Growing Concern
The
SEPTEMB ER 2 0 2 6
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E O H I O L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N
29th Annual Landscape Ohio! Awards
October 8, 2026 | Tenk West Bank
Sandler Leadership Clinic The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 1 October 15, 2026 | Sandler
2 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
PR ES I DEN T’S COLUM N
THE SEASON ISN’T OVER YET
BRANDON BARKER
J. Barker Landscaping Company
September is one of my favorite times of year in the landscape industry. The heat of summer begins to break, mornings get a little cooler and fall starts to feel like it is right around the corner. After the pace of spring and summer, there can be a temptation to feel like the landscape season is beginning to wind down. But anyone in our industry knows September is anything but slow. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. Fall installations are getting underway, enhancement projects need to be completed, properties require continued attention and customers are already starting conversations about next year. For many companies, September can be one of the most productive months of the entire season. It is also a great time to take a fresh look at the properties we manage.
Rather than waiting until spring, now is a great time to discuss improvements for next year. Whether it is a landscape renovation, new plantings, drainage improvements, irrigation work or a larger design-build project, planning early gives both the contractor and the client more time to make good decisions. September is also an important month for our teams.
By this point in the year, we have had several months to see what is working and what could be improved. Plant material that struggled through the summer may need to be replaced. Beds may need additional attention. Trees and shrubs may need pruning. Properties that looked great in May, might need some extra work to finish the year looking their best. Those observations also create opportunities to have meaningful conversations with our clients.
At this point, many of our employees have been working hard for months. Long days, hot weather and demanding schedules can take their toll. As leaders, we need to recognize that. Sometimes a simple conversation or a sincere thank you means more than we realize. It is also worth asking our employees what they are seeing in the field. They often notice things management doesn’t. Maybe a piece of equipment is creating an ongoing problem. Maybe a route could be continued on page 6 The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 3
TAB LE OF CON TEN TS S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 WWW. OH I OLA N D SCA P E R S. OR G OH I O’ S P R OF E SSI ON A L G REEN I N D U ST R Y A SSOCI AT I O N OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION 9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 Phone: 440-717-0002 Toll Free: 1-800-335-6521 Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org REGULAR WRITERS Michael J. Donnellan, M3 Wealth Management Jim Funai, PhD, Cuyahoga Community College Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Brandon Barker, J. Barker Landscaping Company Patty Lampert, Ohio Landscape Association Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb
COVER: Garden Structures & Pavements IV / Merit Award Ground Works Land Design
FEATURES PRESIDENT’S COLUMN 3 The Season Isn’t Over Yet PERENNIAL FOCUS 8 Fall Maintenance FITNESS 12 AFISCAL Little Comic Relief for Your Bottom Line FOR SAFETY SAKE 16 National Concussion Awareness Day PLANT OF THE MONTH 20 Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Maple FEATURE ARTICLE 24 Creating Effective Frontline Incentive Plans FEATURE ARTICLE 28 Calculating the Cost of Capital INFLUENTIAL WOMEN 30 Paula Welch
34 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN 35 INDEX 4 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
ADVERTISING INFORMATION Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of magazine publication. For advertising and ad specs, please call 440-717-0002, and ask for Patty Lampert. DISCLAIMER The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.
OFFICERS President Brandon Barker President – Elect Matt Malone Treasurer Tom Rieder, LIC Immediate Past President Ryan Drake DIRECTORS Jeffrey Ardo Jason Deuble, LIC, OCNT Amy Gatoo Gil Kupetz Jess Kronenberger Garrett McNeill
OLA STAFF Executive Director Patty Lampert
C AL ENDAR OF EVEN TS U P C O M I N G O L A M E E T I N G S , E D U C AT I O N S E M I N A R S & E V E N T S
SEPTEMBER 2026 SEPTEMBER 25 PLANT HEALTHCARE CLINIC Secrest Arboretum This Clinic is approved for Pesticide Recertification and the ISA Certification Program Credits. The clinic will focus on Phenology Part 1, Proper Tree Planting, and Right Plant, Right Place. There will also be outdoor demonstrations of staking, guying, mulching, and how to identify common problems due to improper planting and maintenance.
NO T AN O LA MEMBER? V ISIT THE WEBSITE TO
Join today! oh iola n dsca pers. org
“The Ohio Landscape Association helps businesses
OCTOBER 2026
connect and grow, all the while
OCTOBER 8 THE 29TH ANNUAL LANDSCAPE OHIO! AWARDS
providing valuable educational
Tenk West Bank Find more information and register on the OLA website calendar.
programs to help the Green
OCTOBER 15 SANDLER LEADERSHIP CLINIC
Industry keep improving.”
Sandler Is your business ready for its next stage of growth? As landscape companies grow, many owners discover that the skills that got them here won’t necessarily get them where they want to go next. Participants will leave with a practical framework for evaluating their organization and identifying opportunities for improvement.
OCTOBER 23 TREE PLANTING IN BAY VILLAGE Volunteers are needed, please contact us if you are available to help.
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SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE A FULL LIST OF EVENTS AND REGISTRATION.
