installa-tion practices used by most landscapers in Hawaii. In 2010, however, the Installa-tion module was split into two parts, and now a certification is offered for Softscape

Installation which fits the Hawaii install practices perfectly.

The LICT State Committee will be promoting the Softscape Installation test in 2015.

The problems needed to reach this certification designation are: four writ-ten tests; Common Core, Softscape Plan Reading, Softscape Horticultural Prin-ciples and Irrigation Components. The field test problems are; Plant Identifica-tion, Basic Program Controller, Lateral Repair and Head Adjustment, Tree Plant-ing and Staking, Sod Installation, Plant Layout and Rototiller. It is interesting to note that if you are presently certified in Ornamental Maintenance, you will need take only three written tests and three field tests to become an LICT in Installa-tion since you will have already passed the other problems.

The LICT certification process has elevated the standards of the landscape profession by increasing skill levels, rais-ing consciousness of the importance of safe work practices and improving the landscape product throughout Hawaii. Let’s keep the program growing by add-ing Softscape Installation to our list of certifications.

Garrett Webb, Landscape Industry Certified Manager (LICM) is the State Ad-ministrator for the Hawaii LICT Program and a

LICH Director Emeritus.

Hawaiiscape.com 17

• Specimen Trees in Boxes• Fruiting Trees• Palms• Topiaries• everything else

in Kona329-5702

lAndscAPe toolsuNderutILIzed

Photo courtesy: KEVIN MULKERN

Kevin and Governor Abercrombie discussing green industry issues at the LICH Runway Show.

This is a call to action! We’re professionals and need a professional lobbyist to protect and promote our livelihood. Partnering with other groups that have similar concerns is one of the most effective ways to protect our turf. We need to work with our elected of-

ficials and the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA) to help us. After all “going green” is the buzz.

Hiding our heads in the sand about the July 2011 notifica-tion that landscape contractors can no longer install piping work within 5 feet of a building’s foundation, 24 volt irriga-tion wiring or 12 volt landscape lighting wiring is not the answer. We’ve been successful on proposed legislation for blowers, water restrictions and pesticides, but our approach on this issue has been ineffective. We need to dig into our pockets and hire a professional.

While I do not agree with what the plumbers and electri-cians were able to accomplish, I admire how effective they have been to promote their trades and protect their industry. The solar industry is the best example of using tax credits and community support to promote business. We need to emulate these groups in a positive, constructive way that will benefit our industry and consumers.

I’m calling on the Landscape Industry of Hawaii, Hawaii Landscape & Irrigation Contractors Association and other green industry professionals to unite and hire a professional lobbyist to represent our industry at the legislature. Introduce legislation to allow our industry and other licensed profes-

sionals to be reimbursed a portion of the licens-ing fees would be a way to fund a lobbyist.

Kevin Mulkern, is the President of Mulkern Landscaping & Nursery.


comPetItIve treeclimBinG BrAnches out

By niCole Brodie

On February 22 and 23 the Aloha Arborist Association (AAA) held their annual Hawaii Tree Climbing Cham-pionship (HTCC) at

Moanalua Gardens near Salt Lake. Dozens of spectators watched as sixteen com-petitors from other islands, states, and countries showcased their skills. Most of the people competing were professional tree workers, which means they climb trees for a living. A big thank you for these sponsors who made this event possible: Climb Aloha, Treestuff.com, and Aloha Power who graciously donated prizes for our competitors.

Designed to demonstrate a climber’s aptitude with gear, technique, speed and safety, typically these competitions are comprised of five main events. The belayed speed climb and secured foot lock are timed events where competitors

Justin Donahue, Masters Climb.

HTCC Womens Division, Jamilee Kempton, Ilana Nimz, and Mealoha HootonSee cLiMBiNG on page 26

Phot

os: J

AM

ILEE

KEM

PTO

N


more arborIstsfor A heAlthier urBAn forest

By niCole Brodie

Arborists are the physi-cians and surgeons of trees, diagnosing disease, pathogens, nutrient de-ficiencies and pests; and by doing so, they maxi-

mize the health of trees and the safety of the people and property around them. Arborists can advise urban planners and landscape architects on which trees will be most beneficial in which locations and determine which trees have reached the end of their life and require removal.

On Saturday, April 12th, volunteers from Hawaii’s arboriculture industry proctored the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified Arborist exam and judged candidates taking the Western Chapter ISA (WCISA) certified Tree Worker exam held in Kapiolani Regional Park every April and October.

Approximately ten candidates from multiple islands and some from abroad sought to improve their credentials as

Phot

o: N

ICO

LE B

RO

DIE

See ARBoRiSTS on page 26

these certifications provide a mechanism for employers and customers to identify qualified, knowledgeable professionals.

Applicants of the CTW must have a minimum of 18 months full-time field experience in arboriculture to qualify for the two-part exam. The first part was a 54-question multiple choice test on tree identification, pruning, biology, safety, planting, and cabling; and the second, a practical skills test of knot tying and the candidate’s choice of either tree climb-ing skills or aerial lift operations that simulate the tasks required of a working tree care professional

The Certified Arborist exam was comprised of a comprehensive 200-mul-tiple choice test covering all facets of tree care from tree biology, soil science, water management, disease diagnosis and urban forestry. In order to pass the rigorous exam, candidates must answer at least seventy percent of the questions correctly. Credentialed arborists must stay current with emerging industry practices by enrolling in courses and

receiving continuing education credits to maintain their certification.

