DEC.25 LANDSCAPE ILLINOIS Magazine DIGITAL EDITION by Association Publishing Partners

Wishing you peace, joy, and success in the year ahead. midwestgroundcovers.com

CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

An Amusing History of the Christmas Tree

More Fall Events— Tapping Into Our Roots —Impact Conference 2025 18 Young Professionals Fall Event at Lurvey’s 22 Owners and Managers — Taking Care of Business 24 Growing Trends Bringing Plant Education to Social Media

A Private Escape in Wrigleyville

Merlot in the Garden

Talking About Turf 50

Member Profile 52 Spring Grove Nursery EN ESPAÑOL Una historia entretenida del Árbol de Navidad An Amusing History of the Christmas Tree

Inspiration Alley Stop, Look, & Listen

Before You Go Dwarf Korean Fir — for a splash of silver

On the cover... As fall quickly turns to winter, here’s a reminder to pause, take a breath, and enjoy the holidays with friends and family.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS Events Calendar 4 From Where I Stand 5 President’s Message 7 Classified Ads 56 Advertisers Index 61 Photo Credits

Awards Committee JMR Landscaping Rick Reuland Midwest Groundcovers Rooftopia

1 8-9 16, 19-21, 24-26 28-30 32-40

Dr, Aaron Patton Spring Grove Nursery Nina Koziol Mark Dwyer

50-51 52-53 61 62

The official publication of Landscape Illinois, — Landscape Illinois —The Magazine is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www. LandscapeIllinois.org.

DECEMBER December 3, 2025 Irrigation Workshop Northern Illinois University Naperville, IL December 3, 2025 Weed ID Workshop – Northeast Region Northern Illinois University Naperville, IL December 4, 2025 Weed ID Workshop – Southern Region Collinsville Park District Activity Center Collinsville, IL

JANUARY January 27-28, 2026 InVigorateU 2026 DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington, IL

FEBRUARY

Volume 66, Number 12. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by: the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA. Postmaster: Send address changes to Landscape Illinois — The Magazine, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Display Advertising Sales: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632; email: rmgi@comcast.net. Classified ads, Circulation and Subscription: Landscape Illinois (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 Editorial office: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Naperville, IL PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, The Magazine Committee, Landscape Illinois Staff, Landscape Illinois Magazine Staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products.

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Staff Executive Director Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@landscapeillinois.org Statewide Director of Development Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@landscapeillinois.org Director of Events AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@landscapeillinois.org Education Manager Melissa Custic mcustic@landscapeillinois.org Office Manager Alycia Nagy anagy@landscapeillinois.org Membership & Marketing Manager Marissa Stubler mstubler@landscapeillinois.org

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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“She’s a beaut’, Clark!” “Thanks, Dad..., You taught me everything I know about exterior illumination” — Clark Griswold, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ‘Twas six weeks before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; Except for dad getting the holiday lights from the cellar In a few hours the neighborhood will know he’s a yeller; He will climb high up on a ladder without care Our hope is that an ambulance soon will be there.

ardon me for taking some liberties with the famous poem by Clement Clarke Moore. I mean, how hard is it to hang a stocking with care? Christmas lights, on the other hand, are not for the weak. There are few tasks in life more frustrating than festooning your house with holiday lights. It is just a rollercoaster of emotion. It starts out simple enough. We head to the garage or basement to drag out the boxes of lights. We give ourselves a pep talk that this year will be easier. We have done this before. We have a plan. We have history on our side. Every strand has a purpose. Every extension cord has a home. Then, we plug that first strand into the outlet only to be greeted by the pop of a fuse. And so, it begins. I have never flown a spacecraft. I assume the years of training an astronaut endures prepares them, mentally and physically for the stress of deep space travel. The mind and body are given an impossible and alien task of piloting a space capsule where the elements want to kill them and everything can go wrong. I’d like to see astronauts put up Christmas lights before we start handing them medals. Everything about putting up Christmas lights is a test of the human spirit. The cords that twist around themselves like a viper nest. The temperamental strands of lights that flicker like the sign at a discount liquor store. The tree branches that poke you in the eyes like an angry Moe. The ladder that creaks and moans like a cemetery’s gate. The raven claw shape of our fingers after two hours in the freezing cold. The tiny fuses that have to be removed like a game of Operation. The extension cord that comes up 2’ short. No movie has nailed the emotional havoc of putting up Christmas lights like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It is so accurate that the movie may as well be a documentary. Patriarch Clark Griswold gets caught up in the zeal of the holidays and overdoes it. His multi-day installation includes, “250 strands of lights, 100 individual bulbs per strand making a grand total of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights.” His immediate family cheers him on worrying he’s going to slip

off the roof. His parents want it all to work out without one of his characteristic melt-downs. His in-laws think he’s nuts. However, it is his neighbors who are his true archenemy. Any fan of the movie knows their names - Todd and Margo (and probably just uttered, “I don’t know, Margoooo” out loud). Todd and Margo are Clark’s yuppie next door neighbors. They are rich, childless, stylish, Christmas minimalists. Their house is immaculately cleaned and not decorated. They don’t have any visual Christmas spirit. They seem blissfully happy not to have any trappings of holiday family obligations. Therefore, they stand for everything Clark hates. It is pretty easy to rewatch Christmas Vacation over the holiday season. It is probably on TBS right now, or will be if you wait another 45 minutes. I am not a Todd and Margo apologist, but they do get a bad rap. Outside of a snide comment about the size of Clark’s Christmas tree, Todd and Margo don’t deserve their Griswold-family hate. Clark destroys their stereo, blinds them, shatters their window TWICE, soaks their carpet, sends Todd tumbling down the stairs, threatens them with a chainsaw while wearing a hockey mask, and insinuates he’s going to goose Margo with a scotch pine. Only the hottest of hot takes would climb over Clark to defend Todd and Margo. Clark Griswold spends the entire movie acting like a complete psychopath where Todd and Margo just want to sit in the dark and enjoy a glass of wine. Yet, when those 25,000 lights finally blaze forth, and the Hallelujah chorus swells, it becomes clear — Clark is the hero and Todd and Margo are the villains. The simple reason for that is because Christmas magic is our most powerful drug. In the pantheon of landscape company rankings, maintenance companies start with a blue belt. They add design-build and earn their brown belt. The ambitious will then add snow to become a full-service black belt. Only the few, the committed, the dedicated, the noble, the pure of heart, and the clinically insane add holiday lights. Those companies, become the samurai. One would think that Christmas lights would’ve faded from popularity. They would become anachronistic relics of a bygone era. Yet, nostalgia is thicker than eggnog around the holidays and each generation seems to want to outdo the previous. The global market for Christmas lights and decorations is estimated to be $7.5 billion. This value is predicted to rise to over $9 billion by 2026. The popular Spirit Halloween stores, the hermit crabs of retail, just created Spirit Christmas stores that will soon crawl into a vacant retail space in a community near you. ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight has aired for 12 seasons and pits families against each

Love’s Pure Light

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Find us at iLandscape

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Garden Prairie, IL (866) MARIANI 627-4264 6

other in a holiday light decorating contest for a $50,000 prize. Christmas Décor, the nationwide holiday décor and lighting business, saw $75 million in revenue last year. In 2024, the brand exceeded $90 million due to increased consumer spending. The brand now has 300 franchises across the United States. For franchise owners, they claim $420K in Average Gross Sales with a 41% net profit. Most companies charge by the linear foot for lights and national averages put Chicago at $13-19 per linear foot. Industry analysis puts direct material costs at 25-35% of gross revenue. The lead line items will be the light sets themselves, smart controls, timers, extension cords, as well as safety equipment for the installers. Labor costs are 30-40% of revenue and most installers earn about $25-$35 per hour which is less lucrative than snow, but offers more consistent, family-friendly hours around the holidays. Finally, removal and storage of the lights comes in at 25-35% of the installation costs and can be sold as an enhancement or part of the installation fee. So, that is the how. The real question is the why. Landscape and tree care companies who do holiday lights face the same challenges as the dad who climbs up on the ladder the day after Thanksgiving. There is about an 8-week window to get this done. This falls right into fall clean-up and dormant pruning season. If it snows, manpower and resources have to be plucked from the sky and put back onto the ground to assist with snow operations. Employees are tired. The weather can be punishing. The constant swaying and banging of light stands cause shorts and burnouts. The sun sets earlier and earlier which can make treacherous work for those on ladders and cherry pickers. A company deciding against opening-up a holiday lights division does not make them Todd and Margo. With that said, I am not sure anyone can be successful at holiday lights if they don’t have a little Clark Griswold in them. Simply put, there are easier ways to make a buck this holiday season than hanging Christmas lights. A company needs to have a little extra holiday magic this time of year. That Holiday magic is what gets us up on those ladders. It’s what powers us through the holidays when our needles are on empty. It helps us accept that no client will ever appreciate the hard work that goes into exterior illumination and that’s ok. When Clark finally and mercifully gets the lights to work, he enjoys a few fleeting seconds of joy with his family on the front lawn. He places his arm around his wife and kids. His parents rush to hug and congratulate him. His risks of life and limb, can finally be enjoyed with kith and kin. Even Todd and Margo are a distant memory. In that moment, Christmas is finally perfect. Just then, Clark’s father-in-law turns to him and says, “The little lights. They’re not twinkling.” Clark replies, not skipping a beat, “Thanks for noticing, Art.” Art failed to realize, for us proud members of the light brigade, Christmas lights will always twinkle in our eyes. Landscape Illinois wishes all of our members a joyous holiday season. Just be careful on those ladders.

