the growing concern february 2015

A p u b l i c A t 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 A t i o nConcern

The GrowingfebruAry 2015

February OLA Meeting – ColumbusFebruary 19, 2015PAGE 7

Stone Clinic – Right Tool, Right TechniqueMarch 5, 2015PAGE 17

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I would say that most would agree to build something the correct way requires good directions. My 8 year old (Alex) enjoys building Legos, at least up to the point when that one piece was placed two slots over from where it belongs. We all know from that point forward every piece placed could be subject to a rebuild. That was the case this past week when I found myself helping him trouble shoot which piece was in the wrong place. Imagine if your crew put the first piece of a patio in the wrong place. How costly could that situation become?

This got me thinking about what I do for a living. I sell design/build projects without directions; blueprint – yes, but directions – no. How simple could a patio installation go with step-by-step directions? Even a simple $39.00 Lego set comes with step-by-step directions to follow for a successful build. So, have you prepared your crews with the proper directions or standard operating

BUILDING WITH GOOD DIRECTIONS steve moore

S.A.M. Landscaping, Inc.

procedures (SOP) to make Mr. and Mrs. Client happy . . . the first time?

Streamlining your business with SOPs could be beneficial to improving your productivity, which can directly affect your profit margin and versatility of your employees. You are essentially creating a standardized process to cover the repetitive situations or tasks within your company. This will allow extra time to focus on the items that really need attention. There are always situations on every project that are identical to the previous project. With procedures in place it allows the project to continually move forward when key staff personnel are not present. By referring to the SOP someone else can take over and get the tasks completed, correctly – the first time. A foreman would be able to successfully delegate knowing that everyone is on the same page.

With procedures in place it allows the

project to continually move forward when key staff personnel are not present.

continued on page 6

FEATURES

3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Building With Good Directions

8 PLANT OF THE MONTH Pinus Strobus Eastern White Pine

12 PERENNIAL FOCUS Old Favorites, New Cultivars – 2015 Edition

16 FISCAL FITNESS Financial Road Map

20 FOR SAFETY SAkE Avert Injuries, Don’t Overexert

22 5 TIPS TO HELP YOU DELEGATE BETTER AS A GREEN INDUSTRY OWNER

24 DIRECTIONS Change is Good

INSIDE EvERY ISSUE

25 ADvERTISING INDEx

26 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

tAble of contents

f e b r u A r y 2 0 1 5 w w w. o h i o l A n d s c A p e r s . o r g

OFFICERSPresidentSteve Moore

President-ElectBryan Taynor

TreasurerCathy Serafin, ASLA, RLA

Immediate Past PresidentJoe Twardzik, CID

ohio’s profess ionAl green industry Assoc iAt ion

OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION9240 Broadview RoadBroadview Heights, Ohio 44147Phone: 440-717-0002 or 1-800-335-6521Fax: 440-717-0004Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org or www.myohiolandscape.com

EDITORSandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association

REGULAR WRITERSMichael J. Donnellan, king Financial, Inc.Jim Funai, COLP, Cuyahoga Community CollegeShelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and GardensSandy Munley, Ohio Landscape AssociationBobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green ThumbSteve Moore, S.A.M. Landscaping, Inc.

ADvERTISING INFORMATIONSubmission deadline: 10th of month prior to publication month. For advertising and classified rates, please call 1-800-335-6521

DISCLAIMERThe Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attest to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.

OLA STAFFExecutive DirectorSandy Munley

Communications and Events ManagerDarlene Hess

Membership CoordinatorSue Whitlam

DIRECTORSEric Brubeck, ASLAAdam CapiccioniJacob GrimmNathan kowalsickMaria McConnell

cAlendAr of events

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 A n d o t h e r g r e e n i n d u s t r y e v e n t s

FEBRUARYGREAT BIG HOME AND GARDEN SHOWfebruAry 6 - 15, 2015visit the OLA garden at the Great Big Home and Garden consumer show at the I-x Center in Cleveland featuring home improvement and landscape solutions for homeowners. Members are invited to help build and staff the OLA garden. For information on the show visit greatbighomeandgarden.com.

TURF, ORNAMENTAL AND AQUATIC SEMINARfebruAry 11, 2015Advanced Turf Solutions is hosting an educational seminar featuring speakers from OSU ( Dr Joe Rimelspach) and OSU extension (Erik Draper) as well as additional speakers from the industry discussing various topics including turf, ornamental, and even aquatics. There is no charge for OLA members and lunch is included. Recertification credit for the ODA in several categories(pending). Held at the Brecksville Community Center, 1 Community Drive, Brecksville. Seating is limited. Call Aaron Bucci at 330-559-3230 or ATS’s Brecksville location 440-740-0303 to RSvP.

