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CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Landscape Illinois Awards and Honors Person of the Year — Dean MacMorris

Distinguished Supplier of the Year— DeVroomen Garden Products 12 Special Recognition Award — Dick Brickman

Landscape Illinois Scholarship Winners Off to the Races — iLandscape Preview

16 18

iLandscape 2026 Workshops 20 iLandscape 2026 Education Listings

Next Level Training — EN ESPAÑOL 30 Growing Trends Midwest Plant Talk — Plants to Try in 2026

Ecological Landscape Tenets for Your Plans

Waking From Winter with Containers

Getting to the Root — Beneath the Surface

Member Profile 56 By Design Landscaping, LLC Before You Go — Yellow Fumitory a Fanciful Filler

On the cover... Premier Outdoor Environments, Inc. won a 2025 Silver award for Residential Landscape Construction, titled Inviting Escape. Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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CONTENTS

JANUARY

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

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

Photo Credits

Spring Training For Landscape Professionals February 17, 2026 - 8:00am - 4:00pm Stoneleaf Nursery Eureka, IL

Awards Committee 1 Craig Bergmann Landscape 8-9 Dean MacMorris 10-1 DeVroomen 12-13 Brickman Familiy 14-15 Scholarship Committee 16-17

Rick Reuland Midwest Groundcovers Chris Fehlhaber Midwest Trading Nina Koziol Mark Dwyer

18 34 38 55 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 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. Volume 67, Number 1. Landscape Illinois 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.

FEBRUARY

Awards Night February 24, 2026 - 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL February 25-27, 2026 iLandscape Show Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Schaumburg, IL

Postmaster: Send address changes to Landscape Illinois Magazine, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Display Advertising Sales: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 6378632; 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.

THE STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION FOR LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

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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2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150

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Magazine Staff

Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net Debbie Rauen Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com Feature Writer

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Nina Koziol

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Meta Levin

meta.levin@comcast.net Feature Writer

n.koziol@att.net Heather Prince Feature Writer

SHADE TREES • ORNAMENTALS EVERGREENS • SHRUBS

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Mark Dwyer Feature Writer

Krystal Flogel Feature Writer

Maggie Thomas Harper Special Correspondent

Contributors Dr. Aaron Patton Kevin Donnelly Daniel Wood

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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“Content is everything the light touches.” Ann Handley, Digital Marketing Pioneer

“Gooooooood Morning, Vietnam!” Adrian Cronauer, radio host.

t is a scientific fact that attention spans are shrinking. Attention is when the mind is able to block out distractions and focus on one idea or task at a time. Not all forms of attention are created equally. For many, reading an article or book is challenging because the mind wanders. However, those same people can lock into a task like cooking or playing Solitaire or doom-scrolling social media and live there for hours. Gloria Mark, a researcher and author on attention spans has been studying them for 20 years. In 2004, she found the average attention span on screens to be two and a half minutes. In 2012, it shrank to 75 seconds. Today, it is 47 seconds. Tomorrow? Nobody knows. The reason this matters is because shortened attention and multi-tasking leads to stress. Stress causes frustration and anxiety and that leads to burnout. The more we learn about the insidious nature of stress and how it impacts us personally and professionally, the more we conclude that shorter attention spans are bad. Devices and screen time are likely the culprit. Children as young as three spend over two hours on screens per day. Even further, the screens themselves have adapted. Videos can be watched at 1.5 speed so everyone sounds like a chipmunk. Movie and TV show edits are shorter going from 12 seconds between cuts in the 1930s to 2.5 seconds now. YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Insta send content to our brains like howitzer fire. Yet, there is one blind spot when it comes to attention spans. There is one weird outlier that has taken over the digital media space in the past 20 years. Its major players can speak to over 11 million people at a time with contracts worth $250 million. There are no scripts. There are no edits. There are barely potty breaks for the participants. The shows last 35 minutes to over three hours. They were even credited with deciding the 2024 Presidential election. Of course, I am talking about podcasts. When I was young, stuck in the back of my mom’s station wagon, I swore I would never listen to talk radio. I’d stand on the curb waiting to be picked-up from soccer practice or karate. I’d see my mom’s white Ford Grenada turn the corner like an old tiger shark. I crossed my fingers and toes hoping when I opened that door I’d be greeted by the sound of music. I wasn’t picky. I knew she wouldn’t be listening to Van Halen. I was willing to accept James Taylor or Gordon Lightfoot or the Bee Gees or whatever prog-rock would flow from WLIT 93.9. I just did not want to hear adults talking about adult things across crackly AM radio waves. I’d take a deep breath, open the door, and sure enough, I’d be greeted by, “...the key to Reagan winning the space race is if Gorbachev blinks at the Helsinki Summit.” It was going to be a long ride home. Part of adulthood is becoming what we hate. I have now