NOVEMBER 4, 2026 SANDLER SALES TRAINING Sandler
NOVEMBER 18, 2026 ANNUAL MEETING DECEMBER 4, 2026 DORMANT PRUNING Secrest Arboretum
The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 5
PR ES IDEN T’S COLUM N continued from page 3
organized differently. Maybe there is a process that looks good on paper but doesn’t work nearly as well in the field. Listening to those observations can make us better operators and better employers. September also gives us something else to look forward to. On Thursday, October 8, the Ohio Landscape Association will hold the Landscape Ohio! Awards Program at Tenk West Bank. I wrote about the Awards Program last month because I believe it is an important part of what our Association does. It gives us an opportunity to recognize the craftsmanship, creativity and hard work that goes into the projects completed by OLA members throughout Ohio. For those who will be joining us in October, it should be a great evening. We will enjoy dinner, spend time networking with fellow members and recognize this year’s award recipients. I’m especially looking forward to seeing the projects being honored and celebrating the teams responsible for bringing
6 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
them to life. Events like the Landscape Ohio Awards also remind us of something that can be easy to forget during a busy season; we should be proud of what we do. Our work is visible throughout our communities. It is at homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, parks and public spaces. We create and maintain places people see and use every day. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill required to do that work well and our industry should never hesitate to recognize it. As we head into fall, there is still plenty of 2026 left. There are projects to finish, clients to take care of, and opportunities to pursue. Before we start thinking too far ahead to winter or next spring, let’s make the most of the season in front of us. Take care of your customers. Listen to your employees. Look for opportunities to improve. And when you get the chance, take a moment to appreciate what your team has accomplished since the season began. There will be plenty of time to look ahead. For now, let’s finish what we started.
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The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 7
PEREN N I AL FOCUS
BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD Bobbie’s Green Thumb
The garden can still be vibrant in mid-November with Miscanthus ‘Adagio’, Lavandula ‘Hidcote’, Iris sibirica deadheads and bronzy foliage, Allium tuberosum deadheads, Hydrangea ‘Limelight’ panicles that will last most of the winter, and the golden yellow foliage of Rosa rugosa ‘Coeur d’Alene’ in the upper left.
FALL MAINTENANCE As soon as the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures drop, most gardeners start thinking, “Fall cleanup!” I hate that phrase and the thinking that it exemplifies, i.e., cut everything to the ground and rake all the leaves out of the beds. That makes the garden look dead rather than dormant and leaves nothing for insects and birds to feed on and take shelter in. Please, do not cut everything to the ground. Leave dormant deadheads that will provide food for the birds and sculptures for you. The crowns of many perennials are more vulnerable to cold when exposed; leaving the stems allows snow to collect and blanket the crowns. If you have perennials such as Phlox or Monarda (Beebalm) that have been besieged with powdery mildew, do cut those to the ground and remove the remnants. Although the seedheads of Crocosmia are lovely, the seeds will fall to the ground and probably give you more plants than you
want. I have been successful at foreclosing that option to them by cutting back the seed stalk before the seeds dry. Do not cut back perennials with woody stems like Lavandula (Lavender) and only partially cut back larger perennials with woody stems such as Hibiscus, Perovskia (Russian Sage) and Buddleia (Butterfly Bush). There will be some dieback during the winter and if you cut these back all the way, the dieback will go to the roots and kill them. The rest of the pruning continued on page 10
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The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 9
PEREN N I AL FOCUS continued from page 8
should wait until they foliate in the spring and then yet a few more weeks. This is also true for roses, many of which are small enough to be integrated into a perennial garden. The first spring after I planted Hibiscus, I dug it up in May, thinking that it was dead because it hadn’t foliated yet but lo and behold, the roots were a beautiful white and I realized that it was still alive. Back into the ground it went and thankfully, bloomed later that summer.
growth emerges. I gnash my teeth whenever I see grasses cut down in October. There is one exception: Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) which seeds voluminously. I’ve even tried cutting off the seedheads in October but to no avail. I still find seedlings. As I’ve aged, I find that I need to lessen maintenance so my grouping of Chasmanthium is about to be dug up. I’ll probably still find seedlings for the next few years!
If you have perennials that have become crowded and aren’t blooming as well as they used to, now would be a good time to divide them.
Please, do not rake leaves out of the beds. They are Mother Nature’s way of enriching the soil. As the leaves decay, they return their nutrients to the earth. Do remove leaves from evergreen groundcovers and from the lawn.
Please, do not cut ornamental grasses down now. They are glorious as they sway in the snow and wind. Wait until early spring, probably early to mid-March, but before the new
Yes, do remove wilted vegetables from the edibles garden and allow the soil to dry out, thus deterring slugs that love moisture. Most annuals should also be removed, the exception
Left: Buddleia ‘Glass Slippers’ is a dwarf that has been cut back in mid-April only partially after foliating. Below: This photo was taken in the middle of a snowstorm as I left a symposium on the Tri-C campus in 1995.
Above: I’m Not dead, I’m dormant – courtesy of Megan Davidson. Right: The deadheads of Sedum ‘Hab Grey’ are rusty red during the winter and contrast beautifully with the foliage of a lavender.
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being snapdragons, the roots of which frequently winter over and then flush out new growth in the spring. If you have fruit trees, pick up fallen fruit and add it to the compost pile.
Below: As you can see, bulb foliage will penetrate through an unshredded leaf mulch. Weeds, however, will have a tough time.
This is the perfect time to weed. You can see the ground again and getting a head start on weeds is always advisable, particularly since there’s always so much to do in Spring. This is also the perfect time to prune dead wood out of your shrubs. You can clearly see what is alive and what is not. When shrubs are still dormant in spring, it’s often difficult to distinguish between the two. Enjoy the colors of fall and remember to plant some spring blooming bulbs now so that when spring comes, you aren’t saying, “Oh, I wish I had planted some…..” Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).