OLA MEETING – CENTRAL OHIOfebruAry 19, 2015This meeting will feature Charles vander kooi. Held at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University. RSvP by February 5 to attend. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

OHIO GREEN INDUSTRY ADVOCACY DAYfebruAry 25, 2015Learn about the state-level legislative issues that could affect your business and have a unique opportunity to visit with your state Senator and Representative at the State Capitol in Columbus. Contact the OLA at 440-717-0002 to learn more!


MARCHOLA STONE CLINIC – RIGHT TOOL, RIGHT TECHNIQUEmArch 5, 2015Learn age-old techniques to fabricating natural stone, including cutting, rockfacing and making barnstone. Instructed by British Master Stone Mason, Chris Pascoe. Held at Tri-R-Stone in Garfield Hts. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

OLA MEETING – NE OHIOmArch 12, 2015Maintaining Proper Growth In Your Landscape Business presented by Jason Cupp, kincaide, Ltd., kansas City, MO. Held at St. Michael’s Woodside in Broadview Hts. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

JULYPLANET Legislative ConferenceJuly 20-21, 2015Influence lawmakers and make a difference in your industry. Held in Washington D.C. For more information or to register, contact PLANET at 1-800-395-2522 or visit LandCareNetwork.org.

PLANET Renewal and Remembrance DayJuly 20, 2015Beautification project at Arlington National Cemetery where green industry companies from across our great nation pay tribute to our fallen soldiers by providing lawn care, mulching, pruning, planting and more! For more information or to register, contact PLANET at 1-800-395-2522 or visit LandCareNetwork.org.

LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN TESTJuly 23, 2015Hands-On and Written Test. Held on the campus of OSU ATI in Wooster. Pre-register by May 20. Written test only will be given February 10 & 17, July 22 and October 6 at various locations around the state. For more information contact Elliott or kim Sayers, at the Ohio State ATI Business Training and Educational Services office at 330-287-7511 or 330-287-0100.or visit LandscapeCertifiedOhio.org.

AUGUSTOLA Scholarship Golf ClassicAugust 6, 2015Join us for a fun day of golf, networking, food and liquid refreshments at Mallard Creek Golf Club in Columbia Station. For more information contact OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or visit OhioLandscapers.org.

NGLCO Field DayAugust 11, 2015This year’s field day will be hosted by Chalet Debonne vineyards in Madison, Ohio. For more information contact Annette Howard at 440-241-7969, [email protected] or visit www.nglco.com.

6 x Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association

pres ident ’s column

continued from pg 3

Wouldn’t it be nice to reduce the learning curve or training time for new employees? Having a well written and documented SOP ensures that each employee preforming the same daily tasks are completing the tasks in the same manner. This is beneficial as it pertains to your particular branding and marketable craftsmanship, but that is a topic of its own.

Delivering the best possible experience for your clients should be high on everyone’s list. Implementing a standard way of dealing with client inquires, follow-up, and warranty situations, will ensure each client is treated fairly and equally.

Reduce your stress. Prior to this coming spring rush, customize a handful of procedures that are used within your organization on a daily basis. To start out, keep them simple and concise to adapt easily. Once SOPs are created, it is also essential to see how related tasks interact. keep in mind that SOPs are always subject to change and should be reviewed periodically with what works within your company’s culture.

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A p u b l i c A t 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 A t i o n GrowingConcernThe

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Hosted by The Pattie Group

page 7

Snow & Ice Management Clinic

September 22, 2011

page 11

Dormant Pruning Clinic

September 27, 2011 – Northeast Ohio

October 4, 2011 – Central Ohio

page 30


The

Drainage ClinicNovember 9, 2011 Page 17

OLA Annual MeetingNovember 17, 2011 Page 7

Sales ClinicFor Landscape ProfessionalsDecember 13, 2011 Page 13

How To Set Goals For New Employees Page 32

GrowingoctobeR 2011

CONTACT THE OLA FOR MORE INFORMATIONphone: 1-800-335-6521 email: [email protected]

web: OhioLandscapers.org

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THREE CULTURES THAT RUN THROUGH

ALL SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES

Financial success is no accident. It takes building the right culture within your organization and executing a good plan to succeed. Charles Vander Kooi will share with us the three cultures that he has witnessed in every successful and profitable landscape company that he has dealt with. Join us to learn what these three cultures are and find out if you are on the track to success or if you need to make some changes in the way your company runs.

Charles has been involved in the construction industry for over 4 decades as an estimator and upper-management employee of companies as well as professional speaker and consultant. He has bid over a billion dollars in work over his career. As a private consultant, he has helped over 1,500 companies in their estimating/bidding systems and has lectured to over 200,000 people nationally and internationally.

This presentation promises to be informational and entertaining. Please join us for a session that might change the future of your business!