appeared as a guest on multiple podcasts. For years, I also served as a sports commentator on a buddy from graduate school’s syndicated radio show. Our banter would often swerve into politics, entertainment, and pop culture. I am not sure I ever uttered, “The key to Reagan winning the space race...” but I said something like it that probably bored some poor 10-year-old to death trapped in the back seat of his mom’s car. My position as Executive Director of Landscape Illinois has allowed me to appear on a handful of podcasts. I have appeared on Joe Hansen’s The Municipal Arborist and on a few national pods. You never quite know what to expect. It is a bit like being an exhibit in a zoo. I had no idea what was going to be asked. Therefore, I had no idea what I am about to say. Like a baboon in an enclosure, I am not sure if I should act natural, do tricks, or just throw some poop around. Joe, and the other hosts, are super-chill guys who push a bunch of buttons and put a professional looking microphone inches from your mouth. Before the show, Joe and I shared a beer. He had a cool recording studio in his basement. I sat on a futon and now felt silly for wearing a sport coat like I was going to a job interview right out of college. Joe hit record. We bantered a bit. We drank some more beer. We bantered some more. Before long, he felt like an old friend. We were just two guys drinking and talking — something I have ton of practice with, and he was genuinely interested in what I was saying. I was genuinely interested in what he had to say. The weirdest part was that I was interested in what I was saying, too. Some of the stuff I was talking about I had never talked about before. I did not know what was going to come out of my mouth over those 90 minutes. I did not rehearse or pre-script any of it. It was a conversation between two dudes having a beer in a basement. In a few weeks, Joe would add an intro, some bumpers, some music, and release it to the world. So how did the podcast revolution happen? How can attention spans be shrinking every year, yet one of the most popular forms of entertainment has become hours-long podcasts of two people talking? There are two answers to that question. The first is a super-technical, boring discussion on file compression. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the technology even existed to push massive audio files onto the internet in a synchronized and episodic fashion. In fact, it was the 2000 New England Patriots who decided to launch a podcast to chronicle the exploits of their 5-11 season. The show was one of the first examples of a weekly audio program pushed onto the internet in a serial fashion. One cannot discuss the rise of podcasts without crediting iTunes for putting them on their servers in 2005. It seems only fitting we still call them “pod” casts as in iPodcasts long after the last iPod was put into a drawer to collect dust. A handful of internet shows hosted by Adam Carolla, Ricky Gervais, Marc Maron, and the President of the United States George W. Bush moved into the new format. In 2006, the popular radio show This American Life created a podcast form and became one of

Fit for the Pods

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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the genre’s first tentpoles. Years later, This American Life would release the true crime podcast Serial that became the first megahit in podcasting. In 2009, a B-rate actor and comedian who was most famous for making people eat bugs launched a podcast called The Joe Rogan Experience. Today, Joe Rogan is one of the most popular entertainers across all media. The second reason podcasts have exploded in popularity is because what they offer is what we crave. Podcasts offer convenience. We can listen to them anywhere we have an internet connection. Outside of a few shout-outs to sponsors, they are presented uninterrupted versus the slog of commercial-laden AM talk radio. Podcasts offer niche and variety. There are an estimated 115,000 podcasts in the United States. They cover politics, relationships, comedy, science, the 2000 New England Patriots, and municipal arboriculture. They dip into every corner of our interests and rarely do they stay confined to those spaces. The best pods have a gravitational pull of a central topic, but some of the fun of listening is when the conversation spins off into the cosmos to grab new topics, guests, and thoughts. There are also a variety of lengths, formats, and hosts. There are 45-minute question-and-answer sessions between guests and hosts. There are wild panels that feature shouting and rage bait. There are 3-hour longform interviews where the guest is made fully vulnerable and exposed. It is simply impossible to hide your true character and innermost thoughts for 3-hours. If you want to truly know a person, you can live with them your entire life or simply listen to a 3-hour interview. There are hosts that leave the talking to their guests. There are hosts with no guests who do all the talking themselves. There is a podcast for anyone and everyone. Yet, that’s not why podcasts work. They work because they feel intimate and small and replace some of the human interaction we have lost. That connection allows us to pay attention, for a stupefying amount of time, in an era when attention spans are 47 seconds or less. Conversation fills the room again at a time when we retreat, too often, to the comfort of our screens. We find ourselves nodding, smiling, laughing, and talking back to the words that come through the speakers. Podcast hosts aren’t blow-dried mannequins reading from teleprompters. Podcast listeners, because of the massive menu of choices, find the content that speaks to our hearts, brains, and funny bones. Podcasts don’t have gatekeepers or media companies to censor and steer. Joe Rogan is as much of his own boss as the Municipal Arborist Joe Hansen. We get podcasts because podcasts get us. You can probably guess where this is all heading. In 2026, Landscape Illinois will debut a podcast. We are still noodling around with length, format, and tone, but we are excited to tell some of the stories that lie just under the surface of this incredible industry. There are so many insiders, mavericks, icons, rebels, and characters bouncing around the profession that our members need to meet, albeit in podcast form. Even better, as an act of mercy to my 10-year-old self, I will not be hosting it. Landscape Illinois recognizes the challenges of communicating with this industry. Time is short, attention is shorter, yet we still crave connection. Our hope is that members find moments of reflection and calm when they are racing from appointment to appointment or stuck in traffic. All I ask if that you remain mindful of any children who may be stuck stuck in the backseat.

Scott Grams, Executive Director December 22, 2025

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

President

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

Vice President

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

Secretary-Treasurer

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

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

Directors

Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com Shane Griffith Weed Man (847) 459-9333 shane.griffith@weedmanusa.com Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-2225 ashley@bretmarlandscape.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 Aaron Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 azych@iltvignocchi.com

www.landscapeillinois.org

am excited and humbled by the opportunity to be President of Landscape Illinois. I remember the day that Donna Vignocchi called me and asked if I was interested in being on the ILCA board. I didn’t know what to say. I was very excited and a little shocked to even be considered. I knew my answer, but I slow-played it and told her I would get back to her. The next morning, Dave Kaknes and I were talking about it, and he reminded me that when he hired me, he told me I would one day be President of ILCA. Two days later, because I wanted to be casually late to the party, I called Donna and accepted the position. Soon after, the by-laws of the Executive Committee changed and that allowed suppliers to be on the Executive Committee. So here I am, with this incredible honor and an apology meant to Dave Kaknes for being right. I am now following the amazing Kim Hartmann as President! We all have different paths on where we want to go. I was blessed with two parents that worked tirelessly to provide for me and my sister. Their work ethic wasn’t appreciated as much as it should have been when I was young. But as an adult, I think about the sacrifices my parents made for me and how they shaped my life. When I was just an 18-year-old kid, I didn’t have the money to go to college, and my dad told me to go apply at a nursery in Batavia. I Kevin McGowen accidentally passed it up and applied at a garden center/landscape contractor called Suburban Lawn. I spent four years there. They invested in my learning. The first winter they set 10 years of American Nurseryman magazine in front of me, and I read every issue front to back. I followed that by reading Michael Dirr’s book cover to cover. I may be a nerd, but I’m proud of it. Midwest Groundcovers was my next stop. I’m grateful every day for the ten years I spent there. Being surrounded by legends like Grace Koehler, Peter Orum, Christa Orum-Keller and Roy Diblik was more than inspiring. I feel very privileged that I can even say that. I will always cherish the time I spent there and could write an entire book about my experiences at Midwest Groundcovers. After ten years, my journey sent me to Kaknes Landscape Supply where I would spend 13 years surrounded by a small, amazing family. Hernan Cortez, Elfego Machuca and Jennifer Wilson are my siblings forever and I’ll always appreciate the culture and vibe we created together. I would not be where I am in this world without them. Dave Kaknes was an amazing guide for me, teaching me the ropes of business ownership and the power of treating those that work for you with the highest respect. And, to always pay your bills on time! Today, I’m proud to be part of an amazing organization, Lurvey Landscape Supply. Here I’ve been introduced to an entirely new family of people. I hope to end my career with Lurvey, stepping into a world where I need to be more than a plant geek. It’s an exciting time in my life, changing jobs and becoming President within three months. The trust that Landscape Illinois and its community has put into me is something I will not take for granted. I feel like any day, someone will pinch me and I’ll wake up. Until then, I’m proud to be part of a state-wide organization that grows stronger every year. That leads through tough times and great times alike. My sincerest gratitude to all who have been being part of my story. I hope to be an influence on yours now! Kevin McGowen, President Landscape Illinois