“We, in the industry, are always trying to encourage people to further them-selves and bring greater professionalism to tree work, which improves the care our trees receive. These exams are crucial steps for individuals to do that,” said Austin Braaten, Head of Arboriculture Section for the City & County of Hono-lulu Division of Urban Forestry and Head Skills Judge for the Tree Worker Exam.

Working as an arborist means getting to work outside, a huge perk in Hawaii, but also as each individual tree is unique, in a unique location, with a unique branch structure, it keeps the work inter-esting and challenging.

Amy Nichols of the Aloha Arborist Association explained, “I learned a lot just through studying for the certifica-tion exam. Becoming certified gains respect in the industry. Many companies and potential customers are looking for

Judges at the CTW exam.


ARNOLD hARA

COLUMNpest

The little fire ant (LFA; Wasmannia auropunctata) is a stinging ant native to Central and South America that infests prop-erties and can cause severe

allergic reactions and serious injury to people and animals. LFA are firmly estab-lished on Hawaii Island where they infest residential, agricultural, and commercial properties, and even parks and forests. Some infested areas have an average of 11 million ants per 5,000 sq ft. lot because they can nest and live anywhere from the tree tops, to leaf litter, and even in houses.

The recent movement of LFA in hapu‘u logs to O‘ahu, Maui and Lāna‘i, and regular interception of LFA in cut flow-ers, foliage, and plant materials at ports underscores the importance of institut-ing Best Management Practices (BMP) for businesses and property managers. Start today by preparing a site map of your property that identifies survey areas, and a way of logging the date and time of surveys, weather conditions, number and location of peanut butter chopsticks set out, and eventually, the types of ants iden-tified and information on any treatments or control methods used. Precautionary statement / Disclaimer: These recom-mendations are provided only as a guide. Always read and follow all label directions.

How to Test/Survey for LFA ■ Place chopsticks with a very thin

smear of peanut butter every few feet in and around plants in shady, moist areas, and up in banana leaf axles/tree crotches. Many ant species are attracted to protein, so this attracts them (use luncheon meat if you’re allergic to peanuts).

■ Leave the chopsticks for about an hour during the day (avoid high noon, full sun…they might not be foraging!).

■ Check all chopsticks. If the ants you see are black, or fast moving, are more than one color, or if some of them have heads that are much larger than their bodies, they are NOT LFA.

■ If you are unsure about the ants, or if you find orange or red ants that are VERY small, about as long as a penny is thick, you may have LFA, but a positive identification will require help.

■ Place the chopstick with ants into a zip-top bag, label it with your contact information, where on the property it was collected, and place it in the freezer overnight to kill the ants.

■ The next day, deliver or mail your sample to the nearest Hawai‘i Depart-ment of Agriculture (HDOA) office. You can also call the HDOA pest hotline at 643-PEST (643-7378), the Hawai‘i Ant Lab at (808) 315-5656, or your island Invasive Species Committee to make a report and get help.

■ DO NOT move or spray infested materials, and do not move live ants! You are seeing the workers, and we need them alive to help us get to the queens.

For Non-Infested Properties ■ Always: Test all new plants and

plant materials for LFA presence by using the peanut butter chopstick method.

■ Monitor quarterly: survey shade-houses, landscape, and nursery property for LFA using peanut butter chopsticks. If the property is large, prioritize the receiv-ing area, new plants/materials, and the perimeter, then rotate survey locations.

■ Treat new plants and materials from infested or suspect areas with hot water shower at 113°F for 10 minutes to kill adult LFA (and some other nursery pests) in most potted plants, but may not be effective in materials like hapu`u logs or large plants.

■ Consider using a granular bait such as MaxForce Complete (hydramethylnon) to prevent nearby LFA from moving in. May be broadcast or used as a perimeter treatment, or applied within non-food / non-feed areas of industrial, institutional and commercial buildings and inacces-sible areas in residential and non-residen-tial buildings.

■ Consider treating potting media to prevent LFA in plants in the nursery.

• Talstar Nursery /UP-Star Nursery GRANULES (Group 3 bifenthrin) – la-beled for Nursery Use but not Landscape Use; use as a preventative treatment incorporated in potting media based on bulk density.

■ Consider specifying in contracts and agreements, that vendors verify their use of these BMPs.

fire Ant BmPsLIttLe


OAHU HILO KONA KAUAI MAUI 91-1831 Franklin D. Roosevelt 111 Silva Street 74-592B Hale Makai Pl. 3651F Lala Rd. 485 Waiale Road Kapolei, HI 96707 Hilo, HI 96720 Kailua Kona, HI 96740 Lihue, HI 96766 Wailuku, HI 96732 808-682-8282 808-961-6673 808-329-5574 808-246-0097 808-242-4664

0% for 42 months. Expires August 29, 2014

Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial. Some restrictions apply; other special rates and terms may be available, so see American Machinery for details and other financing options. 0.0% for 42 months.