Scott Grams, Executive Director November 21, 2025

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

President

Kim Hartmann Rosborough Partners 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net

Vice President

Kevin McGowen Lurvey Landscape Supply (224) 500-4396 kmcgowen@lurveys.com

Secretary-Treasurer

Ryan Heitman The Fisher Burton Company (847) 566-9200 ryanheitman@fisherburton.com

Immediate Past President

Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-2225 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Directors Adam Bellas Bellas Landscaping (309) 827-5263 adam@bellaslandscaping.com

s we close this extraordinary year, I am filled with gratitude and pride for what Landscape Illinois has accomplished together. This has been a year of transformation, renewed purpose, and undeniable momentum—one that will shape our association for years to come. I am pleased to share five major strategic accomplishments from this past year. First, our rebrand from ILCA to Landscape Illinois was nothing short of historic. We entered 2025 as the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, and we leave united under a bold new identity: Landscape Illinois. The rebrand was unveiled at our largest iLandscape show ever. With our new name and logo came two important responsibilities: advocating for every segment of our industry and expanding our reach statewide. Second, we strengthened our statewide presence. Under the leadership of our Statewide Director of Development, Kellie Schmidt, we brought existing programs to new markets including Crew Leader Training, Basic Pruning, Weed Identification, and Women’s Network events. InVigorateU and Spring Training Kim Hartmann further anchored our statewide educational reach. Third, we championed leadership with the launch of our Owners and Senior Managers Committee. This dynamic new committee enhanced our biannual salary survey, hosted a Shoperations Tour of AM Woodlands, and hosted its first panel and networking event. Fourth, we focused on committee goals and training. The strength of our association is built from the passion and commitment of our volunteers. Our 24 committees reviewed their missions, refined goals, and focused their efforts on keeping their initiatives and programs fresh, relevant and fun. A new committee training video and recruitment video are set for release next year. Fifth, immigration enforcement challenges emerged. Landscape Illinois responded swiftly and repeatedly to the evolving challenges on both a human and economic level. We created tactical guides, provided updates through the Political Landscape, and shared response strategies. This is an ongoing issue as we plan for 2026. With additional input from attorneys and business leaders, we will continue to share resources to help provide workforce stability. Thank you for your resilience, your commitment, your leadership, and your trust. Together, we are building an even stronger, more connected, and more inspired Landscape Illinois. It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as your president. I am looking forward to continuing to serve our incredible landscape community in the years ahead. Together, we will keep growing, keep advocating, and keep inspiring the future of our industry.

Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Warmly,

Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com

Michael Massat The Growing Place Nursery & Flower Farm, Inc. (630) 355-4000 michaelm@thegrowingplace.com Nikki Melin Midwest Groundcovers (847) 742-1790 nmelin@midwestgroundcovers.com Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com Aaron Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 azych@iltvignocchi.com

www.landscapeillinois.org

Kim President, Landscape Illinois l concluir este año extraordinario, me llena de gratitud y orgullo lo que Landscape Illinois ha logrado en conjunto. Ha sido un año de transformación, de propósito renovado y de un impulso innegable, que marcará el rumbo de nuestra asociación en los años venideros. Me complace compartir cinco logros estratégicos importantes del año pasado. En primer lugar, nuestro cambio de marca de ILCA a Landscape Illinois fue un hito histórico. Iniciamos el 2025 como la Asociación de Contratistas de Paisajismo de Illinois y lo finalizamos unidos bajo una nueva y audaz identidad: Landscape Illinois. El cambio de marca se presentó en nuestra mayor feria iLandscape hasta la fecha. Con nuestro nuevo nombre y logotipo llegaron dos responsabilidades importantes: defender los intereses de cada segmento de nuestra industria y expandir nuestro alcance en todo el estado. En segundo lugar, fortalecimos nuestra presencia en todo el estado. Bajo el liderazgo de nuestra Directora Estatal de Desarrollo, Kellie Schmidt, llevamos programas existentes a nuevos mercados, incluyendo Capacitación para Líderes de Equipo, Poda Básica, Identificación de Malezas y eventos de la Red de Mujeres. InVigorateU y la Capacitación de Primavera consolidaron aún más nuestro alcance educativo estatal. En tercer lugar, impulsamos el liderazgo con la creación de nuestro Comité de Propietarios y Gerentes Sénior. Este nuevo y dinámico comité mejoró nuestra encuesta salarial bianual, organizó una visita guiada a las instalaciones de AM Woodlands y llevó a cabo su primer panel y evento de networking. En cuarto lugar, nos centramos en los objetivos y la capacitación de los comités. La fortaleza de nuestra asociación radica en la pasión y el compromiso de nuestros voluntarios. Nuestros 24 comités revisaron sus misiones, perfeccionaron sus objetivos y concentraron sus esfuerzos en mantener sus iniciativas y programas innovadores, relevantes y atractivos. El próximo año se lanzarán un nuevo video de capacitación para los comités y un video de reclutamiento. En quinto lugar, surgieron desafíos en materia de control migratorio. Landscape Illinois respondió con rapidez y constancia a los desafíos en constante evolución, tanto a nivel humano como económico. Creamos guías tácticas, proporcionamos actualizaciones a través de Political Landscape y compartimos estrategias de respuesta. Este es un tema constante mientras planificamos para 2026. Con la valiosa aportación de abogados y líderes empresariales, continuaremos compartiendo recursos para contribuir a la estabilidad laboral. Gracias por su resiliencia, su compromiso, su liderazgo y su confianza. Juntos, estamos construyendo un Landscape Illinois aún más fuerte, más conectado y más inspirador. Ha sido un placer y un privilegio servirles como su presidenta. Espero seguir sirviendo a nuestra increíble comunidad paisajista en los años venideros. Juntos, seguiremos creciendo, defendiendo nuestros intereses e inspirando el futuro de nuestra industria. Atentamente, Kim Hartmann Presidenta, Landscape Illinois

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

JMR Landscaping • Libertyville Woodland Retreat

his project re-imagined a family’s existing landscape. It enlarged the lawn for outdoor activities. It introduced key elements such as a vegetable garden, sandbox, play area, and fire pit. Layered plantings were used to add depth and visual interest. Preserving existing trees was essential. Improved

drainage ensures year-round functionality. Existing plants were re-located to better adapt to the sun and shade. This complimented the home’s architecture. The result is a beautiful, functional space that enhances the family’s lifestyle and outdoor enjoyment.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

by Rick Reuland

hen we begin a story about the Christmas tree it is important to choose your origin and scope. You can find all sorts of anthropological stories about ancient Egyptians and their favorite god RA. Nifty story, but hey, that’s not Christmas. Next you’ll encounter a fine bunch of stories on pagan rituals and their sacrifice of the day. As we traverse into the German and Scandinavian histories, the rituals and customs become more recognizable. Please indulge me as we begin this history on the cusp of the Germanic and Victorian eras.

Enter German Prince Albert

As you may recall, in an arranged marriage, Prince Albert was wed to English Queen Victoria. And so the plot thickens... In the Victorian period holly and fir garlands were strewn on the mantelpiece. Charles Darwin, writing from his home at Down House in 1877, believed that a scarcity of bees in the spring had resulted in fewer berries on holly that winter. He wrote: 10

“We cannot decorate our Christmas hearths with the scarlet berries of the Holly, because bees were rare during the spring.” An obvious pollinator problem. It is believed that Advent wreaths may have been first used by Lutherans in Germany in the 16th century. The first record of this custom, however, is from 1833, when a Lutheran clergyman lit a candle in a wreath every Sunday and told the nativity story. This custom spread to homes and churches and continues today. During the 19th century, wreaths were made to hang on the front door. These wreaths were also known as “welcome rings” and usually consisted of holly, ivy, pine cones and ribbons.

But back to the Prince...

In December 1840, Prince Albert imported several spruce firs from his native city Coburg, in Germany, to serve as Christmas trees. But it was not until a few years later, when periodicals such as the Illustrated London News, Cassell’s Magazine and The Graphic began to depict and describe the (continued on page 12)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

(continued from page 10) royal Christmas trees every year, that the custom of setting up such trees in homes really caught on amongst the general public in England. By 1860 Christmas trees were very popular with the middle classes. They would have had a Christmas tree in their parlour or hall, covered with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts. Real Christmas trees were still the norm in the early 20th century, but the first bristle-style artificial tree was made by Addis Housewares Company in 1930. Since 1947, every year Norway has given a large Christmas tree to Great Britain which is displayed in Trafalgar Square, London. During the Second World War, the Norwegian king and government fled to London when their country was occupied. The tree, therefore, is given as a token of gratitude to the people of London for their assistance. This annual tradition shows the great symbolic importance of Christmas trees in Britain today.

But what about us ’Muricans?

During the Victorian period, America’s middle classes generally embraced all things Victorian, from architecture to moral reform societies. Queen Victoria’s Christmas trees were no different. Only in 1870 did the United States recognize Christmas as a federal holiday. The practice of erecting public Christmas trees emerged in the U.S. in the 20th century. In 1923, the first one appeared on the White House’s South Lawn. During the Great Depression, famous sites such as New York’s Rockefeller Center began erecting increasingly larger trees. (continued on page 14)

A hand-colored plate from Illustrated London News

The Norwegian tree in Trafalgar Square

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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(continued from page 12) President Benjamin Harrison and his wife Caroline put up the first White House Christmas tree in 1889. When Edward H. Johnson was vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, a predecessor of General Electric, he created the first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree at his home in New York City in 1882. Johnson became the “Father of Electric Christmas Tree Lights.”

Public Christmas trees

Since the early 20th century, it has become common in many cities, towns, and department stores to put up public Christmas trees outdoors, such as the Macy’s Great Tree in Atlanta (since 1948), the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City, and the large Christmas tree in Chicago’s Millennium Park. The United States’ National Christmas Tree has been lit each year since 1923 on the South Lawn of the White House, that has evolved into a major holiday event at the White House. (continued on page 16) Primative, but effective... a tree in every house

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

(continued from page 14)

Old dogs love trees

Throughout my entire life, I have had a real tree. I fully understand the convenience and simplicity of the artificial tree. But I just can’t do it. In my world, traditions are held hard and then passed on. We traditionalists owe a large debt to the Christmas tree growers of the world. Which reminds me, I better stop and call my guy Bryan in Merrillan, Wisconsin. Every year he finds me just the right tree. Short and fat, just the way Prince Albert liked them. Happy Holidays to All!