e siento ilusionado y humilde por la oportunidad de ser presidente de Landscape Illinois. Recuerdo el día en que Donna Vignocchi me llamó y me preguntó si me interesaba formar parte de la junta directiva de ILCA. No sabía qué decir. Por dentro, estaba súper emocionado y un poco sorprendido de que me consideraran. Sabía mi respuesta, pero aun así fui despacio y le dije que le respondería. A la mañana siguiente, Dave Kaknes y yo estábamos hablando de ello, y me recordó que cuando me contrató, me dijo que algún día sería presidente de ILCA. En ese momento, no era elegible para ser presidente como proveedor, así que le dije que estaba equivocado. Dos días después, porque quería llegar tarde de forma casual, llamé a Donna y acepté el puesto en la junta. Poco después, los estatutos del comité ejecutivo cambiaron y ahora permiten que los proveedores formen parte del comité ejecutivo. Eric Adams de Russo probablemente era el objetivo previsto, pero estaba “ocupado”. Así que aquí estoy, con este honor increíble y una disculpa para Dave Kaknes por tener razón. ¡Ahora estoy siguiendo a la increíble Kim Hartmann como presidenta! Todos tenemos caminos diferentes para llegar a donde queremos ir. Tuve la suerte de contar con dos padres que trabajaron incansablemente para mantenernos a mí y a mi hermana. Su ética de trabajo no fue valorada tanto como debería cuando era joven, pero como adulta, pienso en los sacrificios que hicieron mis padres por mí y en cómo eso moldeó mi vida. Cuando tenía solo 18 años, no tenía dinero para ir a la universidad, y mi padre me dijo que fuera a solicitar plaza en una guardería en Batavia. Por accidente lo dejé pasar y solicité en un centro de jardinería/contratista paisajístico llamado Suburban Lawn. Pasé cuatro años allí, donde invirtieron en mi aprendizaje. El primer invierno me pusieron delante 10 años de la revista American Nurseryman, y leí cada número de principio a fin. Después leí el libro de Michael Dirr de principio a fin. Puede que sea un friki, pero estoy orgulloso de ello. Midwest Groundcovers fue mi siguiente parada. Estoy agradecido cada día por los diez años que pasé allí. Estar rodeado de leyendas como Grace Koehler, Peter Orum, Christa Orum-Keller y Roy Diblik fue más que inspirador. Me siento muy privilegiado de poder decir eso. Siempre valoraré el tiempo que pasé allí y podría escribir un libro entero sobre mis experiencias en Midwest Groundcovers. Tras diez años, mi viaje me llevó a Kaknes Landscape Supply, donde pasaría 13 años rodeado de una pequeña y maravillosa familia. Hernán Cortez, Elfego Machuca y Jennifer Wilson son mis hermanos para siempre y siempre apreciaré la cultura y el ambiente que creamos juntos. No estaría donde estoy en este mundo sin ellos. Dave Kaknes fue un guía increíble para mí, enseñándome los fundamentos de la propiedad empresarial y el poder de tratar con el máximo respeto a quienes trabajan para ti, ¡y de pagar siempre tus facturas a tiempo! Hoy estoy orgulloso de formar parte de la increíble organización Lurvey Landscape Supply, donde he conocido a una familia completamente nueva de personas con las que espero terminar mi carrera mientras entro en un mundo en el que necesito ser algo más que un friki de las plantas. Es un momento emocionante en mi vida, cambiar de trabajo y convertirme en presidente en tres meses. La confianza que Landscape Illinois y su comunidad han depositado en mí es algo que no daré por sentado. Siento que en cualquier momento alguien me pellizcará y despertaré de este sueño. Hasta entonces, estaré orgulloso de formar parte de una organización estatal que se fortalece cada año. Eso conduce tanto a tiempos difíciles como a buenos. Mi más sincero agradecimiento a todos los que habéis mencionado y no os hayáis mencionado, por formar parte de mi historia. ¡Espero poder influir en la tuya ahora! Kevin McGowen Presidenta, Landscape Illinois

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Craig Bergmann Landscape Designs • Lake Forest Timeless Charm of Rosewood

care, and new plantings have created a cohesive, timeless landhis historic estate renovation began in 2000 and evolved scape. Now recognized with Decade Honors, this project showover two decades. It balances the property’s historicases the vision and hands-on maintenance required to preserve cal essence with modern garden enhancements. The project and improve a landscape over 20 years. Those two decades involved collaboration with the owner and architect. The team have blended history with contemporary beauty. built a new garage, renovated the original coach house, and introduced a tree collection. Continuous refinement, ongoing Landscape Illinois Magazine 9 January 2026