0% for 42 months. Expires August 29, 2014

For Infested Properties or Properties Where LFA Have Been Found

For properties in areas where LFA are known to be established, or where they have been detected within the past two years, these BMPs should be followed to eradicate (where possible), or prevent further spread. Use a granular bait on the ground and in plants where worker ants can pick up granules and take them back to the nest. LFA also nest high up in shade houses and trees, and workers may never come down to pick up granular bait. Therefore, you must also use a paste formulation and spray mechanisms to apply to trees and vertical surfaces. Read and follow all label directions. Please note that there are generic names for several different formulations. These BMPs provide full product names in an effort to keep people from buying the wrong item and possibly using it contrary to label provisions.

■ For all new infestations, contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture or the Hawa‘i Ant Lab for assistance BEFORE instituting a control program.

Photo: ALEx WILD, used by permission


■ Apply baits (granular AND paste, see below) every 4 weeks in the early morn-ing on dry days, or if you are fairly certain of a dry night, bait in the late afternoon. Ants tend to forage when it’s cool and dry; insecticidal ant baits are often deactivated by UV light, humidity, rain and watering, making them environmentally friendly but requiring re-application. Apply 6 treatments over time to ensure ample opportunities for workers to carry baits to the queens.

■ Rotate between products to avoid “bait shyness.”

■ DO NOT move any plant materials that have had LFA until the materials test LFA free for TWO YEARS after the last find.

■ Use effective granular baits to con-trol nests on or near the ground:

• Amdro Pro (Group 20A hydra-methylnon) – use in and around con-tainer or field-grown ornamental and nonbearing nursery stock and on sod farms (commercial turf). May also be ap-plied in non-bearing tropical fruit and nut orchards (non-bearing means ONLY prior to production of the first crop).

• Distance (Group 7C pyriproxy-fen, IGR) – use in indoor and outdoor container or field grown ornamentals in commercial nurseries, can be used for non-bearing fruits and nuts, as well as many crops.

• Extinguish Plus (Group 20A, 7A hydramethylnon, S-methoprene, IGR) – use in and around container or field grown ornamental nursery and non-bear-ing nursery stock. May also be applied to the soil around non-bearing fruit or nut trees (only before production of first crop); however, do not harvest food/feed from treated nursery stocks within 1 year of application.

• MaxForce Complete (Group 20A hydramethylnon) – use indoors and outdoors and around buildings, on lawns, and other non-crop areas.

• Probait (Group 20A hydrameth-ylnon) – use on lawns, landscaped areas, golf courses, commercial grounds, parks and other non-crop areas.

• Siesta (Group 22B metaflumizone) – use in and around container or field-grown ornamental and non-bearing fruit and nut nursery stock (up to 1 year before first harvest) in nurseries, on lawns, turf, and landscaped areas.

■ Use paste formulations applied in trees and plants where granular baits can-not be applied. LFA that nest up in plants and trees may never come to the ground

to forage, so granular baits alone will not suffice.

• Tango (Group 7A S-methoprene, IGR) – a concentrated liquid product to be mixed and diluted with a carrier and food source (matrix) (see www.littlefire-ants.com/Tango%20package.pdf for recipe, and spray recommendations) – use indoors and outdoors, in commercial nurseries including field-grown and container stock, fruit, vegetable and nut orchards, residential turf and landscapes.

■ Treat potted plants with contact insecticide prior to sale. Ants may live in growing media or in foliage itself, so both must be treated.

• Sevin RP4, (Group 1 carbaryl) can be used both as a soil drench and a foliar spray for short-term control.

■ Treat potting media to prevent LFA in plants in the nursery.

• Talstar Nursery/UP-Star Nursery GRANULES (Group 3 bifenthrin) – la-beled for nursery use but not landscape use; use as a preventative treatment incorporated in potting media based on bulk density.

■ Treat large plants and trees twice, at 1 month and 3 days prior to sale or shipping.

• Talstar Select – a Restricted Use pesticide (for use by certified applicators only) If the tree is in a plant nursery, spray/drench 1 month prior to shipping, followed by a second treatment at least 3 days prior.

• Talstar Professional – is for use in the landscape and NOT for use in plant nurseries, spray/drench 1 month prior to shipping, followed by a second treatment at least 3 days prior. See http://littlefire-ants.com/research.html for online rate calculator and other tools.

■ In conjunction with BMPs in pro-duction areas, consider treating plants and materials with hot water shower at 113°F for 10 minutes to kill adult LFA prior to sale or movement (this is not 100% effective and is insufficient for interisland shipments).

■ Store treated plants and materials in a pest-free area prior to shipping/trans-port to prevent re-infestation.

■ Treat infested plants, building ma-terials, trash, etc. on-site and in-place to keep from spreading LFA. Do not move or dump infested materials.

LFA are relatively easy to suppress in small areas, but can be very difficult to eradicate completely. Ants have been around since the Cretaceous period (about 100 million years), so we must be equally organized and pay attention to how ant colonies operate if we hope to succeed! For more information, visit www.LFAHa-waii.org, or www.littlefireants.com.