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The The Growing Growing Concern Concern | September | March 2026 | 11
F ISCAL FI TN ESS
MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management
A LITTLE COMIC RELIEF FOR YOUR BOTTOM LINE Running a landscape business means living with numbers all year long — fuel costs, payroll, material prices, and the occasional client who insists a quote from “a guy on Facebook” is basically the same as a licensed, insured crew. It’s enough to make anyone need a laugh. So this month, instead of talking spreadsheets, let’s talk jokes. A little humor about money never hurt anyone’s bottom line — and it might just get you through the next invoice that goes unpaid a little longer than it should. On budgeting: My accountant asked me to describe my budgeting style in one word. I said “optimistic.” He crossed it out and wrote “fictional.”
On slow-paying clients: A landscaper asks his client, “When can I expect payment?” The client says, “How does never sound?” The landscaper says, “Right on schedule, then.”
On inflation: I asked the bank teller why everything costs more this year. She said, “Inflation.” I said, “That’s a big word for such a small paycheck.”
On retirement planning: My retirement plan is simple: work hard, save consistently, and hope my truck outlives my knees.
On business loans: I told my banker I needed a loan to expand the business. He asked what kind of collateral I had. I said, “Enthusiasm.” He did not seem impressed.
On taxes: Why did the landscaper bring a rake to his tax appointment? He heard he’d need to clean up his deductions.
continued on page 14
12 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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Scan the QR Code to Find a Store Near You! Growing Concern |& September 2026 | 13 TOPSOIL • MULCH • COMPOST • STONE •ThePAVERS MORE
continued from page 12
On the stock market: Someone asked me if I follow the stock market. I said, “Religiously.” They asked if I’ve made any money. I said, “That’s between me and my faith.” On pricing jobs: A new client asked why my estimate was higher than the other guy’s. I said, “Because his truck doesn’t show up in October.” On cash flow: Cash flow is a lot like watering a lawn — if you’re not paying attention, it disappears a lot faster than you think, and somehow the neighbor’s always looks better. On saving money: My wife asked where all our savings went. I told her I invested in growth. She asked, “Whose?” I said, “The weeds’, apparently.” Jokes aside, there’s a real point buried in all this: money stress is universal, and business owners in this industry carry more of it than most people realize. Between seasonal cash flow, equipment costs, and clients who negotiate like they’re buying a used car, it’s easy to let the financial side of the business become the part you dread instead of the part you manage with confidence. A little humor is a coping mechanism, sure — but it’s also a reminder not to take the numbers so seriously that you forget to look at them at all.
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If nothing else, laughing about your budget for five minutes is a lot cheaper than a therapist and considerably more fun than reconciling your books at 11 p.m. So the next time a client asks for “just a little discount,” you’ll have a good line ready. And if all else fails, remember: even the professionals don’t always have the answers. As one old joke about economists goes, ask three of them the same financial question and you’ll get four different opinions — and an invoice for all of them. Until next month, keep the mowers running, the invoices going out on time, and the sense of humor close at hand. You’ll need all three. This article is for educational purposes only and is not personalized financial advice. Consider consulting a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions. Scenarios illustrated are hypothetical in nature, results may vary. Investing is subject to risk which may involve loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management Office at 17601 W. 130th Street – Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio. (440) 652-6370 | donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com
EVENT INFORMATION SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 SECREST ARBORETUM WELCOME CENTER
2122 Williams Road Wooster, OH 44691 SCHEDULE REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
8:30 - 9:00 am CLINIC
9:00 - 11:45 am LUNCH
11:45 - 12:30 pm CLINIC
12:30 - 3:00 pm COST MEMBERS: $109 NON-MEMBERS: $149
QUESTIONS Please call Patty at 440-717-0002
REGISTER
Register by September 23, 2026. Visit the OLA Calendar on our website, OhioLandscapers.org
PLANT HEALTHCARE CLINIC This Clinic is approved for Pesticide Recertification and the ISA Certification Program Credits. • ODA: Category Type: Commercial 6A 0.5, Commercial 6A 1.0, Commercial 4A 0.5 • ISA: Category Type: A, T, UB 2.50, BP 2.0, BS .50
WE WILL FOCUS ON
• Seasonal life cycle events of plants and animals • How the environment affects these events • Biotic and abiotic features of ecosystems (Phenology Part 1) • Identifing common diseases and the insects of woody plant • Control and management of these systems There will also be demonstrations outside of staking, guying, mulching, and how to identify common problems due to improper planting and maintenance (Proper Tree Planting). You will identify plants in ideal spaces and learn how space impacts overall health, group planting vs. monoculture, density, light, air penetrations, and planning for mature plants (Right Plant, Right Place).
INSTRUCTORS
LAURA DEETER, PH.D. Professor of Horticulture at OSU
Sponsored by Secrest Arboretum.
JASON VEIL, M.S. Curator of Secrest Arboretum
3
*Cancellations made 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds, or credits will be issued for cancellations after August 31, no shows, or cancellations on the day of the course. If, for any reason, the course is canceled, enrollees CEU’S | September 2026 | 15 will be notified, and fees refunded in full. Register early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly. The Growing Concern
F OR SAFETY SAK E
NATIONAL CONCUSSION AWARENESS DAY PREVENT FALLS, PROTECT YOUR BRAIN Each year, National Concussion Awareness Day raises awareness about concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). While many people associate concussions with sports, they are also a serious workplace hazard. Falls, particularly from ladders, are among the leading causes of work-related head injuries and can have life-changing consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and account for nearly half of all TBI-related hospitalizations in the United States. Falls also remain one of the most serious workplace hazards. In 2023, 885 workers lost their lives in slip, trip, and fall incidents, making falls one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities. The construction industry experienced 1,075 workplace fatalities in 2023, with falls, slips, and trips accounting for nearly 40% of those deaths. Construction also represented almost half of all fatal falls across all industries. Most fatal falls occurred from heights between 6 and 30 feet, a distance commonly associated with ladders, roofs, and elevated work surfaces. A fall from a ladder can result in a concussion or other traumatic brain injury, with symptoms that may last for days, weeks, or even months.