Millennium Park

Rockefeller Center

A typical Christmas tree in the Reuland household

Evergreens in the Illinois Nursery Trade pine, white pine, Norway spruce, white spruce, and European Larch.

by Nina Koziol

here are eight conifers native to Illinois: white pine, eastern red cedar, northern white cedar, jack pine, red pine, shortleaf pine, tamarack and bald cypress. But fledgling Illinois nurseries in the 19th Century began growing others. Some evergreen trees were brought in by boat from Green Bay, WI, while others were sold door-to-door by tree peddlers. Here’s a sampling: •

1857—The Grove Nursery in Glenview offers arborvitae, red cedar, Austrian pine, Scotch pine, balsam fir, silver fir, Norway spruce, white spruce and hemlock.

•

1857—Nachusa Nursery in Dixon offers balsam fir, Norway spruce.

•

1866—Quincy Nursery in Quincy offers Norway spruce, calling it the best of all evergreens, while hemlocks were the most graceful.

•

1871—A. Bryant, Jr., of Princeton offers seeds of Austrian and Scotch

•

1888—Elgin Nurseries offers Norway and white spruce, Scotch pine, Austrian pine, dwarf mountain pine, balsam fir and arborvitae.

Sources used in this story

Websites including: The English Heritage.com The Christmas Tree Tradition.com Wikipedia: Christmas Tree History

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Tapping into our Roots

Feeling the awe at this year’s Impact Conference

by Nina A. Koziol

hen I was a kid in grammar school, summers were spent with my brothers and other neighborhood children in the sprawling Clearing Railroad Yard south of Chicago’s Midway Airport. Besides dozens of train tracks, engines, and freight cars slamming together, the “playground” alongside the tracks was a sweeping degraded prairie filled with a few narrow trails surrounded by goldenrod, grasses and perennial sunflowers. I brought along a homemade butterfly net; the boys caught toads in the wet areas, and all of us flew down the side of a hill on cardboard “sleds.” When you’re 12 years old, that kind of place is simply magical. Feel the awe “The connection to large-scale nature is inherent in our makeup,” said Wambui Ippolito, principal of Wambui Design in New York City. She was talking to some of the nearly 200 attendees at this year’s Impact Conference at Northern Illinois University in Naperville. Her keynote talk, “Reawakening Ancestral Connections to Land,” hit home. “We are learning how to reconnect with our natural landscapes,” Ippolito said. The landscape she connects most with was her home in Nairobi, Kenya, where generations of her family farmed wheat and sorghum on mostly treeless, rolling plains. As a child, she could see the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. “When the rains came, all the animals would have their babies; the orchids would bloom, and there would be God knows how many wildflowers.” She and her siblings and other children spent a great deal of time exploring (except when they were warned about roaming leopards). 18

Ippolito’s message was clear: “When you start to look at nature, it heals you in some way.” Researchers have shown that we have an inborn need to connect with nature. Or, as Ippolito said, “It’s in our DNA.” You’ve likely heard that outings--whether in urban parks, forests, beaches, prairies, canyons, rivers or remote outdoor spaces-are beneficial for mental and physical health. We are genetically predisposed to be attracted to the natural world. It’s only in the past 500 years or so that humans began congregating in large towns and cities. “Spending time in nature is critical for quieting the mind,” says Dr. Robert Puff, a clinical psychologist who broadcasts the weekly Happiness Podcast. “We’re soaking up the beautiful creation we live in. Look. Feel. Listen.”

Why Are We Here?

So, what does this mean for the landscape industry? “When you start to look at nature…it heals you in some way,” Ippolito said. “Without knowing, you’ll be touching on those things imbedded in our DNA. We want to be replicating that same sense of awe as our ancestors.” Today, that sense of awe can take place just about anywhere outdoors (although no parent in their right mind would send their child now to play in a railroad yard). For people who work in cubicles or from home, stepping into nature offers a respite and a quick break to re-energize or meditate—all of which can have a positive impact on work products and life. Looking out the windows from a corporate campus onto a meadow or wood-land rather than a carpet of mown grass can have many benefits to both the employees and the owners.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Making the Connection

Wambui Ippolito, principal of Wambui Design in New York City

Michael Keenan, Urban Ecosystems, St. Paul, MN

The opportunities to create landscapes that tap into our need for nature are many, especially if you’re doing commer-cial work. “Do a search on ‘native corporate landscapes’ and you’ll find it’s not just an emerging trend, but a standard,” said Michael Keenan, partner and director of design at Urban Ecosystems in St. Paul, MN. His presentation, “ROI-Based Design and Management of Natural Landscapes in Corporate Settings,” illustrated the cost savings of companies that switched from turf to meadow. Although the ecological bene-fits are often touted to company CEO’s, there are advantages to highlighting the ongoing cost savings and employee benefits of a less conventional landscape. “There’s an aesthetic appeal to natural landscapes,” Keenan said. “But we need to hit three points—that it’s aesthetically pleasing, environmentally beneficial, and cost effective.” The completed installation has to look good. It must have biodiversity, have a low-carbon footprint, and have a manageable return on investment. Keenan’s presentation showed concrete examples of how corporations have saved money on their ecologically friendly landscapes. For example, at the Minneapolis headquarters of Room & Board, a home furnishings company, Keenan designed a turfgrass-to-urban meadow around the facility, saving the company $6,000 a year in water consumption. It’s a restful place that employees can look out onto. He purpose-ly excluded perennial grasses from the seed mix to reduce maintenance. (continued on page 20)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

(continued from page 19) Feedback “The conference brought it back down to my roots, back to nature and animals, how they relate and the awe of nature,” said Landscape Architect Drew Johnson, owner of North Longwood Landscapes in Lake Forest. “We all need to have views and space and refuge. I’m a landscape architect, but I’ve always been a naturalist and found Wambui very intriguing.” This year’s program also featured pollinator-specialist and author Heather Holm, Conor O’Shea of Hinterlands, Chris Fehlhaber of Chanticleer Garden, Luke Dahlberg of Citizens for Conservation, and others who spoke to sustainable topics like rethinking the use of lawns, new and emerging web-based design tools, thoughtful water use, ongoing studies in turf alternatives, strategies for maintenance, and underused natives. “It was my first Impact Conference,” said Bailey Hoines, proj-ect manager for Bret-Mar Landscape in Homer Glen. “I love that they are offering sustainability and native plant education. I am definitely passionate about incorporating both into my professional and personal life, and it is always helpful to have resources—to talk and network with people.” For Ippolito, “I always think about our relationship with the land and human evolution. We evolved on the east African landscape—big landscapes—but we needed refuge, a need for safety.” Keenan, too, emphasized our embedded psychological need for safety when he referenced studies that show people do not like to walk near meadows that are taller than three feet. “To design successfully, people need to have a safe space to back into,” Keenan said. Angela Bowman of Yellowstone Landscape in Chicago is the new chairman of the Sustainable + Ecological Landscape Committee which plans the Impact Conference. “This is my third year on the committee and my fifth year attending the conference. This committee is the main reason I joined Landscape Illinois. Doing the practice of landscape design and cultivating a learning community — it’s a big driver for me. We have smart and committed people.” Kasey Eaves, owner of Vivant Gardening Services in Chicago brought some of her team members to the conference. “I especially wanted them to hear Heather Holm, and as ecological landscapers, to come and ask questions as well.” “It’s a joy to be organizing this conference,” said Landscape Architect Vallari Talapatra, of Eco Scapes in Wheaton. She’s served on the Committee for two years. “There are so many speakers, and you get so much out of it in one day. There’s nothing like it, and it’s such a focused topic.” “I really enjoyed both keynote speakers,” Hoines said. “They had unique perspectives that are valuable to someone like me who is still somewhat new to the industry. Wambui was wonderful with her stories about all of her experiences and the perspective she brought to the event. Molly Meyer [Omni Ecosystems] taking us along on their entrepreneurship journey was very interesting, and the ability to step back and analyze their strengths was inspiring. It made me realize that doing everything isn’t always sustainable and sometimes, stepping back and focusing on what you do really well will get you further in the long run.”

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Fall Event

urvey Landscape Supply hosted the Young Professionals Committee Fall Event at their Des Plaines facility on October 9, 2025. There were three education sessions and two facility tours, plus time for networking. Education sessions Education Session #1 – Rock Facing with Hands-on Demo This session hands-on demonstration showcasing proper techniques for creating edge treatments on natural stone in the field. Best practices and practical skills that you can apply in the field were also covered. Education Session #2 – How to Plan for Unpredictability with Plant Availability This session covered using substitutes, specifying generic plant types, and selecting plants based on seasonal availability to en-

sure your projects stay on schedule and maintain design intent. Education Session #3 – Plant Maintenance Basics – Fall Watering and Hydrangea Pruning This session discussed effective watering techniques to protect your landscape plants through the colder months and promote healthy, vibrant growth in spring. Which hydrangea varieties should be pruned, and which are best left untouched. Tour #1 – Lurvey Home & Garden Green Goods Area Tour Guided tour of Lurvey Home & Garden and Green Goods Sales Yard provided a view into their operation. The tour was designed to offer insights into the plants, landscaping materials and outdoor living solutions available.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Tour #2 – Wholesale Building & Hardscape Yard Tour This tour explored the packed hardscape holding yard. Attendees discovered the huge selection of natural stone, pavers and other materials and gained insights into options available for future projects.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Owners and Managers Taking Care of Business Nina A. Koziol

y all accounts, the first-time Owners and Managers Event in October was a big hit. “There’s a lot of volatility in the industry right now with immigration and the economy, and it’s nice to connect with owners and senior managers,” Scott McAdam Jr. said Scott McAdam, Jr., executive vice president of McAdam Landscape Professionals in Forest Park. A past president of Landscape Illinois, he was one of over 100 attendees who shared industry experiences, best practices, the latest technology, production, pricing and more. The panel presentation, “We Mean Business: How We’re Improving Production, Creating Efficiencies, and Saving Money in our Landscape Businesses,” covered management software programs, artificial intelligence, Kim Hartmann

tracking profit, reducing overhead, and the need for longterm planning. Attendees represented a range of companies with annual revenue of up to $2 million, $2 to $10 million, and $10 million and above. Nick Surges, owner of Night Light, Inc. in Lombard, moderated the panel featuring Andy Migacz, chief executive officer of A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design in Mundelein and Long Grove, Tom Hoerr, president/ CEO of Green View Landscaping Co. in Dunlap, and Tyler Doering, president of Doering Landscape in Lake Barrington. “The goal is to talk about the big issues,” Surges told the crowd. Managing staff and software were hot topics. “Tom [Hoerr] and I both use EOS, and I’m dealing with fewer issues going into our quarterly meetings,” Surges