Arnold Hara is an ento-mologist and extension specialist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Col-lege of Tropical Agricul-

ture and Human Resources, located at the Komohana

Research and Extension Center in Hilo, Hawaii. Ruth Niino-DuPonte and Susan Cabral are Research Support staff for Dr. Hara focusing on invasive species detection, survey and management, including coqui frog, little fire ant and most recently the coconut rhinoceros beetle. Article edited by Christy Martin of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit/Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

Photo: ALEx WILD, used by permission


PERMEABLE PAVERS MAKE PROJECTS POSSIBLE

GO GREEN WITH THE AQUAPAVE PERMEABLE ON SITE STORMWATER SOURCE CONTROL SYSTEM

WHEN IT POURS …… IT STORES

BENEFITS NO SLOPING REQUIRED INFILTRATES UP TO 354 INCHES OF RUNOFF AN

HOUR ROOF WATER MANAGEMENT GROUNDWATER TABLE RECHARGING WATER HARVESTING OIL CONTAMINATES MANAGEMENT FILTERING & TREATMENT OF POLLUTANTS LOWER CONSTRUCTION & LIFE CYCLE COSTS 30-40 YEAR LIFESPAN SLIP AND SKID RESISTANT UP TO 12 LEED POINTS GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS CONSIDERED A BMP COMPLIES WITH NPDES PAVERS CAN BE ENGRAVED FOR FUNDRAISING

APPLICATIONS PARKING LOTS RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAYS COMMERCIAL ENTRANCES SIDEWALKS PLAZAS LOW SPEED RESIDENTIAL ROADS

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT FUTURA STONE OF HAWAII

WWW.FUTURASTONEHAWAII.COM

841-7433 C23741

The Scag Cheetah - The Fastest Cat on Earth

Scag mowers are constructed with durable steel frames, fabricated steel cutter decks and reliable components to keep you in the grass and out of the repair shop. Operator comfort, easy maneuverability and a beautiful quality-of-cut are built into each Scag mower. They deliver productive mowing, day after day – with results you and your customers can be proud of.

SCAG OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF MOWERS THAT WILL ADD DOLLARS TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE AND GIVE YOUR BUSINESS AN EDGE OVER THE COMPETITION.

Call for free consultation and demo!Waipahu 808-676-5534 - Honolulu 808-848-5534

• Speeds up to 16 mph• Coil-over shock suspension

• Two- Speed transaxles• Financing available

• Parts in stock • Ask about our Zero Down Time Guarantee

• Tri-Plate Velocity Plus™ side and rear discharge cutter decks

Model SCZ61V921FX list: $14,999 Sale price $12,999

with free $350 extended warranty

t


soIL FoodweB

IN WARM-SEASON TURF AND ORNAMENTALS• In addition to purple and yellow nutsedge, Certainty also controls Kyllinga species, annual sedges and a number of other undesirable grasses and broadleaf weeds. • Certainty has broad-scale safety in warm-season turf and can be used on essentially all warm-season turfgrasses, including: • Bermudagrass • Bahiagrass • Buffalograss • Centipedegrass Do not apply Certainty

to golf course putting greens or within four feet of the greens.

Control Tough Weeds in Residential andCommercial Turf with Certainty®

Go to www.monsanto.com/ito for additional information.

Always Read and Follow Pesticide Label Directions. Certainty® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2014 Monsanto Company.

• Kilkuyugrass• St. Augustinegrass• Seashore paspalum• Zoysiagrass

ZhiQiANG ChENG, ph.D.

COLUMNturf

Soil, as the growing medium, has significant impacts on many plants, including turf-grass. Topsoil, the outermost layer of soil, usually the top 20 cm, has the highest

concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth’s biological soil activity occurs (USDA, 1993). Studies have shown that most soil microorganisms and microar-thropods are found in the top 10 cm of soil (Rey et al., 2002). Associated with these organisms, plant root density is usually higher in topsoil compared with subsoil (Rey et al., 2002), and total C, to-tal N, and SOM contents are significantly higher in topsoil than in subsoil (Kuhl-mann and Baumgartel, 1991).

One of the major reasons that topsoil is so productive is that topsoil is usually as-sociated with an active food web, which has the potential to increase the resis-tance and resilience of plant ecosystems via a number of different mechanisms. There is evidence for these mechanisms below in various plant ecosystems, in-cluding turfgrass ecosystems.

1. Better soil structure: An active soil food web significantly affects the soil structural stability and pore space, leading to better soil moisture balance and air penetration, which results in less physiological stress on plants (Weil and Magdoff 2004).

2. Bottom-up effects on the above ground autotrophic food chain: The soil food web provides better synchrony with plant requirements, providing better mineral balance for the plant metabolic machinery, which optimizes growth while suppressing herbivory and disease (Phelan et al. 1996).

3. Top-down effects on pests: An ac-

tive soil food web increases epigeic fauna, making aboveground trophic interactions more web-like by providing alternative prey for generalist predators when pests are limited (Wise 1999).