RSVP for your complimentary attendance by February 5, 2015Register online at www.ohiolandscapers.org, or call the OLA at 1-800-335-6521 or email [email protected]

OLA Meeting AnnouncementFebruary 19, 2015

CENTRAL OHIO

Open to all green industry professionals!

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7:00 to 9:00 pm - Program and Discussion

Held At the Ohio Union The Ohio State University, 1739 North High St., Columbus, OH

NO CHARGE TO ATTEND!

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plAnt of the month

Jim funAi, colpCuyahoga Community College

shelley funAiStan Hywet Hall and Gardens

What really caught the eye was the way the sun reflected off the needles almost like the twinkle lights of Christmas trees that were surely starting to come down in all of our living rooms. We debated a bit about writing our next article about white pine with some concern that readers may quickly dismiss the plant as far too common to bother reading about. So, if you are still with us – please stay with us, this is really a fascinating plant with a long storied history in America. We think you will find a new respect for this tree after reading this.

Let’s start in “the beginning,” well, at least for modern horticulture. As the “New World” was being colonized it did not take long for the British to realize the wealth of lumber to be taken from it. It was the 1700s and much of the European giant trees had been felled to produce masts for His Majesty’s Ships (HMS). Native stands of

PINUS STROBUSEASTERN WHITE PINEThe morning of January 1st this year was a very pleasant and unseasonably sunny morning. As the two of us sat looking out at our gardens, we talked about what to add in the garden this year. (As we’re sure most married couples did that same morning?!) We couldn’t help but notice the beauty of a row of white pine we have in the gardens. These pines were likely planted sometime in the 1980’s and are just starting to reach into sizes that hint at the species potential and beauty.

continued on page 10

Pinus strobus towered at reported heights of close to 200 feet with diameters well over 3 feet. These dense stands of white pine must have been breathtaking, ranging across eastern North America from Newfoundland to the Great Lakes chasing down the Appalachians into Northern Mississippi and Georgia.

As we know, tensions were building between the colonies and the British Empire, and this storied tree had a very big role in our independence. Agents of the king were tasked with exploring the American forests for the largest of the species and carving a mark in trunk known as the “Broad Arrow” which was a carving of an arrowhead. This mark indicated that the tree was reserved for the British Royal Navy and no one was to touch it. The British built special ships to haul these massive trunks back to the English shipyards 50 at a time. The trunk would be squared off in America

Pinus stobus ‘Pendula’ – Photo courtesy of plantplaces.com


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continued from pg 8

plAnt of the month

to conserve space with many of the squared boles measuring up to 4 feet by 4 feet at the base and up to 120 feet long.

In true American spirit, the colonists were not too keen on the king’s seizure of their wood and it became tradition to wait for his agents to finish marking trees with the broad arrow and soon fell each one for their own use. While a great way to rebel against the king, it seems a shame to have so many virgin trees dropped to become simple boards in the construction of some houses.

Today, we do not see nearly as much use of this species in wood production, being replaced by Southern Yellow Pines (P. taeda [Loblolly], P. palustris [Longleaf ], P. echinata [Shortleaf ], & P. elliottii [Slash]) as these species have much harder wood than the white pines.

In our world of horticulture and ornamental uses of plants, white pine finds varying use. Typically easy to propagate and fast to grow, makes it an ideal tree for the budget. While the homeowner is happy about the cost, to their dismay the tree dies every fall! Ok, the tree is fine, but like all “evergreens” they will lose leaves and this particular pine is shedding off two-year-old leaves. Upon first glance many a homeowner has thought this mass drop of brown needles to be a sign of death. We only need to help them understand that this is a natural process of shedding the leaves that have become less effective at photosynthesis and are not worth the energy to hold through the coming winter.

While the giant white pines of American history are not possible in our client’s garden (in our lifetime), it is possible to expect a great deal of size in short periods of time. Often we see these trees putting up to 3 foot of growth upward each year. Typical sizes under cultivation range in the 50 to 80 foot tall by anywhere from 20 to 40 feet wide. This is a very adaptable plant but prefers more sun if you can give it and well drained soils. It is found however, on a wide range of soils from rocky and dry to bottomland peat.

The biggest pest issue you will face is the White Pine Weevil which loves to feed on the terminal shoots, causing stunted growth. Oftentimes the tree will grow through this issue and become less susceptible with age. Treatments are available but not all together needed unless severe distortion is occurring each year. A secondary problem, but fairly uncommon for us is a fungal infection called White Pine Blister Rust. This is in the unique set of diseases (rusts) that need alternate hosts to survive and reproduce. In this case, members of the genus Ribes (currents and gooseberries) are the

secondary host for the disease. The relative lack of these species may be some of the reason we do not encounter the disease as often.