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A concussion occurs when a bump, blow, or sudden jolt causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion, sensitivity to light or noise, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms may not appear immediately, so any worker who experiences a fall or blow to the head should report the incident and seek medical evaluation promptly. The best way to prevent a concussion is to prevent falls before they happen. Information was provided by Sedgwick, featured in their September Employee Safety Newsletter.
EVENT INFORMATION OCTOBER 15, 2026 SANDLER BY MP SOLUTIONS IN NORTHEAST OHIO
6060 Rockside Woods Blvd. N Suite 105 Independence, OH 44131 SCHEDULE REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
BUILDING A BUSINESS
THAT CAN GROW BEYOND THE OWNER Is your business ready for its next stage of growth? As landscape companies grow, many owners discover that the skills that got them here won’t necessarily get them where they want to go next.
QUESTIONS
Growth creates new challenges around people, accountability, communication, planning, and execution. Without a framework for managing those challenges, owners often become the bottleneck to growth. Whether you’re preparing for growth, developing future leaders, or simply looking to improve organizational effectiveness, this workshop will provide a roadmap for identifying strengths, uncovering gaps, and creating alignment across your business.
Please call Patty at 440-717-0002
PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN
8:30 - 9:00 am WORKSHOP
9:00 - 12:00 pm COST MEMBERS: $109 NON-MEMBERS: $149
REGISTER
Register by October 13, 2026. Visit the OLA Calendar on our website, OhioLandscapers.org
The Six P’s of Organizational Excellence, the foundational building blocks that drive sustainable growth and long-term business success.
• • • • • •
People: Having the right people in the right seats Process: Creating consistency & reducing organizational friction Positions: Defining roles, responsibilities, and accountability Performance Metrics: Measuring what matters most Passion: Building a culture aligned around purpose and values Planning: Establishing direction and priorities for future growth
Participants will leave with a practical framework for evaluating their organization and identifying opportunities for improvement.
RICK McDERMOTT
Sandler by MP Solutions Rick McDermott is the owner of Sandler by MP Solutions, a Northeast Ohio–based sales and leadership development firm that helps organizations build stronger sales teams, improve customer conversations, and create sustainable growth. Rick is known for an interactive, straightforward training style that gives participants tools they can put to work immediately. His programs incorporate the Sandler Selling System, a proven methodology focused on creating better conversations, understanding how and why customers make decisions, and developing sales processes that are comfortable for both the buyer and seller.
*Cancellations made 14 days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee. NO refunds, or credits will be issued for cancellations after September 28, no shows, or cancellations on the day of the course. If, for any reason, the course is canceled, enrollCEU’S ees will be notified, and fees refunded in full. Register early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly. The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 17
3
F OR SAFETY SAKE
CONSTRUCTION SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates. The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention estimates there are 10 to 12 suicides among construction workers every day. This startling statistic means mental health must be considered a health and safety priority. Each September, experts come together during National Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness about the unique stresses construction workers face and to save lives during Construction Suicide Prevention Week (CSPW). From September 14 to 18, 2026, CSPW partners will be “building on progress,” this year’s theme. Even though suicide deaths in construction have begun to decline, there’s still work to do. OSHA encourages everyone in the construction industry to help prevent suicide by following these key steps:
PAY ATTENTION.
Warning signs of suicide should be taken seriously. You may notice changes in a coworker’s behavior, mood, or communication.
REACH OUT.
If you have concerns about a coworker, privately and compassionately ask them if they’re OK. Remember to remind them that there are resources available, including the HR department and mental health professionals.
CREATE A WELCOMING CULTURE.
Construction companies need to address suicide prevention directly by providing employee training and normalizing conversations about mental health.
LEARN MORE.
Find resources and read more about suicide risk factors. Some helpful websites include the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and OSHA.
18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
The The Growing Growing Concern Concern | September | March 2026 | 19
PL ANT OF TH E M ON TH
JIM FUNAI, PhD
Cuyahoga Community College
SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS SYCAMORE MAPLE We enjoy traveling and have visited Central Europe to do tree research work and explore plants across the region. A memorable experience was hiking at about 10,000 feet in the Austrian Alps and discovering all of the blooming alpine flowers, including the famous Edelweiss! It is a neat experience to travel to a different part of the world and use your knowledge of plants to draw conclusions about how their climate may differ from what we are used to here in Ohio. We have spent some time in Brno, Czech Republic. which is about an hour drive north of Vienna, Austria. There they experience a slightly milder winter and much less humidity in the summer. Looking at mountainash (Sorbus spp.) you can tell that a number of the diseases common to our Roseaceae plants are very insignificant in that climate. This is an important reminder of the plant health triangle, where a pest can only become an issue if the Host, Pest, and Climate are all present. In this case, the environment is the missing link and the pest does not become a major issue. The deciduous forests of the Czech Republic resemble ours upon
20 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
first glance. Beech, Maple, and Oak are their climax species much like here. The species are different, but the similarities are fascinating. One species of maple that is common to their forest and landscapes but quite rare in use here in the States is the Sycamore Maple, Acer pseudoplatanus. Pseudo, meaning false, is a common modifier used in botanical Latin to mean one plant resembles another in some form. As you should be able to surmise from the specific epithet (pseudoplatanus), someone felt the leaves of this plant resemble that of sycamore (Platanus). Interestingly, sycamore returns the homage in its botanical name, Platanus acerifolia (leaf like a maple)! Perhaps they do resemble each other in some respect but we find each to be unique enough that there should be no confusion. continued on page 21
IT’S TIME TO RAISE THE BAR ON YOUR GROUND GAME
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continued from page 20
being invasive, but we feel it still has an important role to play in the urban forest. We need to understand that our urban forest needs species diversity if it is to survive. We must stop planting the same species down an entire street. Every urban street should have a large mix of species if it is to survive the extreme environments, inundation of pests (foreign and domestic), and constant abuse they receive.