Landscape Illinois 2025 Person of the Year

Dean MacMorris

Saluting Dean MacMorris for His Contributions and Service to the Industry by Nina A Koziol

hen Dean MacMorris was a child, he spent summers on his grandparents farm in upstate New York. “They were big into horticulture with rose gardens and perennial beds and selling flowers at the farmer’s market.” He and his twin brother Dave helped weed the gardens. “We were always helping my dad, too, installing a pond and patio in Ohio. He was a weekend warrior, and we built walls and planted—I was always into it as a kid.” That early hands-on horticulture set him up for a long and meaningful career that has had a positive impact on countless people in the green industry as well as for Landscape Illinois and other associations. His contributions have garnered the 2025 Person of the Year Award. “Dean is a steady, kind, and highly approachable leader who consistently maintains a positive outlook and makes those he works with feel valued and respected,” says past president Ashley Marrin of Bret-Mar Landscape in Homer Glen. “I’m grateful to have served alongside him on the board of directors. He was an invaluable contributor whose strategic mindset has significantly strengthened the Association’s effectiveness and long-term continuity for years to come.” “He’s an absolute master networker,” says Landscape Illinois Executive Director Scott Grams. “Before Dean, we had a one-year strategic plan that was erratic. Dean introduced us to a three-year cycle for strategic planning. It changed the organization for the better. He had us cast our eyes to the horizon and marshal our resources, making sure that everything we do is measurable.”

A Winding Career Path

When Dean was in high school, he and Dave worked on a farm in New Jersey. “We were picking apples and corn for $1.87 an hour and I knew that was probably not the future for me.” It was onto a factory job at Westinghouse for several months and while the pay was good, the work wasn’t appealing. A job in landscaping next grabbed his interest, and in 1978 he enrolled in an ornamental horticulture program at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, NJ. “I drove an 10

hour each way because I loved it. I helped build the golf green from scratch and earned a minor in landscape design.” He graduated in 1980 on the dean’s list. Although he had a twoyear degree, he realized he needed more. He applied and was accepted at eight colleges, choosing The Ohio State University. “I was born in Ohio and lived not far.” He completed the five-year program in three years, landing on the dean’s list again and earning a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. “It was a tough program, but I applied myself. There were 105 people enrolled at the start and we graduated with 38. I knew what I wanted and did extra work to get the projects just right.” Besides studying at Ohio State, he worked for Schmidt Nursery in Columbus, Ohio, doing lawn care and pruning for high-end residential landscapes. Before graduating in 1983, he heard Dick Brickman do a presentation about his company, The Theodore Brickman Co., and was wildly impressed. “I thought, ‘This guy is a god.’ Who does that? I want to be like him someday.” He worked for Brickman from 1983 to 1989, doing design, project management, sales and business development. It was then that he became involved with the Illinois Landscape Contractor’s Association. “Over time, I became more involved with the Association—I was on the education committee years ago before I was on the board. We were working on the winter seminars and I was helping Pat Cassidy, Julie Nicoll and the gang. I’d get the speakers and worked the event ,and sold raffle tickets.” At age 31, he joined Ted Tecza at Adam Tecza & Sons in South Elgin as sales manager where he did sales and budgeting. “Ted taught me how to budget, manage team members and do strategic planning. That was huge.” At that time, Dean was also working on a personal mission statement. “I was thinking about where I’d come from and where I wanted to go.” He was trained in ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People’ by Stephen Covey and got to meet the

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

author. “I almost became a trainer of the 7 Habits.” After four years, Dean was once again ready for more. He met with Frank Mariani of Mariani Landscape in Lake Bluff in 1994. “Everything they did was first class—the office, the shop, how they took care of their equipment and people. But, they never had a sales manager. I said just think what you could do if you had a plan and focused on sales.” During his tenure there, he worked on strategic planning and helped the firm grow significantly each year.

traveling more than 30,000 miles, touring the southeast in search of their next home. They settled in South Carolina on a 3/4-acre wooded lot in Traveler’s Rest, an appropriate place since he often worked 70- and 80-hour weeks during his career and spent his free time working on the barn and other outbuildings on his Elgin property. “I can now enjoy my wife’s company and we can do things together. I’ve re-landscaped the property and we go to farmer’s markets, take walks in the state park, and I ride my bike on the trail. I don’t have to think about making money, being everywhere or on anyone’s schedule. Life is good!”

Onward and Upward

By 1997, Dean was ready for a new challenge. At the time, he and his wife Gina lived on a 7.5-acre farm in South Elgin and his commute was 60 miles one way. “I decided I’d done it all and I was going to be 40 the next year. I told Frank I was moving on to my next chapter and I had no idea what that was.” That next step was Night Light, Inc., in Lombard. He joined his friend Mitch Beiser as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and spent 25 years in business development growing the company before retiring as president. The current president, Billy Oliver, joined the company in 2001. “Dean took me under his wing. He started introducing us to industry leaders. I learned a lot of good habits from him about being an active listener, taking notes, remembering what that person said. As I moved up and got into sales, he was instrumental sharing his vast knowledge with me. And, he taught us how to make sure we’re photographing and telling the story of our work.” Night Light’s current Vice President Nick Surges joined the company in 2001. “When I was younger, Dean recognized that maybe I had the special sauce to be able to sell and manage. He always said ‘be significant’. He taught me how to network well. He’d put me in a room with a bunch of people and manage the crowd, think about others, make connections and collaborate. He took a big leap of faith with me and Billy.”