Perhaps the best way to bring the white pine into the landscape is with some of the exciting cultivar selections available. ‘Fastigiata’ will give you height but behave itself in width typically reaching into the 40 foot range in height and staying under 15 feet wide. This is a great selection for tight spaces where you still want some vertical elements in the garden but can’t afford the width.

For an even smaller space, consider ‘Nana’ whose globe shaped habit staying under 6 foot would make an excellent year round specimen and serve as a softer textured alternative to the overused Mugho Pine and Globe Blue Spruce.

Perhaps our favorite to see is ‘Pendula’ which behaves as a strong weeper creating a soft “water fountain” effect of beautiful deep green to whatever height it is staked up to. This is certainly a specimen plant and we would suggest hand selecting just the right one for the location you intend to plant it as each of these will have its own unique character.

We try to remember that even the most common of plants out there can become quite beautiful in the right place at the right time. White Pine should continue to see heavy rotation in gardens in our region, but let’s keep some of these cultivars in mind when we are looking for just the right specimen, and share the storied history of the plant with your clients, they too will gain a new appreciation for this majestic native of America.

Jim Funai is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a PLANET accredited, associate of applied science in horticulture degree program, offering many paths to higher education to the green industry. He has an MS from Colorado State and is a licensed arborist. Shelley Funai is the Grounds Manager at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio that offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. Both are graduates of The Ohio State University. Contact Jim and Shelly via email at [email protected]

… like all “evergreens” they will lose leaves and this particular pine is shedding off two-year-old leaves.

March 12, 2015

REGISTER ONLINE AT OHIOLANDSCAPERS.ORG OR CALL THE OLA AT 1-800-335-6521 OR EMAIL [email protected]

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perenn iAl focus

Sunsparkler® ‘Dazzleberry’ is another Sedum that has drawn a lot of attention. Developed by Chris Hansen of Great Garden Plants, it is a groundcover Sedum, growing only six to eight inches but eighteen inches wide. The flowers are a dark raspberry pink. The foliage of this one is a smoky blue-gray. This one I sited at the bottom of a south facing hill with other groundcover sedums. A sister cultivar is ‘Lime Zinger’. It is very similar to ‘Dazzleberry’ in habit but has pale pink flowers and tight green foliage, supposedly with a cherry red edge but I’m still waiting for that colored edge to appear. In 2013, it started blooming for me during the last week of July.

I love Sedum but, in recent years, I’ve become enamored with the shorter ones because they’re too dimunitive to fall over. One of the newer cultivars, ‘Crystal Pink’, fits into this category. Growing only twelve inches high and a tiny bit wider, it has pale pink, almost flat flower heads held above very tight foliage. Like most Sedum, it attracts beneficial, pollinating insects and butterflies. It was introduced by Terra Nova a few years ago and is doing well for me in a full sun, well drained spot in my garden.

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For years, my favorite Nepeta (Catmint) has been ‘Dropmore Hybrid’. Its one drawback is its sprawly nature, particularly in tight spaces. Now we have ‘Purrsian Blue’, introduced by Walters Gardens, that forms a small, dense clump of tiny, green leaves with blue-purple spikes of flowers all summer long. It does not reach its mature growth of fourteen inches high and thirty inches wide until the second year but I haven’t had to prune it back like I do ‘Dropmore Hybrid’ to keep it blooming.

Brunnera (Forget-Me-Not) has always been a staple of the shade garden. The introduction of ‘Jack Frost’ was a game changer for this genus because its silvery variegation lightens the shade immensely. Now we have two similar but better cultivars, ‘Sea Heart’ and ’Silver Heart’. The leaves are much thicker and rounder and bloom starts a week or two earlier. Even though I planted these two cultivars side by side a few years ago, I cannot discern much difference between them. I did notice that the foliage did not develop any blackening like my ‘Jack Frost’ does starting in mid to late summer. The newest cultivar of this type is ‘Alexander’s Great’, so named because the foliage will supposedly get huge but mine has not been in the garden long enough to mature.

A somewhat different Brunnera has been in my garden for five years. ‘king’s Ransom’, a Terra Nova introduction, is mostly silvered green with dark green veins but with a wide cream edge. All of the Brunnera grow best in partial shade and average to moist soils.

All three of these genera are mainstays of the garden so we welcome improved introductions.

perenn iAl focus

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, free-lance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four-season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Bobbie currently serves as chair of the ONLA Plant Selection Committee. Bobbie can be reached at (216) 752-9449.


Sedum ‘Lime Zinger’

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No one is born knowing how to save or to invest. Every successful investor starts with the basics. A few people may stumble into financial security – a wealthy relative may die, or a business may take off, but for most people, the only way to attain financial security is to save and invest over a long period of time.

Current market conditions make saving and investing a daunting task. Now is the time to plan or update your investment goals.