4. Effects on crop-weed competition: Eutrophication has broad destabilizing effects on natural and managed plant ecosystems. High nutrient levels cause a

shift in plant communities to a few fast-growing species, reducing plant diversity (Tilman 1987). Compared to chemical fer-tilizer, C-based nutrient sources resulted from active soil food web are less likely to produce eutrophic conditions, reducing pressures by fast-growing early succes-sion weeds that are responsive to high nutrients (Tilman 1987).

The foundation of turfgrass growth

and health


5. Stabilization of soil microbial populations: The regular influx of or-ganic matter increases resilience in microbial populations and suppresses pathogens and plant-parasitic nema-todes by supporting functional redun-dancy in soil microbial communities and increasing the competitive advantage of nonpathogenic microbes (van Bruggen et al. 2006).

6. Induction of plant-defensive pathways: Elicitation of plant signaling systems by beneficial rhizobacteria and fungi increases resistance of aboveg-round portions of the plant to foliar pathogens (Vallad et al. 2003).

7. Tightening of nutrient cycles: With the availability of C energy sources, a greater portion of nutrients are stored in the microbial component of the soil and retained relatively locally.

In the cases of grass and turfgrass ecosystems, I oftentimes use these two examples Below to indicate the impor-tance of soil food web to grass growth and health. Figure 1, a re-draw from a USDA-NRCS graph, clearly shows that the addition of bacteria and nematodes had positive effects on blue grama grass growth. Figure 2, a re-draw from one of my own studies (Cheng and Grewal, 2009), clearly shows that with a more active soil food web, topsoil resulted in significantly better turfgrass qual-ity compared with subsoil. Therefore,

preservation of topsoil and promoting active soil food are critical in turfgrass management.

Zhiqiang Cheng Ph.D. is Assistant Specialist in Turf and Landscape Pest Management at the Department of Plant and

Environmental Protection Sciences, CTAHR University of Hawaii at Manoa

ReferencesCheng, Z., and P. S. Grewal. 2009.

Dynamics of the soil nematode food web and nutrient pools under tall fes-cue lawns established on soil matrices resulting from common urban develop-ment activities. Applied Soil Ecology, 42: 107–117.

Kuhlmann, H., Baumgartel, G., 1991. Potential importance of the subsoil for the P and Mg nutrition of wheat. Plant Soil 137, 259–266.

Phelan, P. L., Norris, K., and Mason, J. R. 1996. Soil-management history and host preference by Ostrinia nubilalis (Hüb-ner): Evidence for plant mineral balance as a mechanism mediating insect/plant interactions. Environmental Entomol-ogy, 25, 1329-1336.

Rey, A., Pegoraro, E., Tedeschi, V., De Parri, I., Jarvis, P.G., Valentini, R., 2002.

Annual variation in soil respiration and its components in a coppice oak forest in Central Italy. Glob. Change Biol. 8, 851–866.

Tilman, D. 1987. Secondary succes-sion and the pattern of plant dominance along experimental nitrogen gradients. Ecological Monographs, 57, 189–204.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Soil Survey Division Staff (1993). “Soil Survey Manual.” USDA Handbook 18. Chapter 3.

Vallad, G. E., Cooperband, L., and Good-man, R. M. 2003. Plant foliar disease suppression mediated by composted forms of paper mill residuals exhibits molecular features of induced resis-tance. Physiological & Molecular Plant Pathology, 63, 65–77.

van Bruggen, A. H. C. et al. 2006. Rela-tion between soil health, wave-like fluc-tuations in microbial populations, and soil-borne plant disease management. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 115, 105–122

Weil, R. R. and Magdoff, F. 2004. Signif-icance of soil organic matter to soil qual-ity and health. In Soil Organic Matter Management in Sustainable Agriculture, Magdoff, F. and Weiler, R. R., Eds. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1–43.

Wise, D. H. et al. 1999. Spiders in decomposition food webs of agroecosys-tems: Theory and evidence. Journal of Arachnology, 27, 363–370.

Figure 1*.

Soil with Bacteria & NematodesSoil with BacteriaSterile Soil

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Sh

oo

t B

iom

ass

aft

er

77

da

ys

(mg

, d

ry w

eig

ht) blue grama grass

* Re-draw from a USDA-NRCS graph. Figure 2*. * Re-draw from Cheng and Grewal, 2009.

Figure 1*.

Soil with Bacteria & NematodesSoil with BacteriaSterile Soil

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Sh

oo

t B

iom

ass

aft

er

77

da

ys

(mg

, d

ry w

eig

ht) blue grama grass

* Re-draw from a USDA-NRCS graph. Figure 2*. * Re-draw from Cheng and Grewal, 2009.

Fig. 1. Positive impacts of bacteria and nematodes on blue grama grass growth.

Fig. 2. Active soil food webs in topsoil and soils with compost amendment resulted in better tall fescue turfgrass quality.