The Owners panel, Nick Surges, Night Light, Inc.; Andy Migacz, A.M. Woodland Outdoor Design; Tyler Doering, Doering Landscape; Tom Hoerr, Green View Landscaping Co.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Sponsors

said. (EOS is an Entrepreneurial Operating System, a business management program designed to help companies clarify their vision, gain traction, and build a healthy leadership team.) One key message was to find the right people and nurture them. “It all starts at the top,” Hoerr said. “The EOS shows how to effectively organize your business. We got more done in the last year than the last ten. My role is to make sure people have accountability. Everybody from the top to the bottom has a number [goal]. Every week you benchmark a number and that creates competition and accountability, but it also brings the teams together.” His company holds four leadership meetings a year. “That drives the purpose, core values and our 10-year plan.” The leadership team meets weekly for 90 minutes to deal with potential problems. “The goal is to solve the issues and not kick them down the road.” Migacz’s company has a system, “for just about everything,” he said. “Our SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures) let everyone know what’s expected of them and it gives guardrails to every process. Just having standard templates for emails and proposals — people are happier when they understand what’s expected of them.” Long-term planning is essential for success. For Doering, “I had a hard time looking past the next three years. When I started out, I wanted to make money, then be well known, and then have the crew, talent and training. Now, I want to go back to my people and see how they want to progress. It’s goal setting and what matters to you and getting your team on board.”

Maximizing Profit

There’s a financial commitment to the software and EOS programs, but “Seeing the data—putting in the revenue per hour— you can see by the types of jobs and services what’s happening,” Doering said. “The more people you have, the more data. For example, outdoor kitchens are one of our biggest services—so we can do more revenue per hour with those projects.” “Every company is different,” Hoerr said. “If your weekly scorecard is ‘how many leads this week and what was the close rate?’ it becomes an issue when we don’t have enough leads or closes.” Doering is a financial manager and his company is debt-free. “I reconcile the bank accounts every day. I’ll look at our cash, checking account and credit card balances. It helps to examine them when there are a lot of transactions every day.” Hoerr began using Aspire software in 2024 for the maintenance and landscape divisions. “It runs on earned revenue versus invoiced revenue—every billable hour for materials or labor. I look at the earned revenue. You should know how that last week went. You see it on a weekly basis.”

Sister and brother owners, Jennifer and Andy Fick

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

The Future

Artificial intelligence — bogey man or blessing? “The thing that excites me about AI is not that it will replace people, but will inspire them,” Migacz said. He expects to use AI in design and considers it an assistant. “I’m super excited about AI and it’s coming so fast,” Hoerr said. Besides Aspire, his company uses Bamboo HR, Coast credit cards and Azuga for GPS. “There are things we couldn’t do a year ago. We pulled Aspire and Bamboo (continued on page 26) 25

(continued from page 25) HR data and cut our overhead by 50 percent. If you don’t get on AI, you’re going to be left in the dust.” Doering said, “Chat GPT is my best friend right now. I had a business and personal account, and it’s replaced Google for me. I use it to analyze our data.” He also bought an asset tracking system for equipment and standardized the firm’s mowers. Landscape Illinois’ new Owners and Managers Committee launched the event. “I’m so proud that we have a committee where we are growing and sharing in our industry,” said Landscape Illinois President Kim Hartmann. “If there’s a theme, it’s how do we take care of our own.” Rebecca LaBarre, landscape/design sales manager at Platt Hill Nursery in Bloomingdale, attended the event at the owner’s request. “In our breakout group we talked about growth and

designers and their tasks. I’m a senior manager and I wasn’t sure I’d fit in, but the event was beneficial.” Tillie Bruss, owner of Jane Dilworth and Associates in Downers Grove, is on the committee and has been in the industry for 26 years. “I’ve always helped during the educational events. I joined the committee and it’s a great way to get together and share ideas.” McAdam, Jr. is chair of the new Owners and Managers Committee. “I’m looking at it more as a peer group where we talk about what we do for the Association, but also a network. It’s always beneficial.”

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Right Plant, Right Place:

Bringing Plant Education to T By Nikki Melin

hrough the challenges of COVID a few years ago, a renewed interest in plants was born. From that plant in your office, to the landscapes around our homes, plants bring beauty to our surroundings and make us feel good. With the plant interest surge came a new group of people looking for plant information. And where do most people find information today? Social media! In order to keep people interested and engaged with our industry, ensuring success with the end consumer is key. So whether you are a supplier helping a landscaper pick the right plant, or teaching the homeowner how to take care of it after installation, there is a need for plant information and education. Plus, what we do is interesting and fun! People love a good transformation, before-and-after shots, and progress updates. We can use social media to teach people how plants are beneficial, both to us, and to our environment, we can teach them how to be successful with their investments, and we can teach them how to have fun and be creative with it.

Our industry has so much to offer – and it is easy to do with the power of social media. Getting started can seem overwhelming – here are some top tips for growing your social media influence! •

Capture attention with short, authentic videos. Social platforms – especially Instagram – favor bite-sized video content. These quick clips (think Instagram Reels) are highly shareable and feel more genuine to viewers. Show a 30-second planting demo or a timelapse of a landscape transformation. These engaging visuals can hook your audience fast.

•

Educate while you entertain (“edutainment”). People follow plant pages not just for pretty pictures, but to learn something new. By prioritizing educational AND entertaining posts, you make your content “save-worthy” and shareable. Inspiring people is great, but backing it up with knowledge is even better

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Social Media

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Highlight the “right plant, right place” principle. One of the wisest horticultural mantras is right plant, right place. Show examples of plants thriving in the proper conditions, and explain matching plant needs to site conditions (soil, light, space). Emphasizing this builds trust that you’re not just selling plants but guiding success. Encourage engagement and community sharing. Social media is a two-way street – it’s not just about broadcasting, but conversing. Ask questions in your captions like “What’s your favorite fall-color shrub in the Midwest?” to spark comments. Featuring user-generated content (UGC) further helps engage current customers, and inspires others to become new customers. You can also consider fun campaigns like a seasonal photo contest or a giveaway for those who tag your company in their posts. (continued on page 30)

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Bridge both consumer and professional audiences. You don’t have to choose between speaking to homeowners or industry pros—often the same post can do both. Focus on universally interesting plant topics and your real-world expertise: new varieties, sustainable trends, “right plant, right place.” If you need to, save more detailed case studies for LinkedIn and keep Instagram focused on visuals and quick tips. By teaching instead of just selling, you earn trust with consumers and respect from your peers.

From Posts to Plant Sales: Cultivating Lasting Influence

Ultimately, using social media for plant education is about inspiring interest and confidence. Marketing in our industry isn’t about hard selling – it’s about sparking curiosity, providing knowledge, and motivating someone to decide to become more engaged with plants. When you show a beautiful Panicum waving in a prairie-style garden and explain how it supports local ecology, you’re doing more than promotion: you’re instilling value. Over time, this kind of consistent, informative content leads customers to care more about plants and trust your guidance in choosing them. It’s a slow and steady cultivation of demand. So, embrace your role as a “plant influencer” by sharing what you know in creative ways. Whether it’s through a witty 15-second tip clip, a thoughtful blog, or a more detailed science based post, your authentic voice can educate a broad audience. In the wild world of social media, those who nurture their followers with ideas will harvest the rewards – an engaged community, a stronger brand reputation, and ultimately, more plants in the right places. Happy posting and happy planting!

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

A Private Escape in Wrigleyville by Heather Prince

tep out onto a lush, private balcony. Settle into a cozy chair as you enjoy a quiet cup of coffee as colorful annuals spill from tropical planters. In the evening, light the small, square firepit for a tiny escape in the heart of Wrigleyville. Looking for some city views? Climb the custom spiral staircase to the rooftop secret garden where the city lights beckon. You might welcome the family for a summer dinner under the pergola or cocktails with friends as you adjust the shades with the touch of an app. Welcome to a gorgeous green hideaway designed as a private getaway atop the roof of a brick condo building in the heart of Chicago. We spoke with Jenn Lassa, co-owner and creative editor of Rooftopia, about this custom-designed project. She, along with her husband, Marcin Matlakowski, have owned and run their design/build firm that specializes in rooftop gardens for the past 16 years. “We created Rooftopia so we could create new things,” said Lassa.

“We’ve always had a flair for original ideas, original solutions, and outdoor spaces that are one-of-a-kind. We wanted to really cater to our clients and make gardens that are a little bit different. It keeps us on our toes. We’re not creating the same space for anybody, ever. They’re all very different.”