The stock market can be an intimidating and volatile place to invest. The important thing is to map out your direction. Similar to planning a trip, you need a map, directions, and the resources to get on your way.


FINANCIAL ROAD MAPknowing how to secure your financial well-being is one of the most important things you’ll ever need in life. You don’t have to be a genius to do it. You just need to know a few basics, form a plan, and be ready to stick to it. No matter how much or little money you have, the important thing is to educate yourself about your opportunities.

The stock market has risen considerably after the economic

meltdown five years ago.

Firm Contact Address City State Zip Phone (______) Fax (______) Email

NAME OF ATTENDEE FEE

$ $

TOTAL DUE $ Check No. ___________ Enclosed Charge to my MasterCard Visa

Acct. No. Exp. Date

Name on Card Signature

Billing Address + Zipcode for Card Last Three Digits on Signature Line

STONE CLINIC: RIGHT TOOL/RIGHT TECHNIQUEMake checks payable and send to: Ohio Landscape Association, 9240 Broadview Rd, Broadview Hts., OH 44147

Register online, by mail, by phone or fax: Phone 1-800-335-6521 • Fax 440-717-0004 • www.ohiolandscapers.org

Register On Time, Payment Received Before 02/23/15 OLA Members $129 NON Members $169Register Late, Payment Received After 02/23/15 OLA Members $159 NON Members $199

Cancellations made 8 to 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds will be issued for cancellations 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.

Presented by

Join us for this hands-on clinic where you will learn rockfacing, cutting, dressing, coping, splitting, and tooling. You will learn the difference between sandstone and limestone, and their different varieties and grades that require different techniques; as well as the skills for handling barnstone.

Chris Pascoe is a Master Stone Mason and has over 25 years of experience in the stone industry. He grew up and studied in England before traveling to the US to work on the Cathedral St. John The Devine in New York City.

Continental breakfast and lunch are included with each registration. Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase quality stoneworking tools in advance of the clinic. REGISTER EARLY - class size is limited to only 24 participants and will sell out quickly!

March 5th

20159:00 am to 4:00 pm

Held atTri-R-Stone

Garfield Heights, OH

Instructed by

Chris PascoeTri-R-Stone

Sponsored & Hosted by

Qualifies for 6 CEUs for Landscape Industry Certified

STONE CLINICOLA EDUCATION SERIES

RIGHT TOOL • RIGHT TECHNIQUE

With the proper tools and the right skills, you can dress stone on the joband save money using age-old techniques.

2015 Stone Clinic.indd 1 12/17/2014 8:48:26 PM

http://ohiolandscapers.org/stone_tool.html

On this financial road trip, start by mapping your goals. Are you saving for a house, college education, retirement planning or trying to grow or protect your nest egg? You could also rely on a financial advisor as your GPS, routing you the best way to reach your destination, and making recommendations along the way.

Develop your plan by investing your assets, whether it is in real estate, the stock market, bonds, hard assets, etc. Younger investors should be investing on a regular basis and keeping a balance of cash as an emergency fund.

Treat your savings as an expense. That means set aside a set amount each month for savings or investments. Save as much as you can in a tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) or IRA. Diversify your assets. Review and rebalance your portfolio on a regular basis.

Recently, the road has been bumpy, with many different routes to take and roadblocks along the way. The important part is to stay focused on your journey. The stock market has risen considerably after the economic meltdown five years ago. Now the global economy is facing a longer than expected period of slowing growth. Stock market volatility does create opportunity, though. Use pullbacks to pick up quality stocks at lower prices. Your financial advisor, just like your GPS in your car, is valuable at a time like this.

If you need help, contact your financial advisor or call me if you need a second opinion or are looking for an advisor. Investors have different goals or destinations and advisors will have plans/ideas specific to your individual situation.

f i scAl f i tness


Michael J. Donnellan is President of King Financial, Inc., in Strongsville, Ohio specializing in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments. Phone number (440) 878-9676.



Corporate Offices / Main Nursery4534 Center Road Avon, Ohio 44011-0299

Email: [email protected] Toll Free: 866-934-4435 / Fax: 440-934-5826

Avon4825 Center Rd. / Avon, Oh. 44011-0299

Toll Free: 866-934-4435 ext. 2251 / Local: 440-934-3813Fax: 440-934-4621

E-mail: [email protected] Owens, Manager

Columbus6981 Scioto Darby Creek Road / Hilliard, Oh. 43026

Toll Free: 888-593-5999 / Local: 614-777-9859Fax: 614-777-1276

E-mail: [email protected] Johnston, Manager

Distribution Centers

www.willowaynurseries.com

LET IT SNOW.