Oahu Honolulu 2629 Waiwai Loop Honolulu, HI 96819 (808) 836-8500

Big Island Kailua - Kona 73-5582 Olowalu St. Kailua - Kona, HI 96740 (808) 329-1167

kona Irrigation Supply, limited

E-mail: [email protected]

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL T5P-RS or T5PCK-RS $6.95 each

through June 30, 2014.

cLiMBiNG

ARBoRiSTS

Continued from page 19

Continued from page 19

race to ring a bell high up in the tree. The aerial rescue demonstrates climbers’ com-munication and safety abilities as they re-trieve a 90-pound dummy out of the tree. The throw line event tests accuracy and precision for securing climbing lines from the ground safely into a tree’s heights.

The aerial rescue, belayed speed climb and throw line events took place simul-taneously each on a different expansive monkey pod tree of Moanalua Gardens. Competitors and spectators alike gath-ered to witness the work climb event. In this event, the clock starts with the competitors already in the tree, and at the call of “go!”, they speed to five differ-ent stations to complete a specific task before finally descending out of the tree and unclipping from the harness to signal completion. This event is exciting to watch as it is a quick obstacle course high in a tree that ends with the competitors zipping down out of the canopy.

This year’s Men’s division was won by Justin Donahue, and the Women’s Divi-

sion was won by Jamilee Kempton. As part of their prize package the Aloha Arborist Association is going to support Justin and Jamilee with $500 each towards travel expenses to compete at the 2014 Western Chapter Tree Climbing Championship be-ing held in Los Angeles, June 14th and 15th.

Kempton, an internationally-ranked climber, placed sixth overall at the HTCC and went on to place 3rd at the 2014 North American Tree Climbing Champi-onship in Pasadena on April 5th and 6th.

Please join us in cheering on Justin and Jamilee as they go forward in representing Hawaii’s climbers regionally and interna-tionally.

Learn more about tree climbing compe-titions by checking out the Aloha Arborist Association website and following us on Facebook.

Nicole Brodie works for the Aloha Arbor-ist Association.

a certified arborist, so being one opens another door.”

Urban trees provide a myriad of services to the city such as air filtration, storm wa-ter retention, water purification, and wel-comed shade. The care and maintenance of these trees falls to both tree workers and arborists, so it benefits us all for those in the industry to know their craft.

The next exam date will be held on October 11, 2014. People can register for the CTW exam online at www.wcisa.net/certification and the Arborist exam at www.isa-arbor.com. Updates can be found at http://alohaarborist.com/ or by following the Aloha Arborist Association on Facebook.

Nicole Brodie works for the Aloha Arborist Association.

Brandon Au is the head of the Nursery and Landscape Section for the City’s Depart-ment of Parks and Recreation, Division of Urban Forestry, O‘ahu Co-Chair for the LICT program, and Vice President for LICH.


SAVE THE DATE!The 19th annual

Hawaii MIDPAC Horticultural Conference & Expo

July 23, 24 & July 25, 2014at the

Hapuna Beach Prince HotelWaikoloa, Hawai’i Island

Bring your family and enjoy a fun filled family vacation while attending the MIDPAC Expo!

Outstanding discounted room rates! Great golf discounts!Shopping * Horseback Riding * Charter Sports Fishing

* ATV Riding * Zip Lining

Horticultural Conference * Educational Displays Guided Nursery Bus Tours * Cocktail Party

Networking Reception * Great Food * Great Fun Silent Auction * MIDPAC Hall of Fame Award

Reintroductions of Floral VarietiesNew Dracaena Varieties

Email: [email protected] * website: www.hena.org * Phone 808-969-2088 * P.O. Box 11120 * Hilo, Hawaii 96721 USA

By Judy sChilling

At the 2014 Hawaii MIDPAC Horticultural Conference & Expo, scheduled for July 23-25th at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort in Waikoloa on Hawaii Island, host Hawaii

Export Nursery Association (HENA) will part-ner with the Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association (HFNA) and the Orchid Growers of Hawaii (OGOH) in promoting HENA’s five new varieties of dracaena and reintroducing five floral varieties to the market. This exciting collaboration will enhance the event with nursery bus tours of east and west Hawaii foli-age and flower nurseries, a welcome cocktail party, a full day of concurrent conference sessions as well as the annual networking reception and buffet dinner.

Some topics that will be covered at the horticultural conference will be economic advantages of using Hawaiian plants, destina-tion wedding design, designing with Hawaiian plants and flowers, pest management and con-trol, use of self watering pots, and agricultural market development. We will also have panel discussions on regulatory and transportation issues as well as a workshop on grants and programs that provide funding to the indus-try. There will be a Canadian buyers’ panel and a Hawaii growers/shippers panel. LICH will offer 4 CEUs towards certification for LICT attendees at this year’s MIDPAC conference.

MIDPAC will also include educational exhibits from air and sea transportation com-panies, UH CTAHR researchers, government agencies and other industry organizations. Guests will have plenty of time to talk story one-on-one with exhibitors to get updates on available programs and issues.

At the Expo, HENA will be distributing its 2014 Buyers Guide & Membership Directory, HFNA will debut its new historical video on the formation and mission of HFNA, and OGOH will be distributing their new full color product brochure.

For more information on this year’s MID-PAC Expo and the greatly discounted hotel rates at the Hapuna Prince, check out the HENA website, www.hena.org or contact HENA at [email protected] or at 808-969-2088.