New Pastures

After selling Night Light in 2022, Dean partially retired, sold the Elgin home, and he and Gina spent 13 months

Follow your Passion

His advice to young people, including his daughters Jillyan and Jacquelyn, is find your passion. “Figure out what you want while you’re still young. If you love what you do, you don’t work another day in your life. And, give it all you’ve got. When you get to the job, be there on time if not early. Give it 110 percent and no lallygagging. Be that person who asks, ‘What else can I do for you’?” Dean’s passion includes being a volunteer, educator, mentor and an all-around good sport. He’s been a speaker for the Mid-Am Horticultural Trade Show, iLandscape, American Society of Landscape Architects, University of Illinois, Purdue University, American Society of Interior Designers, Illinois Turfgrass Foundation, The Morton Arboretum, and the Bartlett Tree Experts Symposium. “I spent a lot of time doing sales, but my focus over the years has been more networking, building relationships and problem solving.” “Dean is a connector,” Grams said. “He’s instilled that in Billy, Nick and Jillyan. The way he transitioned Night Light to the next generation—building people up and putting them in the right spots—the lesson here is that people retire more readily and easily when they leave things better than they were.” The call from president Kim Hartman congratulating him on the award was a surprise because he has admired past recipients. “It was a pleasant surprise. My success is because of everyone else—God, my wife Gina for taking care of our girls and being the wind beneath my wings.”

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Landscape Illinois Celebrates Supplier of the Year Award Winner

DeVroomen Garden Products by Nina A. Koziol

hen 30-year-old Jacobus Theodorus de Vroomen of Scandinavia started a business in 1925, he was a one-man show. Now, more than a century later, the business is a stalwart in the industry shipping more than six million bulbs, tubers and rhizomes and other goodies to landscapers, retailers, public gardens, and municipal airports. This year, Landscape Illinois celebrates the firm with the Supplier of the Year award. “DeVroomen has been a trusted, local partner for years,” said Landscape Illinois president Kim Hartmann. “DeVroomen just celebrated its 100th year and has supported Landscape Illinois since the beginning.” The Supplier of the Year Award recognizes DeVroomen for several things including its achievements and contributions to the industry as a whole. Angela Schultz joined DeVroomen 19 years ago as a receptionist, worked customer service, and is now the general manager. “This award is so exciting. I heard the news from Jack DeVroomen. It touched my heart when Jack spoke on a video call and he was teary eyed. We were very surprised and we’re all very excited.” “Over my 25-plus years in the industry as both a landscape architect and an account manager, I’ve regularly 12

specified bulbs from DeVroomen,” said Brian Fluno, director of business development at JMR Landscaping. “Their products consistently perform well, and I’ve been especially impressed with the unique and reliable tulip blends they offer.” In recent years, DeVroomen launched a new, one-of-a-kind product line for children, bringing together Sesame Street characters with a mission to educate the next generation about gardening, sustainability and the wonders of nature. A Sesame Street-themed “Seed Paper Confetti Packet” uses biodegradable paper containing wildflower seeds, encouraging hands-on gardening fun. “We’re trying to get the kids excited and aware of the environment,” Schultz explained. “The collection’s products were created to help spread and celebrate an awareness and an enthusiasm for the environment. Right now we have the new 2026 Sesame Street line with dahlias, begonias, and bare-root astilbes for the garden centers.” Many DeVroomen customers are unaware that the firm services the entire U.S. “People think we shut down when the cold comes, but there’s a lot more going on than you might realize. If we’re shipping to California and the shipment is sitting in Utah where it’s freezing, I have to reroute.” Bulbs are pre-cooled, which is especially helpful when they’re going to southern states like Texas. A premiere wholesale supplier of spring and summer flower-

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

ing bulbs, DeVroomen also supplies bedding plants and bare-root and plug perennial products. “I have used DeVroomen and worked for a large firm that used them,” said Jim Hallm, horticulture supervisor at Skokie Park District. “Their quality and selection is excellent and they have absolutely wonderful customer service.” For Schultz, those kudos ring true. “We’re sticking to our roots making sure the quality and customer service is there. You don’t want to lose the quality and customer service while introducing many new things. We’re sticking to the basics and making sure we’re true to our name. One thing I”m big on is customer service.” Tulips are consistently the number one seller, followed by daffodils, but more landscapers are using ornamental onions because they not only look good, the deer and rabbits ignore them. The ever-increasing offerings span dahlias, caladium,

calla lilies, elephant ears, cacti and succulents along with edibles like seed potatoes, onions, rhubarb, shallots and asparagus roots for retail garden centers. The firm also brokers plugs and sells to several large growers. “Since they are based out of Gurnee here in the states, we have benefited from very responsive customer service, a wide array of products and superior quality,” said Hartmann who is the team development director/purchasing manager for Rosborough Partners, Inc. “It is also a pleasure to have Jack [DeVroomen] stop in a few times a year to check on our orders and thank us for our business.” Schultz is over the moon over the award. “We wouldn’t have gotten the award if it wasn’t for what makes us great—our landscapers and our customers. We’re forever grateful for them.”

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Landscape Illinois Celebrates the Life and Times of Special Recognition Award Winner by Nina A. Koziol

Dick Brickman

A visionary contractor who helped forge the modern landscape industry

he term “design-build-maintain’ is well known to everyone these days. But that wasn’t the case 50 years ago. “Dick Brickman created what we know of as design-build today,” says Joe Hobson, president and CEO of Midwest Trading. Back then, landscape companies mainly laid sod and planted. “There were wealthy people with gardens, but mostly design-build didn’t exist and Dick Brickman saw the need.” “I always looked up to Dick,” said Jeff Herold who joined The Brickman Group in 1980. “I graduated college and started in the construction division and retired in 2024 as president. Dick was like my second dad. He’s extremely creative from the design standpoint. He was someone who understood what clients were looking for and he offered them the whole design-buildmaintain package.” There’s the business-customer side, but Brickman’s company culture played a huge role in its success. “There was a passion for perfection, doing whatever it takes and exceeding client expectations,” Herold said. “He bred that into me and the rest of the employees. And, he used “True North”—do the right thing.” True North is a cultural compass, directing a company’s vision, mission, and core values as well as decision-making and strategic planning. It helps align all team members towards common goals, ensuring everyone is working in the same direction. This year, Landscape Illinois is honoring the 94-year-old Brickman with the Special Recognition Award, which has only been bestowed 11 times. “The Award is not automatically given out annually,” said Landscape Illinois President Kim Hartmann. “Based on extraordinary service, longevity, and ongoing 14

influence, the Board determines if a Special Recognition Award should be given and to whom.” Dick’s journey is unique, says Landscape Illinois Executive Director Scott Grams. “It’s for his decades of contributions as a business leader and visionary in our industry.”