One of the reasons we love this tree is the change in bark form from a young tree to a middle-aged tree. Starting off as a fairly plain, smooth grey bark like a young red maple, the bark begins to form dark grey blocky patches that peel off and reveal a much brighter reddish-brown bark below. The texture effect of the bark is great and could be quite pleasing in the proper setting. This tree grows with ease in a number of situations, and has been used extensively in Central Europe for its urban tolerance as well as ability to withstand higher salt levels in the soil. We would not recommend the tree for a situation that puts it into heavy drought stress repeatedly, but must admit that nearly all of the trees we encountered on our trip looked quite well despite this being the biggest drought in over 20 years in the Czech Republic. Obtaining a height and spread in the range of 40 to 60 feet makes this more of a shade tree and should not be placed near overhead restrictions such as power lines. We feel this tree is best used as a member of a diverse urban forest mainly as a large street tree. There are concerns of heavy reseeding which leads people to call it invasive. Perhaps that term is misapplied. It behaves like a maple with a heavy crop of helicopters (samaras) and they can reseed, so do all of our native maples. Should you go planting one in the middle of the National Park? No! Should it be considered as a viable addition to the urban forest? Yes! These are different situations which require different solutions. People will yell at you about Norway Maple as well (Acer platanoides) as
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One of the projects we have worked on while in Czech Republic is measuring the stability of urban trees and other high value trees. We have include a picture that Shelley took showing Jim and our research advisor, Jarek, performing a sonic tomography test on an Acer pseudoplatanus. This particular tree is used by a company as an anchor for a zip line and had concerns about its stability and strength. The test we performed uses a prescribed number of acoustic sensors inserted into the outer xylem of the tree at a specific height. We then hit each sensor to send a sound wave across the grain of the tree where it is then received by the other sensors. By precisely measuring the time it takes the sound wave to reach each sensor, we can calculate an approximate density of the xylem wood. Fast travel indicates healthy wood, slow to no travel indicates varying levels of decay. As you perform this test at different heights up the base of the trunk, we can develop a picture of the stability of the tree’s wood. This test is not the only available method for measuring stability, and should be used as part of a comprehensive analysis of the tree. The excitement is, however, in the fact that we ALL have the ability to improve our environment by planting a more diverse landscape and taking better care of the plants that exist. Instead of having a knee jerk reaction to cut a questionable tree down, consider using a certified arborist that is qualified in tree risk assessment to help determine how you may be able to stabilize and reduce risks without complete removal. We encourage you to think about increasing the diversity of your plantings to help us all improve our environment and increase the survivability of our species and all others! As always, we are open to your thoughts and ideas and encourage you to share them with us. Happy planting!
Jim Funai, PhD, is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.
Northeast ohio’s Most CoMplete seed house For over 80 Years
2026
Landscape Ohio! quality lawn seed mixes turf/ornamental fertilizers
AWARDS
OCTOBER 8, 2026 AT TENK WES T BANK
erosion control products forage/wildlife seed mixes hydroseeding products custom seed mixes wildflower seed mixes
Member of the Ohio Landscape Association for over 25 years. Members of the GCSSA, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, and ONLA
CONGRATULATIONS to our 2026 winner of the OLA Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Landscape Industry
OLIGER SEED COMPANY
89 Hanna Parkway, Akron, OH 44319 Phone: 330-724-1266 • Fax: 330-724-4810
VISIT WWW.OLIGERSEED.COM
JIM FUNAI, PH.D.
Assistant Professor of Plant Science and Landscape Technology at Cuyahoga Community College
Jim will be recognized at the 29th Annual Landscape Ohio! Awards Program on October 8th at Tenk West Bank.