An Urban Secret Garden

For this project, the clients wanted an English-style secret garden in the heart of the city. With four adult daughters, the couple wanted a space to have family gatherings and emphasized privacy. “The goals included having shade and having privacy, fixing the roof, and updating the structure to support the deck,” remembered Lassa. “It was a pretty sad space when they bought it. They knew they had this amazing outdoor area to work with, but it was a wooden deck with wooden privacy screens that were literally falling apart.” (continued on page 34)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

(contiued from page 32) The husband of the couple took the lead role and had definite ideas of what he wanted. “He absolutely wanted to modernize the space but desired it to be a sanctuary for himself and his family. He’s also a plant enthusiast and plant collector, so he was very much inclined to use native plants, and we were extremely excited to work on that,” Lassa said. To create privacy, Rooftopia used custom-made metal screening, a custom pergola and strategically planted trees to keep the balance between hiding the neighbors and keeping some city views. “We do a lot of the fabrication and carpentry in-house,” commented Lassa. “We really love making different patterns in metal and exploring architectural elements. It’s easier to control the outcome if we are responsible for it,” Lassa said. Laser-cut geometric patterns on powder-coated steel walls allow light and air while keeping the space crisp and contemporary. The heavy-duty automated pergola is the centerpiece of the rooftop space. It allows the deck to transform from dining to lounging with the press of a button. With powered louvers and built-in sound and lighting, a significant part of installation was making sure power lines and

irrigation systems were all tucked away under the decking and through the posts. The look is seamless and streamlined, allowing the owners to set the atmosphere in moments. For the edges and containers, “The goal was to make it feel like a landscape or a park and not to be so obvious about how the plants are contained,” said Lassa. “All the edges and plant boxes are integrated at deck level and below, so you don’t really see how much container is there.” An array of grasses, perennials, natives, and small shrubs spill from the subtle edges, creating a tranquil landscape. The client loves fragrant plants, but roses have been a challenge to survive on a roof in the Chicago climate. Surprisingly, the blueberry bushes have thrived, providing tasty snacks and vivid fall color. The team selected an American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) for the entrance arch, and it has proven to be a wonderful solution. “The client had requested a vine, but we were initially uncertain whether it would thrive in just 10 inches of growing medium with a steel I-beam below,” recounted Lassa. “This spring, we were thrilled to see the vines not only continuing to flourish but also producing their first beautiful blooms, a joyful confirmation of the plant’s success on this rooftop.” (continued on page 36)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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(continued from page 34)

Challenges and Opportunities

The clients initially reached out in February of 2022. After design consultations, structural engineering needs and permit application, the Rooftopia team finally got the permit for construction in Spring of 2023. Because of the intricacies of replacing the entire roof structure from the beams up, construction lasted until October. As with most Chicago projects, access to the site was one of the chief challenges. The balcony and rooftop decking are custom porcelain floor tiles by Cosentino’s Dekton. For the balcony, they are on pedestals, but the roof is supported by a joist system. “We had to use a crane three separate times to get materials to the roof and install the structural steel beams,” remembered Lassa. “The roof deck is much more of a floating entity substantially higher than the roof membrane for drainage. It was so much effort to get the beams in place, and then we had to do masonry work with the steel. It had many complexities. Also, this is in Wrigleyville. The access is difficult. Everything had to come through an alley from the back of the building, not from the street.” The plant choices are monitored for success as plants adjust to their rooftop home or don’t survive the winter. “The planting design keeps evolving as we discover what thrives best on this rooftop. Aspens have flourished, and we’re exploring Japanese tree lilac and serviceberry as new additions. Perennials are being refined too — balancing

vigorous growers like zizia with more fragrant selections to meet the client’s goals.”

A Special Space

One of the things that sets this rooftop apart from many is the slow reveal of the space from the staircase. Instead of dropping you at the threshold of an open deck, Rooftopia crafted an entrance experience with the cut-metal walls. A tiny path winds to the custom-made metal arch, so you are forced to slow down and savor the plantings before stepping through. “The wisteria and the arch are some of these key moments that we and the client had envisioned,” said Lassa. “As you enter the space from the lower deck, you walk through that arch, and it absolutely is like, oh my gosh, I didn’t know what was going to be on the other side of this. I think it allows you to slow down a little bit more and enter the space in a unique way. All of that was really fun to design and develop and see it come together as it’s being built. Going from the design concept to the reality is always such a special transformation.” Today, Rooftopia maintains the spaces and does seasonal changeouts of the annuals and any replacements of the perennial plant material. The clients are delighted and love their secret garden and balcony. “They’re an incredible (continued on page 40)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Exploring the Color Palette

Merlot in the Garden by Mark Dwyer

ell, that topic title might have caught your attention! Unfortunately, this article isn’t about wine pairings out in a garden setting although perhaps that will be a topic for another time. Instead, I’d like to focus on the importance of the deep maroons, burgundies, mahogany, merlot and other dark tones, specifically provided by foliage, that should be readily available in our design considerations. Our growers and suppliers have been excellent with providing a wide range of woody plants, perennials and annuals with that deep, rich, sultry foliage which can add significant depth and interest in the garden when used appropriately. In my design work over the last 35 years, I can’t think of a landscape in which I haven’t incorporated some type of merlot-foliaged tree or shrub. For the sake of discussing this color range throughout the article, I’ll refer to “merlot” although that will certainly include the range of deep reds, maroons, burgundy and near-black options. A question that has always confused my clients when 42

we’re talking about foundation plants is my inquiry regarding the color of their home. “Are you sticking with the beige siding? If you repaint the home, will you stick to the powder blue tones?”. I clarify that my interest is knowing the backdrop or foil color before considering woody plants and how they will be displayed to the best effect. Without a doubt, lighter structures in the grays, tans, white, light yellow and light blue really become excellent, non-living contributors to the foundation design by letting merlot-foliage woody plants really pop. If clients have a darker home (maroon, dark blue, etc.), I would be leaning towards golden and chartreuse selections that take advantage of that backdrop. Merlotfoliage plants, while excellent as accents or focal points, will really maximize their contributions when combined with lighter foliage plants or bright flowers that play off the deep red tones of the foliage. These dark colors can be dramatic and dominant, hence their appropriate placement.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Perennials with darker foliage also have the benefit of combining well with a wide range of neighbors but can be lost visually when isolated or not paired with more vivid companion plants. How many merlot-toned coral bells (Heuchera) are out there, right!? There is a reason for that although their best use isn’t simply the “plunk and run” approach. Combining them with painted ferns, silver Brunnera and other lighter “pals” are good pairings. Thoughtful placement is indeed vital for all merlot-foliage plantings. I get a kick out of reading color descriptions which are typically utilized when marketing paint colors or fashion items. Not being known for any skill with painting (or fashion sense), I look to the range of colorful plant foliage being as important as flower details. I could be writing a similar article on the impact of gold and chartreuse in the garden but merlot is certainly a dominant color and one that I use often but carefully. Color descriptions for this range of colors will include references to sophistication, pas-

sion, warmth, strength, richness and a sense of luxury. Merlot is frequently described as a “solemn hue with a refined manner.” That’s a fancy description. I would simply say that a landscape lacking in well-placed merlot foliage plants is simply missing solid anchoring which can take the garden and landscape to the next level. Merlot in the garden tends to recede visually which makes brighter colors come forward. This doesn’t mean that it always has to be a backdrop or secondary element. These dark tones, by adding visual depth, make small spaces seem larger. The repetition of these darker tones woven throughout the landscape can also unify a composition and draw the eye throughout the landscape with rich, intentional “color echoes”. I ran across a very relevant quote about this color range that is appropriate to share. “Burgundy (merlot) foliage reads like a shadow and accentuates the shape and volume of neighboring plants.” This is entirely true. (continued on page 44)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Exploring the Color Palette (continued from page 43) Merlot foliage is most conspicuous in full sun situations and with selections that maintain their “color integrity”. There are many woody plants and perennials that have very deep, merlot foliage in spring which then fades or becomes green with the heat of summer. It’s not that those plants don’t have merit in our designs but the continuation of the merlot tones throughout the growing season is a worthy goal. With merlot foliage harder to see in more shade (i.e. the dark Heuchera mentioned above), the importance of combining plants that take advantage of proximity is vital as is combining plants with similar cultural needs. Infusing the shadier garden with these darker foliage perennials and woodies can be effective in making those lighter colors really pop.

When combining colors in the landscape, there is frequent reference to both “hot” and “cool” colors. Whites and silvers are in a category of their own as unifying plants. Plants in a hot theme include those presenting yellow, orange and red. The cooler tones are represented by blues, green and merlot. Tones of merlot have a calming effect visually and can also balance a composition that might be leaning too heavily into that “hot” range. Sometimes that pizzazz of bright colors is intentional but the immediate visual serenity offered by merlot-foliage plants is evident when utilized, particularly in combinations, borders and even containers. I still get excited when seeing the emerging foliage of ‘Crimson King’ Norway maple (Acer platanoides) in spring.

We want to remind you... Our organization has a new name and a new online home! You can find us at landscapeillinois.org. Be sure to update your bookmarks so you don’t miss any news, resources, membership renewals, or upcoming events. Along with the new website, our staff email addresses have also changed − they now end in @landscapeillinois.org (replacing @ilca.net). Please update your contacts accordingly. Our communications and updates are still going strong! If you haven’t seen recent messages from us, we encourage you to check your spam or promotions folder to make sure you’re not missing important announcements and opportunities. Thank you for being part of the Landscape Illinois community. We’re thrilled to continue growing together under our refreshed 44

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

While perhaps not the best street tree species, the massive, 60’+ tall specimens in my neighborhood in Wisconsin are mesmerizing. Certainly overplanted but absolutely gorgeous are the purpleleaf sand cherries (Prunus x cistena) found commonly throughout Midwest landscapes. Topping out at about 8’ and getting a bit scraggly with time, it’s exciting to see the new compact selection, Stay Classy® (‘UCONNPCSDR’) which gets 4’ wide and tall. Those common plants add a striking dimension to the landscape and as you’re walking down the nursery rows at your local growers, the numerous merlot-foliage cultivars of ninebarks (Physocarpus), elderberries (Sambucus) and weigelas (Weigela) are evident. These three genera continue to see vast breeding efforts to include increasingly more compact forms and those with even darker foliage. The ninebarks are a great example in that I remember Diabolo® (‘Monlo’) being the hot, new, maroon foliage selection 25 years ago, albeit quite large at 10’ tall and wide (I still love it!). Breeding of ninebarks has created dozens of selections including increasingly smaller merlot-foliage options that are perfect under window height (3-4’) along the foundation. I should note that I’m wary of Japanese barberries (Berberis thunbergii), despite their vigor and hardiness, for their propensity to spread by seed. However, there are now some sterile selections to include merlot foliage varieties. (continued on page 46)