Specializing in parts for:Snowblowers, Snow Plows and Salt Spreaders

.Wholesale pricing..Refurbished pumps..Difficult to find parts..Over 50 years combined experience..New Salt Spreaders & Snowblowers.

PARTS FOR

We’re “all season” for a reason.

RCPW.COM/SNOWfor Parts & Parts Lookup

600 EAST HIGHLAND RDMACEDONIA OH, 44056

(800) 937-7279

www.willowaynurseries.com

www.rcpw.com/snow


for sAfety sAke

Overexertion is a common type of injury that can occur in any industry where physical activity is required. Lifting, carrying, reaching and repeated bending at the waist can all lead to overexertion injuries. According to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, overexertion is the leading cause of work-related injuries nationwide, costing businesses up to $14.2 billion per year.

There are many measures you can take to ensure your employees handle equipment safely and protect themselves against overexertion. BWC recommends actions such as: •Analyzingtheworkconditionsforpotentialergonomic

risk factors; •Providingmechanicalequipmenttominimizemanual

lifting and transporting of materials; •Providingwell-designedstorageracksandadequatespace

for handling; •Providingwell-designedtoolsandequipment.

BWC also offers a number of services to your business at no additional charge, including safety consultations, safety intervention grants and training courses on back trauma and ergonomic safety.

There are many ways in which workers can become injured on the job. That’s why we offer training and resources that will help you to reduce other common hazards that may be present in your workplace. These include: •Slips,tripsandfalls; •Cutsandlacerations; •Exposuretochemicalsandtemperatureextremes; •Exposuretoelectricalshock.

More information is available about preventing injuries in the services industry by https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/home/current/MediaSite/SafetyCampaign/flyers/Services.pdf.

Connect with a BWC safety consultant at 1-866-569-7805 or via email at [email protected]. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, 30 W. Spring St. Columbus, Ohio 43215.

AvERT INJURIES, DON’T OvERExERT

Lifting, carrying, reaching and repeated bending at the waist can all lead to overexertion injuries.

The Uvision™ System by Unilock is designed to help you envision your Unilock project by enabling you to compare product scale, texture and color. Because paper and ink may change over time, Unilock cannot guarantee accuracy of these sample sheets. Always refer to actual product samples when making a final decision. Best viewed from a distance greater than 3 feet (approximately 1 meter).

BORDERS & ACCENTS

Burgundy Red / Burnt Clay / Old Oak

COPTHORNE® CH

MI

BO

NY

OH

BU

ON

UVSN_BORD_COP.indd 9 13-03-26 7:18 PM

richcliff®

Inspired by and cast from actual cut flagstone, Richcliff® not only has the same rich color and realistic texture of quarried flagstone, but has been manufactured with our Ultima™ Concrete Technology, making it up to four times the strength of poured concrete.

CH

MI

BO

NY

OH

BU

ON

Dawn Mist / Pebble Taupe(Blended on site)

Come to the 2015 Contractor Advantage Seminar and gain a competitive advantage for the upcoming year! This knowledge-based event will give you valuable insight into;

The 2015 Unilock Contractor Advantage Seminar is approved for PLANET Landscape Industry Certified recertification at 1 CEU per hour of instruction attended. You will receive 4 credits upon completion of each Unilock Advantage Seminar. For more information on PLANET recertification, please visit PLANET’s Recertification Center at LandcareNetwork.org.

Visit Contractor.unilock.com/seminars for more information.

LOOKING TO JUMP START YOUR BUSINESS AND HAVE A MORE PROFITABLE 2015?

New products for 2015

Installation best practices

Jointing material do’s and don’ts

New paver technologies

Homeowner insights

Much much more

DATE February 10, 2015

TIME Registration: 8:30 to 9:00

Event: 9:00 to 2:30

LOCATION Marriot North at

Cranberry Woods

ADDRESS 100 Cranberry Woods,

Cranberry Twp, PA 16066

PITTSBURGH Contractor Advantage Seminar



Event: 9:00 to 2:30

LOCATION The Galaxy Restaurant

ADDRESS 201 Park Centre Dr.,

Wadsworth, OH 44281

CLEVELAND Contractor Advantage Seminar



Event: 9:00 to 2:30

LOCATION Hollywood Casino

ADDRESS 200 Georgeville Rd., Columbus, OH 43228

COLUMBUS Contractor Advantage Seminar

UNILOCK.COM | 1-800-UNILOCK

CONTRACTORADVANTAGESE M I NAR

REGISTER TODAY for this MUST ATTEND event!

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1. INvEST TImE NOW TO SAvE TImE LATERI always felt like I didn’t have enough time to train someone to do things I was used to doing. When you have too much to do, how do you make time to train someone to take over some of your tasks?

Well, you have to put off things that can be put off and put in a bit of extra time while you train the employee. Plan ahead and write out what training you will do each day. When you want to give up and just do the task yourself, keep reminding yourself of how nice it will be when the training is done.