The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 23
F EATURE ARTI CLE
CREATING EFFECTIVE
FRONT-LINE INCENTIVE PLANS
If you want to change what happens on a property, you have to change what the person standing on the property is focused on and rewarded for. This is where front-line incentive programs come in. “Base pay buys the job,” says Joe Socolof, COO of Landscape Workshop. “Incentives don’t buy effort; they direct attention. A good field manager already cares about fifty things — the customer, the crew, safety, the truck, the schedule. Caring about everything is the same as caring about nothing. We picked the handful that matter most and made them impossible to ignore. That’s not paying someone to care. It’s aiming good people at the priorities that move the business, and making performance transparent for everyone.” Socolof and Josh Altman, VP of strategic initiatives with Landscape Workshop, will cover how to design and
implement incentive plans for field managers that drive performance during their session, “Front-Line Incentive Plans” on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 8 a.m. at ELEVATE. “Most incentive plans in this industry are either a discretionary year-end bonus nobody understands or a spiff that games one number and breaks three others,” Socolof says. “We’re going to walk through a plan running live across our branches — what we got wrong the first time, how it’s built, and how we tied it to the metrics that actually drive retention and labor efficiency. If you run field crews, you’ll leave with a framework you can steal.” continued on page 26
24 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
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continued from page 25
BUILDING A SIMPLE PLAN Socolof says some of the keys to creating a strong incentive program are to pick a small fixed set of habits your field managers fully control, make it all-or-nothing and pay it often. At Landscape Workshop, their program is based on about a dozen different behaviors, including show up ready, run the route in order, work the 13-point checklist, keep labor efficient, and close your tickets clean. If a field manager completes all these, they earn $20 that day. If they miss one of the points, the streak resets. “On top of that sit a few monthly gates — safety, pad completion, no cancellations — that have to hold or you forfeit the month,” Socolof says. “No partial credit. No flavor-of-the-month. The field manager can recite the whole list from memory, and so can his GM. That’s the point.” Socolof says while the field manager’s behavior controls whether they earn the extra pay for that day, failures that impact retention and safety can wipe the month clean. “A field manager can’t grind his daily checklist while a property cancels under him and still cash out,” Socolof says. “Behaviors earn it; outcomes protect it. Work backward from the outcomes you care about, pay on the behaviors that produce them, and gate on the outcomes so the two never drift apart.” Socolof adds that once your incentive program is in place, it should rarely change. “The whole point is that the list doesn’t move,” he says. “A field manager memorized these habits; churn them and you torch both the muscle memory and the trust. We watch the results weekly to make sure the metrics still drive the right behavior — but we change the design about once a year, and only when it clearly earns the credibility cost of the change.”
PITFALLS TO AVOID
A typical sign of an incentive program that is misaligned is when a metric goes up, but the business doesn’t. If the metric improves but the retention or margin does not, Socolof says someone found the gap between the metric and the intent.
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He notes that behavior may also get worse somewhere you weren’t watching because people optimize what you pay them for, sometimes at the expense of what you forgot to measure. “Always ask the second- and third-order question,” Socolof says. Another mistake with incentive programs is utilizing too many metrics. This can dilute your field managers’ focus and make it hard to know what matters. Make sure your rewards are based on elements field managers can control; otherwise, you’re taxing them on weather and luck. You also have to monitor the program so employees don’t game the system. Socolof says by making theirs all-ornothing, this prevents team members from gaming one single metric at the expense of the rest.
EFFECTIVE INCENTIVES
Another key to an effective incentive program is to use rewards that are frequent and visible. Socolof says their field managers’ reward is $20 a day and it is earned on a streak. “A field manager watches it accrue and knows a single bad day breaks the run,” he says. “That daily line of sight does more than a fat year-end check ever did, because he can see it, feel the streak, and compete for it. Small, frequent, and visible beats big, distant, and fuzzy every time.” When you opt for annual discretionary bonuses, it can seem too far off for a field manager and not clear on how they are earned. Recognition also matters as much as the cash reward. Field managers are competitive, and when you provide a scoreboard and something to win, that is half the motivation. “If a field manager can’t tell you in one sentence how he earns it, it isn’t working,” Socolof says.
This article was written by Jill Odom for the National Associations of Landscape Professional’s blog, “The Edge”.
The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 27
F EATURE ARTI CLE
CALCULATING THE COST OF CAPITAL
FOR YOUR LANDSCAPE BUSINESS
When deciding where to invest money in the business, are you taking the time to calculate the cost of capital or going off gut instincts alone? While you may be able to afford the monthly payment on a new piece of equipment, you also need to ask if it is the best use of your money. “You can end up tying up cash in something that earns four percent when that same cash deployed elsewhere in the business would have earned 20 percent,” says Andrew Trower, CPA and founder of Andrew Trower & Associates. “The mistake is invisible because nothing looks wrong on the bank statement. You simply left money on the table.”
HOW TO THINK ABOUT CAPITAL Trower recommends treating every dollar as if it has a job and a required return. “Cash is not free just because it is sitting in your account. The owner’s job is to keep moving each dollar toward its highest and best use, whether that is equipment, people, marketing, or paying down debt,” Trower said.
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The cost of capital is the return you give up by using your money one way instead of another. “For most owner-operated landscape companies it is higher than the bank’s interest rate, because money reinvested in your own crews, equipment, and growth tends to earn far more than a loan costs,” Trower says. When calculating your cost of capital, ask the question: “When I put cash back into this business, what return do I typically get on it?” “If a dollar invested in another truck, crew, or sales effort reliably turns into more profit, that return is your cost of capital,” Trower says. “You do not need a complex formula.
A good working estimate is the return your best recent investments have actually produced. That becomes the hurdle every new decision has to clear.” As your company grows, Trower notes the easy high-return opportunities get used up so the cost of capital comes down. “A mature business should expect a lower hurdle than a hungry young one, which also changes how aggressively it should borrow and reinvest,” he says.
MISTAKES WHEN CALCULATING When you fail to consider the other possible uses of your cash on hand, you can end up buying a building outright when leasing would have freed up cash for crews and sales or overbuying equipment that sits idle half the year. Paying cash for equipment when financing was available and cheap or stockpiling cash in the bank while turning down growth are other common practices that don’t look wrong at face value, but often aren’t the highest and best use of the dollar. Trower says one of the most common mistakes when it comes to calculating cost of capital is when owners forget to apply the principle to their own cash, not just borrowed money. This is why paying cash feels free when it’s not. “Second, they anchor on the loan interest rate and ignore the much higher return their business can earn,” Trower says. “Third, they leave out their own time and risk. If you can earn 20 percent reinvesting in the business, then spending cash on something earning less is a loss even if no bank is involved.” Owners can also make the mistake of confusing what’s affordable with what creates value. “Affordable just means you can make the payment,” Trower says. “Value means the investment earns more than your cost of capital. A piece of equipment can be easily affordable and still destroy value if the cash it ties up would have earned more elsewhere. Always ask the second question, not just the first.”