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Exploring the Color Palette (continued from page 45) Merlot tones can be found in many larger woody plants like smokebush (Cotinus sp.). I’ve grown ‘Royal Purple’ for decades and am dabbling with many of the more compact selections as well. I really enjoy seeing the ‘Purple Haze’ filbert (Corylus hybrida) in spring but as noted earlier, this is a selection that loses the intensity of maroon with the arrival of summer heat. There are some merlot-foliage contorted filbert selections as well. Seeing any of the merlot-foliage, European beech (Fagus sylvatica) selections is always a treat, particularly when running across an older specimen. There are many darker selections to include upright, contorted, weeping and spreading forms. My favorites include ‘Red Obelisk’ and ‘Purple Fountain’. Their slow growth rate is frustrating but their impact (and longevity) in the landscape is inspiring. Some crabapples (Malus) and many other species and hybrids of maples exhibit rich tones of merlot throughout the growing season. They aren’t hard to identify at the nursery! Perennials and annuals with merlot foliage contribute to the landscape in the exact same way as the larger, woody specimens but on more of a micro-scale. All the caveats of combining these darker selections with neighbors that exhibit lighter foliage and/or bright flower holds true. There are so many wonderful varietal selections of common herbaceous (continued on page 48)

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Exploring the Color Palette (continued from page 46) genera that merlot range of foliage. One has only to explore sedums, hibiscus, penstemon, astilbe, coral bells and much more. Using penstemon as an example, I rarely plant any green-leaf forms when I continue to see amazing, dark-leaf forms that offer that rich depth from emergence to hard frost due to the foliage, notwithstanding the beautiful flowers and showy seed heads. Again, the repetition of merlot-foliage perennials can really unify a composition and slow the eye by giving it a calm, resting spot. In the same landscape, the play between all of the merlot-foliage selections offers a combined effect and striking dimension to any size landscape. This winter and next spring, make a concerted effort to explore the vast range of merlot-toned plants for the garden. By creating depth and contrast, “merlot in the garden” can be infused into our spaces easily and effectively and like the finest of wines, add beauty and class.

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock. Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Growers & Distributors of Quality Nursery Stock Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients. We are the premier shade tree grower in the

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Lockport and Barrington, serve our Lockport and Barrington, toa better serve our to assisting your next project. Cedar Path forward Nu rseries carries full on line of B&B clients. Cedar Nurseries carries a fullshrubs, line of B&B trees and treesclients. andPath shrubs, container perennials Cedar Path Nu Nurseries rseries ll ground line ofrcovers. B&B shrubs, container shrubs, and Cedar groundcovers. Not perennials only are you onePath carries a and fuwe B&B trees and and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials trees shrubs, perennials stop-shop, but we your are container sourcing experts. We We are, not shrubs, only one-stop shop, but we are look also and grou ndcovers. Not only are we you r oneand grou ndcovers. Notforward only we your oneforward to assisting onlook your nextare project. sourcing experts. We to assisting on your stop-shop, but but we we are are sourcing sourcing experts. experts. We stop-shop, We look look next project. forward to assisting on your next project. forward to assisting on your next project.

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Winter Deicing Strategies Mi While Maintaining Safety by Dr. Aaron Patton

inter snow removal may keep properties safe, but the ice melts (deicing products) that make it possible can wreak havoc on lawns. Understanding how to minimize salt damage while effectively managing snow and ice removal is crucial for landscape professionals.

Understanding Deicing Products

Several deicing compounds are available with variable melting potential, cost, environmental impact, and vegetation (e.g., turfgrasses) safety. Sodium chloride (rock salt) is the most common and least expensive ($8–15 per 50 lbs.) option but is ineffective below 15°F. It is also highly damaging to vegetation, causing stress that damages roots and foliage. Calcium chloride works down to −20°F and, while highly corrosive to metals, causes less vegetation damage than sodium chloride. Its hygroscopic properties (absorbing moisture from air) make it fast-acting but make it more challenging to store. Magnesium chloride has similar performance to calcium chloride, working to −10°F. Both are more expensive than rock salt and cost about $30 for 50 lbs. Potassium chloride offers moderate protection with effectiveness only to about 20°F. Blends of these chloridebased deicers are also available and sold. For turf protection, prioritize calcium chloride or magnesium chloride over sodium chloride when budget allows. These alternatives cause less injury to turfgrasses and nearby vegetation (i.e., shrubs, groundcovers, etc.). There are also non-chloride deicers that are less corrosive. Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) represents the most environmentally friendly option, working to 20°F with minimal vegetation impact, but costs significantly more than chloride alternatives. Potassium acetate offers similar benefits but protects to −26°F. Acetate-based deicers are gaining attention for their environmental benefits and are increasingly used in sensitive or critical areas (e.g., bridges, airports), though availability and cost remain limiting factors.

Ice melt damage surrounding sidewalks outside a commercial building in Wisconsin.

Salt-Tolerant Turfgrass Species

An additional way to minimize turf damage is through selecting the proper turfgrass species for lawn areas adjacent to sidewalks and roadways. Research shows significant variation in salt tolerance among cool-season grasses. Among 50

Efforts to keep areas clean and clear in the winter may lead to turf injury in spring. Photo courtesy Tony Webster.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

inimizing Turf Damage

Perennial ryegrass has poor salt tolerance. Kentucky bluegrass ranks among the least salt-tolerant species, with most cultivars showing severe damage at relatively low salt concentrations. Newer cultivars show improved tolerance but still lag behind many of the fine fescue species.

Economic Considerations

More snow and ice and high customer expectations lead to increased use of ice melt products and the potential for turf damage. The true cost of deicing products extends beyond their purchase price. While sodium chloride costs mere pennies per pound, the increased risk of damaging adjacent vegetation also means there is an associated repair cost that comes with the applications. A moderate increase in material costs for sodium chloride alternatives may actually be economical compared to turf restoration expenses.

Recovery Strategies

When salt damage occurs, the process to repair these sites is simple. First, use a combination of irrigation and spring rains to leach the accumulated salts from the soil in early spring after the risk of snowfall. In areas where heavy sodium chloride applications resulted in turf injury, applying gypsum

will help to leach the soil of the accumulated sodium. For severely damaged areas, remove dead grass and resod or reseed with salt-tolerant species. You may need to add some new soil to areas also damaged by equipment or traffic. Tall fescue is easy to establishment in the spring, while fine fescues mixtures with strong and slender creeping red fescue provide excellent long-term salt tolerance. Avoid making preemergence herbicide applications in salt damaged areas you anticipate needing to reseed. The key to successful salt management lies in balancing human and plant safety, taking into consideration not just the economic costs of the deicing compounds but also potential turf repairs. By selecting temperature-appropriate products, targeting applications carefully and maintaining turf resilience through proper species selection, landscape professionals can minimize winter’s impact on summer’s success. Dr. Aaron J. Patton is a professor and turfgrass extension specialist in Indiana. He researches weed control, novel grasses, and turfgrass management practices while mentoring and teaching students at Purdue University.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Spring Grove Nursery Becky and Jamie Thomas 106 E. Spring Road Mazon, IL 60444 (815) 448-2097 www.springgrovenursery.com

by Meta L. Levin

pring Grove Nursery began with a conversation family members had about diversifying and expanding the family farm. From that beginning, Spring Grove Nursery has flourished and now grows and sells shade, ornamental and evergreen trees, primarily to landscape contractors, garden centers, municipalities, park districts, horticulturists and landscape architects. They also are open to landowners and retail customers. Becky and Jamie Thomas founded and operate the nursery. Becky Thomas grew up on her parents’ farm in Grundy County and has a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Illinois. She has served as president of IGIA,

the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois and now sits on the Landscape Illinois Board of Directors. Jamie Thomas has a background in Recreation, Parks and Tourism, studied at Western Illinois University, and is an ISA Certified Arborist. He is a member of the Ornamental Growers Association Board of Directors. The two wanted to return to the family farm but wanted to expand. “We liked the idea of growing trees,” Becky Thomas says. “We both are strongly connected to the outdoors and nature.” She especially is pleased that when people come to the nursery, they are connecting with nature in a powerful way. “We enjoy fostering that.”

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

They also are proud that they can provide their customers with the resources and knowledge they need to be successful, the couple says. At the time of the family conversation there was a shortage of trees for their target markets in the Chicago area. As they brainstormed with Becky Thomas’ parents, the idea of a tree nursery grew. So, in 1999, they rented 100 acres from her parents and started the nursery. “Trees are a slow crop,” she says. “It took several years before we could harvest anything.” In the meantime, Jamie Thomas did machine work at Caterpillar, Inc. to support his young family – their oldest child was just three years old and the younger one was born after the nursery began. Once the nursery got going, however, he was able to focus all his attention on that and leave Caterpillar. They joined what was then ILCA and INA their first year in operation and, says Becky Thomas, went to every education opportunity, networking event and tours offered. “We started making connections,” she says. “Association memberships were integral to us.” Although the Thomases run Spring Grove Nursery, it is an extended family operation. Her brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Marlee Harford, grow corn and soybeans on family-owned land, as well as running iTrees.com, which offers tree delivery and planting services. From the beginning, the Harfords and the Thomases have helped each other. “We share equipment, labor and resources,” says Becky Thomas.