Early Days Brickman’s father, Theodore W. Brickman, Sr., was a self-taught horticulturist who moved from Pittsburgh to the Chicago area in 1933 to work on the Chicago World’s Fair gardens. He founded Brickman Landscaping in 1939, working out of a farmhouse in Long Grove. By the 1940s, the company had a growing list of residential clients and commercial properties in and around Chicago. Following in his father’s footsteps, Theodore, Jr., known as “Dick”, earned a landscape architecture degree in 1957 and joined the family business. His influence on the industry has been felt far and wide. One of the key concepts he introduced was designbuild for landscaping—the design of landscape plans, installing the plants, bushes, trees, and building walkways, retention walls and other hardscape. Bruce Hunt graduated with a landscape architecture degree in 1961 and was the third full-time employee Dick hired. “My college roommate had an interview set up but decided he didn’t want to relocate. My wife and I were headed to St. Louis and I said I’ll take the interview. The best things are seldom planned. That was the best decision besides my marriage. After meeting Dick and his wife Sally, we both said, they can’t be real, they can’t be that nice, but it proved to be everything we saw in that first meeting.”

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

The company soon earned a reputation for transforming Chicago’s “concrete jungle” in the 1960s. Brickman’s landscape designs took the often harsh reality of urban living and created countless inviting outdoor spaces. Over the decades, Dick grew the local family business into a multi-regional company with $100 Million in annual revenue by the time he handed the reins to his son Scott. “Dick’s best talent was nurturing his employees,” Hunt said. “He had a tremendous ability to remember dates, times, people and relationships. Any success that I had in business, I attribute specifically to Dick’s mentoring. He was a wonderful mentor to all of the people he hired.”

The Brickman management team

A Whale of a Landscape In 1971, Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s, hired Brickman to landscape his new corporate headquarters in Oak Brook. Kroc stipulated that not only did he want the property designed and built, he wanted it maintained. The goal at the time, per McDonald’s CEO Fred Turner (grandDick Mallory and Dennis Pfaff son of modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe), was to create a campus-in-park type headquarters. Although Brickman was not in the maintenance business, Dick left the meeting with Kroc, held a pow-wow with his team, and figured out a plan. “It was a huge job for them, and wow, McDonald’s got them the publicity,” Hobson said. The project gained recognition for Brickman’s work and rocketed the company in a new direction. The Brickman barn hosted many ILCA events Dennis Pfaff joined Brickman in 1975 after graduating from McHenry County Community College. “I started as foreman in the field, then superintendent. It’s been a fantastic ride for me and I could never imagine the type of work I could be doing.” The use of boulders “became a big deal. Then we introduced the lannon stone look in the 1980’s.” Monumental elements became a cornerstone of many projects. “One of the first was the Prairie Stone project,” Pfaff said. (Prairie Stone is an 80-acre master planned business Brickman crews at an early morning briefing Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

park located at I-90 and Route 59.) “Throughout the years these projects were staples for landscape companies to emulate and copy.” “One of the unique things that Brickman became good at early on — they were creators, not adapters, they did amazing large-scale work like great big waterfalls and big trees,” said Hobson who served as operations manager for The Brickman Group from 1988 to 1995 and branch manager from 2003 to 2013. “We had a special semi truck custom built. I moved spruce trees that were 40 feet tall, which was unique at the time. It blew me away.” Throughout the decades, Brickman’s work focused on quality. “When I got there it was already very deeply ingrained. Dick instilled quality into the work and through the staff. That itself is a job. You have to have a system, a way that says quality.”

Mentoring Dick Mallory first met Dick Brickman at Mississippi State University. “The school developed a whole education program around landscape architecture and Brickman was coming through the area to interview students. I met Dick and Bruce at school and that was a great experience right off the bat. Dick made you feel at ease right away.” Mallory interviewed in Long Grove and hit it off immediately after making the thousand-mile-drive north. “Dick was a comforting soul for me because I was out of my zone and he helped me get adjusted. He was all about treating his people at the highest level.” Dick Brickman continually brought in business and sales training consultants to take the company to new heights. “They made sure we had the latest training in construction as well as design,” Mallory said. “The clients were always number one — that’s what we were taught Everything was designed around that including the training. The client experience needed to be the highest. I’m excited about this award for him. Anyone who’s worked for him will think this is great.” 15

College Scholarship Winners! Elizabeth Corrie Rushville, IL

Catherine Marsh Rockford, IL

University of Missouri $10,000 Scholarship

$5,000 Scholarship Colorado State University

Schmechtig Landscape Company Scholarship

Pedersen Company Scholarship

Lauren Carlson Byron, IL

Etienne Sirois Mount Prospect, IL

$5,000 Scholarship University of Wisconsin Platteville

$2,500 Scholarship University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign

James Martin Family Scholarship

Rocco Fiore & Sons, Inc. Scholarship

Sébastian Davila Cicero, IL

Cherese Wyatt Palatine, IL

$2,500 Scholarship Triton College

$5,000 Scholarship College of DuPage

Schroeder Family Foundation Scholarship donated by the R.A. Schroeder Family

Denny R. Church Memorial Scholarship donated by The Church Family and organized by Bruce Church of Balanced Environments

Francisco Garcia Elgin, IL $2,500 Scholarship College of DuPage Ray and Bernadette Oltman Scholarship donated by GRO Horticultural Enterprises, Inc. 16

The Illinois Landscape Contractors Education and Charitable Organization (ILCECO) was established to create a perpetual fund for ILCA’s annual scholarships. The ILCECO mission statement is “To promote higher education in horticulture and green industry-related courses by funding an endowment.” Each year, the ILCECO Board of Directors determines the number of scholarships and amounts awarded out of the fund that was established. Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

High School Scholarship Winners! Macy Calloway Waterloo, IL

Ella Warsaw Northwoods/West Chicago, IL

$1,000 Scholarship Waterloo High School

West Chicago Community High School $1,000 Scholarship

Schwantz Family Charitable Foundation donated by the American Endowment Foundation

Rosborough Partners, Inc. Scholarship

Tej Kosaraju Buffalo Grove, IL

Avery Watson Philo, IL

$1,000 Scholarship Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Unity High School $1,000 Scholarship

Ronald R. Damgaard Memorial Scholarship donated by Otto Damgaard Sons, Inc.