When considering the cost of capital, don’t ignore the investments that may result in breaking even. Examples of this include safety upgrades that result in fewer injuries, lower workers’ comp, and less downtime, software that allows you to scale without adding office staff or jobs you can bill for that you previously missed or a hire that pays back in capacity and margin. “When an investment looks like a break-even on the narrow numbers, the right move is to put a reasonable figure on those second-order benefits and bring them into the calculation,” Trower says. “Most of the time they are not unmeasurable; they are just one step removed, and once you count them, the investment is often clearly worth it.”
USING DEBT AS A TOOL You also don’t have to limit yourself only to cash readily available. Trower says debt can become a tool for growth when the money used earns more than the loan costs, and you can comfortably cover the payments. “It becomes a burden when payments outrun the cash the business produces,” Trower says. “The cleanest test is your debt service coverage ratio, which compares your cash flow to your loan payments. As long as that ratio stays in a healthy range, borrowing to free up cash for higher-return uses is usually smart.” The best rule of thumb is to let your cash flow set the speed limit. Trower recommends setting a reserve you do not touch and monitoring your debt service coverage ratio. “Inside those guardrails, lean into growth, because for most landscapers reinvesting in the business beats hoarding cash,” Trower says. “Grow as fast as your coverage and your reserves let you, and no faster.”
This article was written by Jill Odom for the National Associations of Landscape Professional’s blog, “The Edge”.
The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 29
INFL UEN TI AL WOM EN
PAULA WELCH
HARDSCAPE SPECIALIST, KURTZ BROS., INC.
Paula Welch has built an impressive 25-year career in the landscaping industry, dedicating her professional journey to helping contractors and homeowners bring outdoor projects to life. She began her career with Kurtz Brothers as a customer service representative while raising her family as a single mother and steadily advanced through the organization, earning promotions to management and eventually transitioning into outside sales. Today, she serves as an Outside Sales Specialist, providing expert guidance on everything from mulch, topsoil, and planting materials to retaining walls, natural stone, and paver systems. Known for her reliability, honesty, and exceptional followthrough, Paula has earned the trust and respect of contractors throughout Ohio. Her customers depend on her ability to coordinate timely deliveries, solve challenges, and ensure projects stay on track from start to finish. With decades of industry experience, she has established a reputation as a knowledgeable resource and trusted partner who understands both the technical and relationship-driven aspects of the landscaping business.
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Beyond her day-to-day responsibilities, Paula is deeply committed to advancing the landscaping profession. She serves as Chair of the Awards Committee for the Ohio Landscape Association, helping recognize excellence within the industry. She also supports community-focused initiatives through Kurtz Brothers’ partnerships with nonprofit organizations. In recognition of her professional achievements, leadership, and long-standing contributions to the industry, Paula was selected to be featured by Influential Women Network representing Lorain, Ohio, for 2026.
01. WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO? My drive to be better for my children. I didn’t want to be just a statistic. As a single mom, I needed to prove that I could provide for my family and create a better life for us. That motivation pushed me to work hard, move up from customer service to management to outside sales, and earn the respect I have today in this industry.
02. WHAT’S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? The squeaky wheel gets greased. Speak up. You have to get yourself to where you need to be, but at the same time, don’t back yourself in a corner. You need to advocate for yourself and make your voice heard, but do it in a way that doesn’t limit your options or burn bridges.
03. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG WOMEN ENTERING YOUR INDUSTRY? Be confident. Knowledge is power, and don’t be afraid. I think sometimes as women, we feel that we can’t be in certain industries because they’re stereotyped, but the world is changing. Don’t be afraid to get into doing something that you love to do, even if it’s not traditionally a field for women. If you love it, go for it.
04. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR FIELD RIGHT NOW? The biggest challenge is the economy and everything happening in the world right now. As far as opportunities, landscaping is a service industry, so every year we have an opportunity to do better. Every year people are doing landscaping projects, so there’s always the opportunity to grow and serve more clients in the field that I’m in.
05. WHAT VALUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU IN YOUR WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE? Character, loyalty, and honesty are the values I carry in my profession. My character means a lot to me. There are plenty of times where I have to tell people certain things can’t get done, or we can’t order something, and their job depends on me getting that project completed. Sometimes I do have to pivot, but I’ve found that sometimes you just have to be honest and say this is how it is, and move forward with it. Being truthful and reliable is what has earned me the respect I have.
Paula was interviewed by Influential Women. View the article on their website at
influentialwomen.com/connect/paula-welch
The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 31
2026
Landscape Ohio! AWARDS
O C T O B E R 8 , 2 02 6 AT TENK WES T BANK
We are thrilled to invite you to be part of an extraordinary evening at the 29th Annual Landscape Ohio! Awards Program. The stage will be set to celebrate the excellence of Ohio’s Landscape Leaders. Our awards program, sponsorships, and educational outreach thrive because of the generosity of OLA members like you. Your support highlights all of the amazing things our members do, helps build the next generation of landscape leaders, and helps the OLA provide events that inspire and educate.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 5:30-6:15 pm Doors Open & Registration Hors D’Oeuvres Stations 5:30-8:30 pm Cocktails (Cash Bar) 6:30-7:30 pm Dinner Stations, Dessert & Coffee 7:30-8:45 pm Landscape Awards Ceremony
Tickets
Tenk West Bank 2111 Center Road Cleveland, OH 44113
$115 for Individual Ticket $220 for Two Tickets $420 for Four Tickets $800 for Eight Tickets (Table)
Tenk West Bank is one of the oldest surviving industrial buildings in the Flats. Originally built in the 1870s as the Eclipse Iron Works foundry, many original features remain including loadbearing brick, beams, and the signature arched window bays. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building’s brick color shifts, mixed masonry, and repurposed stone blocks make it a true West Bank icon.