2. SET STANDARDS AND TRAIN WELLI had trouble delegating sometimes because I thought that no one else would do the job as well as me – either they wouldn’t be capable, or they just wouldn’t care enough to do it right. The solution I found was to find someone who was a great fit for the job and train them to my high standards right away. Make sure you communicate exactly how and when you want the job done while training and make a checklist for the trainee to follow in the future, so they will always remember what is expected. Do everything you can to set your employees up for success.

Owning a business involves a lot of risk. One way we try to feel more in control is to do everything ourselves. Unfortunately, we can’t. If we don’t learn to delegate tasks, we will get really tired and never succeed. Here are five tips I picked up along the way to help green-industry owners succeed at delegating.

By DaviD Crary, HinDsite software


To Help You Delegate Better As A Green Industry Owner5 TIPS

3. CHECk PROgRESS REguLARLy TO FEEL mORE IN-CONTROLAfter you get some tasks handed off to your employees, you may start to feel your business slipping out of your hands. You might not know everything that’s going on anymore. You may worry that people aren’t following through with their responsibilities. You will be tempted to grab everything back, but just wait! You don’t have to do it yourself. You just have to check in with your people to see how they’re doing. Better yet, have your employees check in with you at a regular time to give you updates on their progress or to fill you in on important company stats. Set up a plan so your people are communicating all you need to know, so you feel in control and run your company well.

4. START WITH SmALL TASkS AND BuILD uP TO LARgER ONESDon’t start out by hiring a new operations manager to take over everything you have been doing in your green industry business. Start small. Pick one task that you could delegate to someone. Train a competent employee to do that task and bask in the joy of not having to do it anymore. Your employees will slowly build up their skills and be ready for harder jobs. Also, you will build up your confidence in your staff’s abilities and be ready to delegate more.

David Crary is the founder of Hindsite Software, LLC. His irrigation

business struggled with paper work orders and timesheet management,

killing his growth. After 10 years of pulling out his hair, he decided to invest

in a technology solution. It worked so well at solving his paperwork

problems and growing his business, that he decided to sell it to other service

businesses facing similar issues. And HindSite was born. To learn more

about HindSite Software, go to www.hindsitesoftware.com, email info@

hindsitesoftware.com or call 888-271-4076.

5. LEARN TO ENjOy HELPINg OTHERS SuCCEEDWhen you run a business, there is so much to do that you may have to delegate tasks that you really enjoy. Choose to do the tasks that only you can do. keep some tasks that you genuinely love, but not too many. Learn to appreciate seeing someone else enjoy that task. Start to really enjoy watching your workers as they progress and succeed at what they do. If you try to do too much, you will be too rushed to enjoy those fun tasks anyway.

Delegating can be tricky in the green industry, but if you train and plan well, delegating can go very smoothly. Most of what stops us from delegating is just in our heads. Remind yourself regularly of the truth about delegating: it will make you better at what you do and make your job easier. Just keep at it until you succeed.

…have your employees check in with you at a regular time to give you updates on their progress or to fill you in on important company stats.



direct ions


sAndy munleyExecutive Director

Ohio Landscape Association

CHANGE IS GOOD“Don’t be afraid of change. You might lose something good, but you’ll gain something better.” – Unknown

NEW STAFFWe have new staff members to introduce to you. I am very excited about working with these ladies. As you know, Jean retired and Brett decided to move on. When you call the office, you may hear a new voice, so please take a moment and introduce yourself and welcome our new team members!

Meet Sue Whitlam. Sue is our new Membership Coordinator. She will take on the duties that Jean previously had, such as keeping our database up-to-date, invoicing, receiving payments, and registration for OLA events. And one of her most important roles will be “director of first impressions” as she answers the phone in our office. Sue is a graduate of

The University of Akron with a B.A. in Business and Organization Communication and has experience in both the golf industry and collegiate admissions.

Meet Darlene Hess. Darlene has taken the position of Communications and Events Manager. She will become the editor of the Growing Concern and will create all of the OLA’s marketing material. In short, she will be our “valued creator of wonderful things.” In addition, Darlene will be assisting me in planning our many events from the golf outing to educational

seminars to our evening meetings, and more. Darlene attended kent State University’s School of Fine and Professional Art. Darlene’s background is in advertising as a graphic artist and art director. She has also worked for a local church in their youth ministry where she planned events and mission trips.

It is exciting to know that Darlene and Sue will bring fresh ideas and experience from other industries into what we do here at OLA. And they are excited to start a new career path and learn about the green industry. I have told them how wonderful all of you are, so please help me make them feel welcome.

Advert is ing index

2 Botson Insurance Group

9 Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc.