Ralph and Lucile Little Memorial Scholarship donated by The Little Family

Adelia Sandifer Alton, IL Alton High School $1,000 Scholarship The William E. “Bill” Dahlgren Memorial Scholarship donated by Fiore Nursery and Landscape Supply

2026 Scholarship Applications Available Now visit LandscapIllinois.org Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

t’s back... iLandscape your “favorite winter event,” is back. The iLandscape Show is bigger and more engaging than ever. Everything you’ve come to expect and more! The first Education Workshop begins Tuesday afternoon with a two-hour deep dive into Sales. On Wednesday morning iLandscape gets under way with about six hours of educational classes and the opening bell for the iLandscape Trade Show. This year’s show has a racing theme. Off to the Races pays tribute to all your favorite races — Auto, Horse, Bicycle and Foot. Be sure to see the industry-themed stock on the show floor.

Work Hard, Play Hard

After a long day of networking, learning and seeing what’s new and different on the show floor, attendees can relax during Wednesday evening’s Derby Party, drink some beer and snack Kentucky Derby themed food and beverages. Thursday’s post-show party has a Race Night theme and will feature the iLandscapePrix Showdown. There will be racing games, loads of food, PRIZES, and fun for all. A highlight for Friday is always the Student Design Competition Awards. Finally, don’t miss the Prize Raffles on the show floor at the end of the day. You must be present to win. So get on your mark, get set, and GO to iLandscape 2026!

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Workshops Tuesday

Thursday

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

February 26, 2026

February 24, 2026

Connection Stormwater Workshop: Practical Drainage Assessment and Solutions for Landscape Professionals Trevor Smith, ReEarth Studio

Nirvana A Sales Workshop: Deliberate Selling to Increase Your Bottom Line and Grow Your Company Anne Mino, Advance Consulting Group Drive sales deliberately to increase your bottom line. Are your new sales driven by who calls in or who needs a third bid? Those people change often. Build your business to increase route density, start or improve market segment penetration, and establish a business foothold in the next location before your overhead increases. Engage your whole team in leading your sales to clients that will help you grow profitably. Hear about fun team events that will keep your sales focused on the best clients for you. Good news: You can still sell the call-ins.

Wednesday

February 25, 2026

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Connection Operations Workshop: Build a Priority Management System That Saves You Time and Effort Anne Mino, Advance Consulting Group

Water is one of the most powerful forces shaping our landscapes, yet it often creates some of the biggest challenges for professionals in the field. From flooded lawns to eroding slopes, drainage issues can quickly compromise both aesthetics and function. This interactive three-hour workshop equips landscape professionals with the tools and strategies needed to assess a site for water management problems and design effective, site-specific solutions. Participants will work through real-world scenarios, practice diagnostic techniques, and explore practical applications of stormwater management strategies that balance ecological health with client needs. Key topics include: • Identifying common signs of drainage problems during site assessment • Matching site conditions with appropriate solutions • Practical applications of rain gardens, bioswales, & permeable surfaces • Integrating tree planting and vegetation for natural water management This hands-on session will leave attendees with both the confidence and the practical toolkit to address drainage challenges with creativity and effectiveness.

Every day has 24 hours. It is how things are prioritized that makes a difference. Staff meetings to coaching crews – establishing a pattern of “priorities first” will make every day go smoother and reduce the fire fighting. This session explores proven methods to help you as the leader, and your entire team be more productive and achieve a better work life balance. Soon, every conversation and every meeting will have a laser focus on the important stuff. This saves time and reduces headaches for everyone.

** BONUS ** Register for this workshop and receive a complimentary, three day education pass! Workshop Pricing (Education Pass included!) Member Rate: $250 20

Non-Member Rate: $375

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

BETTER COLOR.

STRONGER STEMS.

LIMELIGHT PRIME

Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPPH’ PP#32,511; CBRAF

Long Blooming | Strong Stems | Vibrant Color SUMMER

Landscapes love Limelight Prime panicle hydrangea. It’s been trialed and tested to ensure it has darker foliage, stronger stems, and a more upright, compact habit than ‘Limelight.’ Plus, its lime green blooms maintain their color longer until transitioning to a rich pink. ®

USDA 3-8

4-6’ tall + 4-5’ wide

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LANDSCAPE PROGRAM

AVAILABLE FROM THESE SUPPLIERS Alsip Nursery

Frankfort, IL • 815-790-0707

Anne’s Landscape Supply

Freeport, IL • 815-288-6060

Creekside Gardens

Collinsville, IL • 618-344-7054

Hoerr Nursery

Peoria, IL • 309-453-9013

Stoneleaf Nursery

Eureka, IL • 309-208-7515

Woldhuis Farms

Grant Park, IL • 815-465-6310

Available from Proven Winners® ColorChoice® growers www.provenwinners-shrubs.com Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