Initially, the Thomases, their extended family and friends provided all the labor. Gradually, they needed more and by the second year they had assembled a crew, who worked alongside crews from the Harfords’ farm. Armed with a permanent resident card, their main foreman, Chon Avila, has been with them for 21 years. “He loves the rhythm of growing trees,” says Becky Thomas. He returns to his family in Mexico in the off season. They also employ four people who they recruit through the US government’s H2A program, all of whom Avila helped them find from his hometown. In addition, they get some local help from high school and college students, as well as young adults from the community. To expand the family nature of Spring Grove Nursery, the Thomas’ two children, Maggie Thomas Harper and Joey Thomas, who have grown up along with the business, now have returned. In fact, their daughter’s two young children come with their parents. Their first customer’s check is enshrined on their wall. He was a landscaper who arrived when they were so new that they did not have the equipment necessary to dig trees out of the ground. It was on order. So, he helped them hand dig the tree he wanted. Then, his check bounced. It did not deter them. Now, 26 years later, they are excited that “now we have a beautiful farm with great customers and a second generation all working together,” says Becky Thomas.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Una historia entretenida del Árbol de Navidad C

uando iniciamos un relato sobre el árbol de Navidad es importante seleccionar el origen y alcance. Puedes encontrar todo tipo de relatos antropológicos sobre los antiguos egipcios y su dios favorito, RA. Relatos atractivos, pero ¡oye! Eso no es Navidad. Luego hallarás muchas historias sobre rituales paganos y su sacrificio del día. A medida que pasamos hacia historias alemanas y escandinavas los rituales y costumbres se vuelven más reconocibles. Por favor, permítanme iniciar esta historia en la cúspide de las eras germánica y victoriana.

Entra el alemán, Príncipe Alberto

Como podrán recordar, en un matrimonio arreglado, el Príncipe Alberto se casó con la Reina Victoria de Inglaterra. Y la trama se complica...

En el período Victoriano, se esparcían guirnaldas de acebo y abeto en el mantel. Charles Darwin, escribiendo desde su casa en Down House en 1877, pensaba que la escasez de abejas en la primavera se debía a la menor cantidad de bayas en los acebos durante el invierno. Escribió: “No podemos decorar nuestros hogares en Navidad con las bayas escarlatas del acebo, porque las abejas escasearon durante la primavera”. Un problema obvio de polinizadores. Se cree que las coronas de Adviento pudieron haber sido utilizadas por primera vez por los luteranos en Alemania en el siglo XVI. No obstante, el primer registro de esta costumbre data de 1833,

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

cuando un clérigo luterano encendía una vela en una corona cada domingo y narraba la historia de la Natividad. Esta costumbre se extendió a hogares e iglesias y continúa hasta el presente. Durante el siglo XIX, las coronas se colgaban en la puerta principal. Estas coronas se conocían también como ‘aros de bienvenida’ y usualmente se componían de acebo, hiedras, piñas de pinos y cintas.

Pero volvamos al Príncipe...

En diciembre de 1840, el Príncipe Alberto importó varios abetos de su ciudad natal, Coburgo, en Alemania, para usarlos como árboles de Navidad. Pero no fue sino hasta varios años después, cuando periódicos como el Illustrated London News, Cassell’s Magazine y The Graphic comenzaron a reseñar y describir los árboles de Navidad de la realeza cada año, que la costumbre de poner dichos árboles en las casas arraigó en el público en Inglaterra. Para 1860, los árboles de Navidad eran muy populares entre la clase media. Ponían árboles de Navidad en las salas de estar o en los vestíbulos, cubiertos de velas y dulces, frutas, decoraciones hechas en casa y pequeños regalos. Los árboles de Navidad reales seguían siendo la norma a comienzos del siglo XX, pero el primer árbol artificial de cerdas fue hecho por la Addis Housewares Company en 1930. Desde 1947, Noruega ha obsequiado un Árbol de Navidad grande a Gran Bretaña que se despliega en la Plaza de Trafalgar, Londres. Durante la Segunda Guerra mundial, el rey y el gobierno de Noruega se trasladaron a Londres durante la ocupación de su país. Por consiguiente, el árbol se obsequia como una muestra de gratitud al pueblo de Londres por su ayuda. Esta tradición anual muestra la gran importancia simbólica de los árboles de Navidad en Gran Bretaña actualmente.

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¿Y los norteamericanos?

Durante el período Victoriano, las clases medias de Estados Unidos generalmente adoptaron todas las cosas victorianas, desde la arquitectura hasta las sociedades de reforma social. Los árboles de Navidad de la Reina Victoria no fueron la excepción. En Estados Unidos, la Navidad no fue declarada como día feriado federal hasta 1870. La práctica de erigir árboles navideños públicos surgió en Estados Unidos en el

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

siglo XX. En 1923, apareció el primero en el Jardín Sur de la Casa Blanca. Durante la Gran Depresión, sitios famosos como el Rockefeller Center en Nueva York comenzaron a erigir árboles cada vez más grandes.

¿Y nuestros antepasados?

En 1889, el Presidente Benjamin Harrison y su esposa Caroline pusieron el primer Árbol de Navidad en la Casa Blanca. Cuando Edward H. Johnson era vicepresidente de la Edison Electric Light Company, una predecesora de la General Electric, creó en 1882, en su casa de Nueva York, el primer Árbol de Navidad iluminado eléctricamente conocido. Johnson se convirtió en el “Padre de las luces eléctricas de los árboles de Navidad”.

Árboles de Navidad públicos

Desde comienzos del siglo XX, se ha hecho común en muchas ciudades, pueblos y tiendas por departamentos poner árboles de Navidad afuera, como el Gran árbol de Macy’s en Atlanta (desde 1948), el Árbol de Navidad del Rockefeller Center en Nueva York, y el árbol de Navidad grande en el Millennium Park de Chicago. El Árbol de Navidad Nacional de Estados Unidos ha sido iluminado cada año desde 1923 en el Jardín Sur de la Casa Blanca, que ha evolucionado hasta convertirse en un evento importante en la Casa Blanca, durante las festividades. A los perros viejos les encantan los árboles Durante toda mi vida he tenido árboles reales. Comprendo perfectamente la conveniencia y sencillez de los árboles artificiales. Pero simplemente no puedo hacerlo. En mi mundo, las tradiciones se mantienen con firmeza y pasan de una generación a otra. Los tradicionalistas tenemos una gran deuda de gratitud con los cultivadores de árboles de Navidad del mundo. Lo que me recuerda que debo detenerme y llamar al mío, Bryan en Merrillan, Wisconsin. Cada año me consigue el árbol perfecto. Pequeño y gordo, como le gustan al Príncipe Alberto. Felices Fiestas a Todos.

Árboles de hoja perenne en el comercio de viveros de Illinois Hay ocho coníferas nativas de Illinois: pino blanco, cedro rojo del este, cedro blanco del norte, pino de Banks, pino rojo, pino de hoja corta, tamarack (alerce oriental) y ciprés calvo. Pero viveros nuevos en Illinois en el siglo XIX, comenzaron a cultivar otras especies. Se trajeron algunos árboles de hoja perenne en embarcaciones desde Green Bay, WI, mientras vendedores ambulantes vendían otros de puerta en puerta. Esta es una muestra: 1857—El Grove Nursery en Glenview ofrece tuya del Canadá, cedro rojo, pino negro europeo, pino silvestre, abeto balsámico, abeto plateado, pícea de Noruega, picea blanca y tsuga. 1857—Nachusa Nursery en Dixon ofrece abeto balsámico, pícea de Noruega. 1866—Quincy Nursery en Quincy ofrece pícea de Noruega, llamándolo el mejor de todos los árboles de hoja perenne, mientras el tsuga fue el más elegante. 1871—A. Bryant, Jr., de Princeton ofrece semillas de pino negro europeo y silvestre, pino blanco, pícea de Noruega, pícea blanca y alerce europeo. 1888—Elgin Nurseries ofrece pícea de Noruega y blanca, pino silvestre, pino negro europeo, pino enano de montaña, abeto balsámico y tuya del Canadá.

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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HELP WANTED

Grow Your Career with SiteOne Landscape Supply! SiteOne Landscape Supply is the largest national distributor of landscaping products across the U.S. and Canada. We proudly serve green industry professionals who design, build, and maintain outdoor spaces— from residential lawns and gardens to golf courses, sports fields, and more. We’re more than just a distributor—we’re a partner. Our one-stop shop offers extensive inventory across irrigation, lighting, turf and landscape maintenance, hardscapes, nursery, and pest control supplies. We pride ourselves on knowing our customers and their business better than anyone else. Current Opportunities: Account Executives – Pingree Grove & Naperville, IL Assistant Branch Managers – Park City & Homer Glen, IL At SiteOne, we’re passionate about helping our customers win—and we know our associates are the key to that success. We invest in our people through development programs, competitive benefits, and a culture built on safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement. With over 800 locations and exciting growth ahead, now is the perfect time to join SiteOne and grow Stronger Together™. How to apply: Apply today at www.siteone. com/careers Salary Range: Account Executive roles: Estimated range $66,000–$86,000 base + commission. Assistant Branch Manager roles: Estimated range $50,000–$70,000 base. SiteOne offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, and performance-based incentives.

Help Wanted We’re seeking a Commercial Estimator with experience in the landscaping industry to join our estimating team. This person will be responsible for accurately bidding and preparing proposals for commercial landscape construction projects in the Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin area. Key Responsibilities: • Review plans, specifications, and bid documents for upcoming projects • Perform detailed quantity takeoffs and cost analysis for materials, labor, and equipment • Collaborate with project managers, designers, and vendors to ensure accurate estimates • Prepare and submit competitive bids and proposals on time • Maintain and update cost databases and vendor pricing • Attend pre-bid meetings and site visits as needed Qualifications: • 3+ years of estimating experience in commercial landscaping, sitework, or construction • Strong understanding of landscape construction materials, methods, and costs • Ability to read and interpret landscape and civil plans • Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills • Strong communication and teamwork abilities Compensation & Benefits: • Competitive salary (based on experience) plus commission • Health insurance • Paid time off and holidays • Company vehicle or mileage reimbursement (if applicable) • Opportunities for professional growth and advancement How to Apply: Submit your resume and a brief cover letter to payables@mgtls.com with the subject line: Commercial Estimator Application – [Your Name]. Salary Range: Varies with experience