Judy Schilling is the HENA Administrator.

mIdPac eXPo IN JuLy oN bIg IsLaNd


NatIve roadsIdeseed Production

By Cheryl ernst

If University of Hawai‘i weed specialist Joseph DeFrank had his way, Hawai‘i highway right-of-ways would not only be showcases for native landscap-ing, they’d be seed production

plots as well. The state Department of Transportation is investing in his vision with a three-year $190,000 grant to explore cover grasses and another three-year $249,000 grant to evaluate broad-leaf plants.

Working on a demonstration site inside the University Street onramp to westbound H1, DeFrank and his Col-lege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources graduate students are estab-lishing the protocols for preparing sites, readying planting materials, establishing

O‘o stick in hand, Joe DeFrank prepares to plant a native plant

Joe preparing the planting site.


Entomologist, William D. Perreira,is working on the early detectionof newly arrived insectspecies and the identificationof these invasive pests whiletheir numbers are below thresholds in order towarrant the best chancesfor the eradication of theseharmful species.

PLEASEHELP! We areurgently inneed offunding.

Contact:Dana Anne Yee,FASLA(808) 521-1049

Thank you to our many supporters for their encouragement of our important work, including our many Green Industry partners:Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the Landscape Industry Council of Hawai‘i (LICH) Chris Dacus, Stanley Oka (C&C of Honolulu), Kelvin M. Kanegawa, Entomologist (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa), Aloha Arborist, the American Society of Landscape Architects Hawai‘i Chapter, Scenic Hawai‘i, Inc., the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens, O‘ahu Nursery Growers Association, the International Society of Arboriculture, Certified Arborist, Kevin Eckert, Entomologist, Teresa Trueman-Madriaga, Po-Yung Lai, Seven City and County of Honolulu Councilmembers. President Barrack Obama, and many governmental and community leaders have also been alerted to the necessity of our work for the Early Detection of Invasive Insect Pest Species.

Sadly, the harmful and destructiveCoconut Rhinoceros Beetles

are NOW in Hawai‘i.

Invasive insects constitute a serious ongoing threat to our Islands ecosystem.

IMAGinE OURHAWAIIAN ISLANDS

WITHOUT COCONUT PALMS OR NATIVE PLANTS

Thank you for helping to protect our beautiful Hawai‘i.

plants, and producing seeds. The work will expand to the larger Halawa inter-change this year.

Plants, selected from eligible candi-dates identified by the USDA National Resources Conservation Service’s Plant Materials Center on Moloka‘i, include four native grass groundcovers (Piligrass, Emoloa, Kamanomano, and Konakona) and five shrubs (A‘ali‘i, Ahinahina, Awe-oweo, Ilima, and Uhaloa).

DeFrank plans to simulate a dryland ecosystem on steeper banks and harvest seed on flat areas. The potential benefits are manifold, he says. Beyond controlling erosion, the use of native plantings

■ provides a habitat for beneficial insects, including pollinators, and source of food for birds that can disperse the native seeds.

■ displaces invasive species along roadways (a proven corridor for spread-ing to new areas).

■ creates a reservoir of native seeds for various uses.

■ provides opportunities for Adopt-a-Highway groups to learn about native species and help harvest seeds.

■ reduces maintenance costs once es-tablished, and possibly generate revenue

through seed production as a business venture.

■ mitigates the heating and drying effect of hard urban landscapes.

O‘o in hand, DeFrank pauses to wipe his brow during a workday at the University onramp site. “This is a mini lab,” he says with satisfaction. “Before, it was just an-other maintenance expense for the state.”

His work is an example of the kind of outreach that characterizes extension at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service this year.

He shares the plot with Chittaranjan Ray, of the UH Water Resources Re-search Center, who is examining soil remediation. He also collaborates with Nellie Sugii, from the university’s Lyon Arboretum, who is working to identify and test native ferns suitable for the cooler, wetter conditions of higher eleva-tion roadways.

Cheryl Ernst is an Events and Public Information Officer in the UH Manoa CTAHR Office of Communication Services.

Scott Lukas, Joe DeFrank and Orville Baldos planting native plants at the H-1 Interchange.


couLd thIs BE YOU?

The story you are about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I’m the shop superin-tendent at a large land-

scape company. We do contract landscape maintenance for large, high-visibility projects.

It’s Monday morning. Let’s see what this week will bring. I walk in, and the opera-tors are picking up their equipment and leaving to work their assigned areas. (So far, so good.) Within 45 minutes, opera-tor one returns to the shop. He says his equipment is not working. We started the equipment before he took it, so we know it was working when it left. What happened?? He shrugs; he says he has no idea. He says it just stopped. We swap out machines, and off he goes. Fifteen minutes later operator two comes in. He says he can’t keep the machine running. When asked what he did, he said it was like that when he picked up the machine. (No way!) He is now behind schedule so we swap out his machine, and send him out to work.

Meanwhile, the mechanic, Bill, and I try to troubleshoot the machines. We identify the problem on both machines. Noth-ing major; a leaky tank grommet on one machine, and a carburetor problem on the

second. The machines are about ten years old, so these problems are not unusual for machines of this age.