9 Mason Structural Steel, Inc.

13 Medina Sod Farm

13 Shearer Equipment

19 Sohar’s / RCPW

21 Unilock

27 valley City Supply

13 vanCuren Tree Service

19 Willoway WDC

6 Zoresco


Effective and Affordable Advertising for Green Industry Suppliers

Beautiful and full color throughout,

The Growing Concern provides Ohio’s green

industry advertisers an extremely cost-effective

option to deliver their message!

CONTACT THE OLA FOR MORE INFORMATIONphone: 1-800-335-6521 email: [email protected]

web: OhioLandscapers.org

September 2011

A p u b l i c A t 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 A t i o n GrowingConcernThe

OLA MeetingSeptember 15, 2011

Hosted by The Pattie Group

page 7

Snow & Ice Management Clinic

September 22, 2011

page 11

Dormant Pruning Clinic

September 27, 2011 – Northeast Ohio

October 4, 2011 – Central Ohio

page 30


The

Drainage ClinicNovember 9, 2011 Page 17

OLA Annual MeetingNovember 17, 2011 Page 7

Sales ClinicFor Landscape ProfessionalsDecember 13, 2011 Page 13

How To Set Goals For New Employees Page 32

GrowingoctobeR 2011

http://ohiolandscapers.org/gc_advertising.html



direct ions

REGULAR MEMBERS:J.l. lAndscApesPO Box 82533Columbus, OH 43017(614) 659-1551Jody Linnabary

decesAre lAndscAping And design, llc.5700 Goodman DriveNorth Royalton, OH 44133(440) 665-7976Robert DeCesare

environments by design7204 Pearl RoadMiddleburg Heights, OH 44130(440) 886-6666Mary Gerard

AFFILIATE MEMBER:Anthony GonzalezWilloway Nurseries, Inc.Avon, OH

welcome new members!

The Ohio Landscape Association is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association:

OLA CLASSIFIED ADvERTISINgTimes have changed and we have recognized that the lead time needed to print classified advertising in our Growing Concern magazine has diminished the value of these ads. Most people now shop for employment opportunities and used equipment online. We can get your ad online in a day or two – sometimes in the same day. So, beginning with this issue we will no longer be printing classified in the Growing Concern. However, we will continue to include a reminder in the back of the magazine pointing readers to the online resources. Help wanted ads will appear on both our industry website ohiolandscapers.org and on our consumer website myohiolandscape.com. Traditional classified ads, i.e. equipment for sale, will appear on our industry website only. Let us know if we can answer any questions or be of service to you!

Looking for our Classified and Help Wanted ads normally published here? You’ll find them at www.ohiolandscapers.org or myohiolandscape.com.

Interested in purchasing space to run your own ad? The information below should prove useful.

HELP WANTED ADSHelp Wanted ads are posted on both our industry website ohiolandscapers.org and our consumer web-site myohiolandscape.com

CLASSIFIED ADS (I.E. Equipment for sale)Classified ads are posted on our industry website ohiolandscapers.org

COST MEMBERS: $35 plus $3 for each 10 words.NON MEMBER: $70 plus $3 for each 10 words.

PAYMENTAll classified advertising must be prepaid. Mastercard or Visa can be taken over the phone. In most cases, online posting will occur in 2 business days once pay-ment is recieved.

Send all inquiries and ad content to: [email protected] or call the OLA office at 440-717-0002

LOOKING FOR OUR

CLASSIFIEDS?

OLA Classified Ad Half Vertical.indd 1 1/22/2015 3:27:56 PM

PRE-PLANNING & DESIGN1

INSTALL ELDORADO CABINETS

2 CUT APPLIANCE OPENINGS3

INSTALL APPLIANCES & COUNTERTOPS

4INSTALL ELDORADO STONE VENEER

5

OUTDOOR LUXURY IN FIVE EASY STEPS

Quickly assembled into a virtually limitless combination of configurations, Eldorado Outdoor cabinets allow you to create beautiful and authentic masonry outdoor spaces in less than half the time compared to traditional building techniques. Assembled in just hours, even cut-outs for custom features such as barbecues, sinks, drawers, and burners can be done on-site.

6745 School Street, Valley City • 330-483-3400 • ValleyCitySupply.com

9240 Broadview Road

Broadview Hts., OH 44147-2517

02/15

Our sincere appreciation to our

2014/2015Meeting Sponsors

Silver LevelBotson Insurance Group

Bronze LevelDavis Tree Farm/Nursery

Valley City SupplyZoresco Equipment

Emerald Level

support those who support you

NE Ohio Meeting Sponsors:

Central Ohio Meeting Sponsor:

Meeting Sponsors 2014-15 OBC.indd 1 12/22/2014 5:36:39 PM

the growing concern february 2015

Documents