Position Overview We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Inventory Specialist to oversee and maintain accurate records of our plant material. This position plays a key role in ensuring that trees, shrubs, and liners are properly graded, and continuously monitored while supporting the overall efficiency of our nursery operations. Key Responsibilities • Inventory Grading: Evaluate tree and shrub quality and size to ensure consistency with nursery standards. • Inventory Management: Maintain accurate counts of all crops, update inventory software, and track plant material movement. • Crop Readiness: Monitor growth stages and communicate crop availability and readiness for sales and digging. • Liner Management: Receive, organize, count, and plant liners, ensuring proper labeling and placement. • Order Preparation: Tag plant material for customer orders with accuracy and attention to quality. • Quality Control: Identify and report pests, diseases, or cultural issues, working with the team to resolve concerns. • Collaboration: Work closely with sales, production, and loading teams to ensure timely order fulfillment • Recordkeeping: Keep detailed notes on crop progress, losses, and adjustments to meet production goals. Qualifications • 2+ years of nursery, greenhouse, or horticulture industry experience. • Strong knowledge of woody plant material, including tree and shrub identification. • Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and lift up to 50 lbs. • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. • Proficiency with inventory management systems and Excel. • Team-oriented with strong communication skills. • Bilingual in English and Spanish highly desirable. Compensation & Benefits • Competitive salary, based on experience. • Paid Time Off, 401k with match, cellphone reimbursements • Opportunities for professional growth and advancement within the company. How to apply: Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your experience to kevin@foxridgenursery.com Salary Range: Based On Experience

Join Our Snow Team – We’re Hiring! Hanson Landscape is hiring seasonal snow removal staff. Experience is a preferred, especially for equipment operators, but not required for all roles. We’re currently seeking the following positions: -Experienced Plow Drivers -Experienced Skid Steer Operators -Sidewalk Shovelers -Shoveling Team Lead How to apply: Please call Jaime (630) 7462951 Salary Range: Based on experience

Wholesale Nursery Inventory Specialist Job Title: Wholesale Nursery Inventory Specialist Location: Harvard, IL Employment Type: Full-Time Salary: Based on experience About Us Fox Ridge Nursery is a leading wholesale grower dedicated to producing high-quality plant material for landscapers, garden centers, and municipalities. We pride ourselves on exceptional plant health, attention to detail, and outstanding customer service.

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

HELP WANTED Lawn Care Operations Manager Operations Manager – Lawn Works of Joliet, Inc. Location: Crest Hill, IL Job Type: Full-Time | On-Site Experience Level: Mid–Senior Level Industry: Residential Lawn Care / Turf Management / Fertilizer & Weed Control About Lawn Works of Joliet Lawn Works of Joliet, Inc. is a locally owned and rapidly expanding lawn care company specializing in fertilizer and weed control applications for residential customers. We take pride in providing premium lawn care services that deliver visible, lasting results — backed by exceptional customer service. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for a skilled and motivated Operations Manager to oversee our daily operations, lead our team of technicians, and help drive the company’s continued success. Position Summary The Operations Manager is a key leadership role responsible for managing staff, ensuring service quality, and overseeing operational performance. This position requires deep industry knowledge, strong leadership, and exceptional organizational skills. This is not an entry-level management role — it carries significant responsibility and influence in the company’s success. The ideal candidate will be experienced, personable, and capable of inspiring confidence among staff and customers alike. Key Responsibilities • Lead, train, and motivate a team of experienced lawn care technicians. • Manage all personnel processes, including hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and disciplinary actions. • Communicate with customers to resolve concerns, diagnose lawn health issues, and recommend treatment plans. • Manage warehouse operations, product inventory, and supply ordering. • Ensure equipment is properly maintained and calibrated for accurate application rates. • Track production metrics and ensure efficient scheduling and route management. • Maintain detailed records of service performance and product usage. • Assist with product selection, program development, and staff training initiatives. • Uphold Lawn Works’ commitment to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

HELP WANTED

Qualifications • Minimum 4 years of experience in residential lawn care management or golf course turf management. • Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in turf management, horticulture, or related field (preferred), or a Turf Management Certificate from an accredited university. • Proven leadership and staff management experience. • Strong working knowledge of turfgrass management, fertilizers, and weed control products. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Outstanding time management, organization, and attention to detail. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Real Green or other green industry software. • Valid driver’s license (required) • Illinois Pesticide Applicator’s License (required)

safe, attractive, and well-maintained parks and buildings. Duties include operating various equipment, performing manual labor, completing general maintenance tasks, and providing limited supervision to seasonal staff. The position also participates in on-call rotations and may require some evening or weekend hours. Key Responsibilities • Safely operate and maintain a variety of equipment and vehicles • Perform grounds, sports fields, turf, landscape, forestry, horticulture, playground and facility maintenance • Complete building and equipment repairs, demonstrating strong mechanical ability • Assist with project work, special events, and seasonal tasks • Provide guidance to seasonal staff as needed • Respond to on-call maintenance needs Schedule Generally Monday–Friday, with evenings and weekends as needed. Qualifications • High school diploma or equivalent • Valid Illinois driver’s license • Minimum 3 years of experience in park maintenance, landscaping, turf, forestry, horticulture, or related fields, or education equivalent • Strong mechanical aptitude for performing repairs • Ability to perform physical labor in various outdoor conditions • Willingness to obtain required certifications: o Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) within 2 years o Operator’s Pesticide License within 1 year Compensation & Benefits • Starting wage: $21 per hour • Medical insurance with HSA benefit • Life insurance (basic & voluntary additional coverage) • Employee Assistance Program • 457(b) retirement program • Paid holidays and vacation, sick, and floating holiday time • Professional development opportunities How to Apply: Please email Cover Letter and Resume to admin@fspd.org Salary Range: $21/hour Position will remain open until it is filled. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply immediately, as we will conduct a rolling interview process. Frankfort Square Park District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Preferred Experience • Previous experience as a Lawn Care Operations Manager, Branch Manager, Service Manager, Turfgrass Superintendent, or Golf Course or Sports Field Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent • Familiarity with residential lawn care programs, customer service management, and crew supervision. Why Join Lawn Works • Competitive salary based on experience and demonstrated knowledge. • Opportunity for career growth and advancement within a growing company. • Collaborative, team-oriented culture built on respect, professionalism, and excellence. • The chance to make a real impact in shaping the future of a trusted local brand. How to apply: Please email Cover Letter and Resume to joshc@lawnworksofjoliet. com Salary Range: $70K - $85K Full-Time Parks Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Salary: $21/hour + Excellent Benefits The Frankfort Square Park District is seeking a Full-Time Parks Buildings and Grounds Maintenance person to support the upkeep, safety, and overall quality of district parks and facilities. Position Summary This role is responsible for performing a wide range of maintenance tasks to ensure

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

1st Choice Equipment .............................................40 Bartlett Tree Experts .................................................46 Bowling Nursery ........................................................37 Cedar Path Nurseries ..................................................49 Dayton Bag and Burlap ............................................29

Stop, Look, & Listen By Nina A. Koziol

“I prefer winter…when you feel the bone structure in the landscape — the loneliness of it — the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it — the whole story doesn’t show.” — Andrew Wyeth, American artist, (1917-2009). If there’s a “slow” season, it certainly is now. Before the rush of spring, the urgent calls, the texts, the “my-hair’s-on-fire” workdays….Take a breath. Take a walk. Enjoy the brisk air, the bright sun, the snow flurries, the quiet of oncoming winter.

Doty Nurseries LLC .....................................................4 Amrise Fox River Stone ..............................................48 Goodmark Nurseries ..................................................35 Green Glen Nursery ....................................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. .............................................14 Homer Industries ........................................................15 Longshadow Planters ..................................................13 Mariani Plants .............................................................6 Mariani Plants ............................................................55 Masterblend ...............................................................46 McGinty Bros. ...........................................................45 Midwest Groundcovers ................................................2 Midwest Trading ........................................................31 Spring Grove Nursery ................................................30 Spring Meadow Nursery ........................................27, 41 SFI Soils........ .............................................................11 The Mulch Center .......................................................17 Unilock, Inc. ...............................................................64

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

Dwarf Korean Fir for a Splash of Silver!

by Mark Dwyer

and while it is still rare to source, notoriously slow-growing (1”-3” per year) and expensive, I’ve acquired, planted and recommended many specimens of this amazingly ornamental conifer. The short, stubby branches feature a very dense arrangement of needles which makes for a bright accent in the rock garden or border. Starting as a globose, mounded form, this dwarf selection will slowly develop a central leader and form a tight pyramid over a long period of time. Full sun is ideal for this species and good drainage is a must. Slightly acidic soils are preferred and it has few insect or disease problems. I see the hardiness on ‘Kohout’s Icebreaker’ most frequently listed as USDA zones 5-8 although I do see some zone 4 references. I’ve only grown it in zone 5 so can’t attest to any that I’ve seen (yet!) in zone 4. As a specimen, planting in proximity to locations for closer observation is ideal and certainly those locations that will benefit from that silvery cast to the entire plant. The silvering of the needles is very conspicuous at dusk and it’s no surprise that this variety received an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as well as being chosen as one of the Conifers of the Year (2014) by the American Conifer Society. Consider the potential of this beautiful conifer in myriad landscape situations!

was fortunate to have extended time in the fall of 2015 to tour RHS Garden Wisley (UK) and saw many amazing plants in this well-maintained public garden. One memorable experience (among many) was running across a cluster of dwarf conifers that appeared quite silver from a distance. As I got closer, I recognized them as Korean firs (Abies koreana) but these specimens were tight, globose, “silvery buns” and really caught the eye. Always appreciative of accurate signage, I noted this compact variety as ‘Kohout’s Icebreaker’ and have been a fan ever since that encounter. I had grown some other Korean firs in the past including the mesmerizing ‘Horstmann’s Silverlocke’ which is known for very similar “silver presence” in the landscape due to recurved needles that show off their silvery undersides to great effect. I later found out that ‘Kohout’s Icebreaker’ originated as a witch’s broom of ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’ and was discovered by Jörg Kohout in his nursery in Elstra, Germany. Additional research reveals many interesting plants discovered and introduced by this plantsman. I was reminded of the shimmering, silvery contribution of this globose, dwarf conifer when I saw it a few years later at Hidden Lake Gardens (Tipton, MI) which has an amazing conifer collection. I’ve since seen ‘Kohout’s Icebreaker’ more in the trade

Landscape Illinois — The Magazine December 2025

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