We check the parts shelves. We don’t have the spare parts to do the repairs. We now have two “down” machines, and the last two spare machines are being used. We can’t have any more machines break down today. One hour later, in comes operator three with another problem. An-other machine which “magically” stopped. Good news! We have the part to fix the machine and get him going. But by this time, THE BOSS has come in to the shop to find out why operator two and three are not finished with their area yet. I explained what had happened. Needless to say, he was not pleased. He walked out shaking his head.

I get my list of parts that need to be ordered and start to price out the cost of replacing the broken parts. Since I’ve been over-budget for the last two months, this will only compound the problem. I put off buying new machines because of the bud-get. Now, I have to repair the old machines and hope they will last for a few more months. And it is only Monday.

Does this scenario sound familiar? How often have you been caught between operators and THE BOSS; getting the job done with equipment that is old, and

continuously breaking and a budget that will not allow for new equipment? There are multiple issues here and there is no simple solution. But here are some ques-tions, which may help to put the problem in perspective.

1. Are there operators who seem to con-sistently have problems with the equip-ment? Are they held accountable when the equipment breaks?

2. Does your mechanic have the skill to troubleshoot and repair the equipment quickly? Do you keep frequently used parts in your shop?

3. Do you keep a record of the repairs that are done on the machines? Do you know what the repairs cost? At what point will you decide to replace, rather than repair equipment?

4. Is there an equipment replacement plan? Does the replacement plan include hand-held equipment or does it only include the larger, riding pieces

What might your solution be? We have been there and struggled to find the “right” solution. There is one sure thing, you are not alone.

Phyllis Jones is with A to Z Equipment and Sales, formally A to Z Rental Center, in business for over 25 years.

p h Y L L i S J O N E S

TIPStool

Hawaiiscape.com 31thE VOiCE OF hAWAii’S GREEN iNDUStRY

As spring rolls around, we wait to see what “new” things manufacturers will be introducing for the coming year. Sometimes they are new models with

new features; or changes in engine design or application as manufacturers try to make engines which are EPA compliant, more user friendly and cost efficient.

Alternate fuels continue to be a favorite subject as the complaints about ethanol continue to rise for both 2 cycle and 4 cycle engines. The complaints are primar-ily related to shortening of engine life and diminished engine performance. Conver-sion to propane is gaining momentum in some areas of the country, and the conversion is relatively inexpensive. Some engine manufacturers are offering the conversion as a kit or offering propane as an engine option on new riding equip-ment. (Propane has been around for many years but has not been a popular option until recently when the cost of fuel has risen.)

Battery-powered 2 cycle tools have become more available, and batteries are being used on a wider variety of tools. However, there are several drawbacks that have limited their popularity. While they are quieter and have no engine parts which need to be replaced, they are heavier. At this time, they are unable to achieve the same amount of power that

gas engines generate, and the “run time” is limited, requir-ing additional battery packs.

In the 4 cycle engine world, Briggs and Stratton has intro-duced a fuel injected engine which they are testing on equipment that uses larger engines. But as of now, they have not found a way to use fuel injection on their smaller engines.

The use of diesel in place of gasoline is becoming more prevalent. The down side is that that makes one more kind of fuel to store, and the greater the risk of confu-sion, and using the wrong fuel.

As tier II parts are phased out, and no longer available, mechanics shop su-pervisors and owners will have to make some difficult decisions. These decisions should be based on their company’s particular needs, and what is available, and price.

BE PROACTIVE and start looking now. Try to anticipate what you will need this year. DON’T WAIT! Know what the market has to offer. Be prepared!

CHECK YOUR POWER EQUIPMENT I.Q.

In order to make those important equipment decisions, you need to have some basic understanding of what makes equipment work. Starting with this issue, we will include a few questions for you to test your knowledge. Here goes!

1. 2 cycle engines don’t have valves. True or False2. All small engines (2 or 4 cycle) require air, fuel, spark, compression to operate properly. True or False3. All small engines would require at least 100lb. of compression to operate cor-rectly. True or False4. No mower, riding or walk-behind, with a 4-cycle engine, should be used on a slope greater than 45 degrees. True or False5. The operational life expectancy of any piece of equipment, 2 or 4-cycle, will depend on the frequency of use; the ap-plication; and the quality and regularity of a maintenance program. True or False

How did you do?

Phyllis Jones is with A to Z Equipment and Sales, formally A to Z Rental Center, in business for over 25 years.

what’sNEW?Anticipating what your needs will this year and what the market has to offer will be key

By phyllis Jones

803 Mapunapuna Street, Honolulu, HI 96819-2086

Tel (808) 833-4567 Fax (808) 833-9346 hiscosales.com

Public Works, Irrigation & Landscape Supplies

The proven leader in smart water management.

Hisco is the only authorized irrigation distributor of both Hunter and Rain Bird on the islands, as well as your trusted source for water gardens, pond products, fertilizer, landscape lighting, hand tools and power equipment. Our extensive inventory is available to supply your large or small projects with same day delivery available on Oahu & shipping to the outer islands.

Hisco New AD 2.indd 1 5/2/14 11:19 AM