Deadline is September 24. No refunds on unused tickets. Tickets can be purchased at www.OhioLandscapers.org.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorships include: 2 complimentary tickets, company logo on event signage, company recognition in awards presentation & logo on the big screen, company logo on OLA website, social media, and recognition in The Growing Concern Magazine.
CATEGORY | $940 (16 AVAILABLE)
STAGE PRODUCTION | $1100 (4 AVAILABLE)
REGISTRATION | $940 (1 AVAILABLE)
PHOTO BOOTH | $1600 (2 AVAILABLE)
Take pictures with the winning teams Network and greet attendees
BAR SPONSOR | $940 (6 AVAILABLE) Classic cocktail named in your honor
JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARD | $960 (2 AVAILABLE) Take picture with winning team
HORS D’OEUVRES | $1100 (4 AVAILABLE) Will be asked to stand for recognition
Will be asked to stand for recognition
Will have logo on photo print out Will be asked to stand for recognition
CENTERPIECES | $1600 (SOLD)
Company name attached to centerpieces Will be asked to stand for recognition
DINNER | $1900 (4 AVAILABLE)
Will be asked to stand for recognition
DESSERT | $2500 (SOLD)
Will be asked to stand for recognition
9240 Broadview Road Broadview Heights, OH 44147 Phone: 440-717-0002 Toll Free: 1-800-335-6521 Email: info@ohiolandscapers.org OhioLandscapers.org
Deadline for sponsorships is September 24. Visit the OLA website or contact Patty to purchase.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COLUMN
PATTY LAMPERT
OLA WELCOMES NEW EMPLOYEE!
Executive Director / OLA
Monica Occhetti, CAE, ICE-CCP, is our new OLA Administrative Assistant starting on October 5th. She has been an association professional since 2015 and is passionate about supporting non-profit organizations. She has served a variety of industries - from healthcare to construction - and champions continuing education as the path to organizational success. She is a member of both the Ohio Society of Association Professionals and the American Society for Association Executives.
UPCOMING EVENTS
As a Cleveland native, she still has a hand in helping the family business, Old Brooklyn Greenhouse, and is deeply rooted in the Old Brooklyn community. She is a graduate of Cleveland State University and Hawaii Pacific University, having both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication. Her free time is spent dancing, hiking, or trying out new recipes.
Save the date for these following events. Registration will be available soon.
You can meet Monica at the 29th Annual Landscape Ohio! Awards on October 8th at Tenk West Bank! If you haven’t already registered, reach out! We are so GRATEFUL for everyone’s support, and for all of the amazing things OLA members do to help inspire and build the next generation of landscape leaders.
Visit the website to register. October 8 Landscape Ohio! Awards
October 15 Sandler Leadership Clinic
October 23 Tree Planting in Bay Village November 4 Sandler Sales Training November 18 Annual Meeting December 4 Dormant Pruning
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2026 OLA SPONSORS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS
EVENING
MEETINGS
EVENTS
• Action Coaching
• Alta
• Kurtz Bros., Inc.
• All Lift
• Bigfoot Landscape Supply
• Botson Insurance Group
• Botson Insurance Group
• Davis Tree Farm
• Davis Tree Farm
• Ditch Witch Mid States
• Columbus Turf
• Kurtz Bros., Inc.
• Crown Cars
• Oliger Seed Co.
• Eby
• O’Reilly Equipment
• Kurtz Bros., Inc.
• Preston Superstore
• Mulch Mule
• Valley Truck Centers
• PC Services, LLC
• Zoresco Equipment
• Valley City Supply
EDUCATION
Co nta c t Pa tty a b o ut sp o nsorshi p o r a d ve rtising info rm a tio n at Patty@ o hio la nd sc a p ers.org o r 440-717-00 02
• Willoway Nurseries
ADVERTISING INDEX 27 21 7 11 36 13
Action Coaching All Lift Botson Insurance Group, Inc. Davis Tree Farm Ditch Witch Mid States
23 23 2 9 24
Oliger Seed Co. O’Reilly Equipment Preston Superstore Valley Truck Centers Zoresco Equipment
Kurtz Bros., Inc.
Find information about advertising in The Growing Concern at https://www.ohiolandscapers.org The Growing Concern | September 2026 | 35
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Contact information for major metropolitan areas Columbus, OH Full Service Branch 3660 Interchange Rd, Columbus, OH 43204 Phone 614-443-9751 | Fax 614-443-9219
Pittsburgh, PA Full Service Branch 9052 Marshall Rd, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066 Phone 724-742-2844 | Fax 724-742-2877
Cleveland, OH Full Service Branch 10224 Avon Lake Rd, Burbank, OH 44214 Phone 330-220-6585 | Fax 614-443-9219
Louisville, KY Full Service Branch 400 Sparrow Dr, Shepherdsville, KY 40165 Phone 502-543-3309 | Fax 502-543-9613
Cincinnati, OH Service Center 3449 Turfway Rd, Erlanger, KY 41018 Phone 513-672-3060 | By Appointment Only
Batavia, NY Service Center 4754 East Saile Dr, Batavia, NY 14020 Phone 585-334-2920 | By Appointment Only