2026 Classes

WEDNESDAY

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Nirvana A How Successful Companies Use Data to Develop Accountable KPIs and Strategies for Constant Improvement Bryan Mours, Consultant, Mours Enterprises LLC Sometimes a lot of small improvements can make more of an impact to your bottom line than one big change. But how do you know where those improvements lurk and who should be accountable for the results of change? This session will uncover some of the key areas at a company, including indirect time, purchases/ inventory control and asset management where data can be used to identify where improvements can and should happen. Once identified key KPI’s can be established in your operating systems to hold responsible leaders’ accountable to results so that these improvements can become a part of the company culture. Nirvana BC Case Studies: Using Natural Stone in Landscape Architecture Panelists: Jay Goggin, Cold Spring; JC Slocum, Gallegos Corp. Moderators: Reid Johnson – Natural Stone Institute With so many building materials on the market today, what makes natural stone the best material for your application? Join us as a group of stone professionals discuss why natural stone was chosen for these projects. During this session, we will discuss exterior sitework, including plazas, water features, outdoor living spaces, parks, and memorials. Come away inspired with best practices to expand the use of natural stone in your portfolio. Euphoria How Might Leadership Change in the Future? Judson Griggs, Landscape Design/Build Sales & Marketing Consultant, Harvest Landscape Consulting Group Leadership is a dynamic concept that continuously evolves to adapt to changes in society, technology, and culture. Business owners and top-level managers must learn to be agile in how they lead their teams. It is important for owners and managers to understand that you don’t have to wait for a midlevel management title to be seen as a leader. You can learn effective leadership skills at every step of your career.

Utopia AB What’s Trending: An Update on Plants and Landscape Design Greg Stack, Ted’s Greenhouse Maggie Thomas Harper, Spring Grove Nursery, Ashley Buzan, Alsip Nursery Moderator Nina Koziol, Instructor, Chicago Botanic Garden and Feature writer Landscape Illinois Magazine Like cars, houses, and clothes, plants and landscaping styles come and go. This panel presentation explores what homeowners, landscapers, and designers currently

seek and who is buying what. Some plants and garden designs from the past are making a comeback.

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Utopia CD NLT: Training Your Field Staff for Safety Armando Actis, Professor College of DuPage En Espanol with AI English translation This Spanish-language Next Level Training Session will cover safety practices, troubleshooting equipment issues, and OSHA regulations, including how to train your field staff on how to recognize and respond to heat stroke and extreme cold.

9:15 AM – 10:30 AM

Utopia CD NLT: Popular Plant Introductions for 2026 Catalino Mendoza, Midwest Groundcovers En Espanol with AI English translation Discover the newest plant varieties for your 2026 designs and stay ahead of the curve! Explore vibrant colors, unique textures, and innovative plant combinations that will elevate your landscape projects. Learn how to create stunning, sustainable designs that not only captivate but also thrive with durability and resilience. Get inspired by the latest trends and plant selections that will make your landscapes both beautiful and environmentally conscious.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Nirvana A Behind the Breeding: Developing New Annual and Perennial Plant Varieties Marcus Jansen, PanAmerican Seed, Ball Horticultural Company In this session, we will peek behind the curtain of plant breeding, exploring how annuals and perennials are bred, developed, and launched into the industry. We will unpack the supply chain from seeds or cuttings to the landscape and will provide some insight into what goes into creating new plant varieties. Tune in to learn more about how plants are trialed and evaluated, the resources that have been created specifically for landscapers, and some varieties that have proven to be well suited for our conditions here in the Midwest. Nirvana BC Beauty of the Wild: Designing Landscapes with a Sense of Place Darrel Morrison, Educator, Author Based on his book Beauty of the Wild, published by the Library of American Landscape History in 2021, the talk is part memoir, in which he tells stories of people and places that have inspired him and were important in the development of a philosophy: that our designed landscapes should be (1) ecologically sound, (2) experientially rich, (3) “of the place”, and (4) dynamic, changing over time.

WEDNESDAY Euphoria A Successful Project or Crop Starts in the Soil Peter Laan, DCM USA

Nirvana BC Containers for Clients C.L. Fornari, The Garden Lady

Peter Laan, sales director DCM USA, 54 years and living in Holland. I have been working in horticulture and landscaping for all of my live and grew up a son of a tulip grower. After 30 years of experience in growing everything, I have learned that it all starts in the soil. Creating the good environment for roots to develop results in strong and healthy plants. That’s how it works and that’s what I will present during the educational session at i Landscape.

Our clients love to have containers filled with flowers on their porches, patios and decks. This talk covers planting strategies for success, plants that provide summer-long color, design tips and maintenance. In addition, we cover how to think about billing for creating and maintaining pots and boxes over the season, and how to turn summer containers into year-round opportunities for repeat business.

Utopia AB AI-Powered Sales: Boost Your Process and Close More Deals Frank Bourque, Greenmark In this session, attendees will learn how to transform their sales system using an integrated Operating System powered by AI. From identifying the ideal customer profile to automating marketing, estimating, proposals, and follow-ups, participants will discover how AI connects every stage of the sales journey. This presentation demonstrates how contractors can simplify workflows, close more deals, and bridge the gap between sales and operations using one unified platform.

Euphoria Better Versions of Your Favorite Landscape Perennials Christopher Fifo, Darwin Perennials Perennials have long been a staple part of virtually every landscape. Whether it’s commercial or residential, public or private, landscapers have their tried and true classics for every situation. Commercial office building, grocery store parking lot, or home a garden. It doesn’t matter. We often see many of the same plants. And why not? They ARE tried and true and we know exactly how they are going to perform because they have been used for years, if not decades. From this track record many perennials have developed a strong name recognition.

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Utopia CD Field-Level Problem Solving: A Proactive Approach and Process for Landscape Crews Frank Bourque,, Greenmark

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

In this session, landscape and hardscape field teams will learn how to identify and resolve job-site challenges faster and more effectively using the S.O.L.V.E. method™. By removing emotion and applying a clear, repeatable process, crews will improve productivity, communication, and on-site decision-making. Participants will leave with a practical tool to reduce blind spots, take confident action, and prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems.

Utopia CD NLT: Right Plant in the Right Place Fredy Lopez, Rosborough Partners En Espanol with AI English translation

Nirvana A The Future Is the Field Lola Wright, Lola Wright Enterprises Nathan Wright, Nathan Wright Landscape Design “Nobody wants to do the hard work anymore.” That’s been the story in our industry for years—but what if that story is ready for a rewrite? Keys for a generation looking not for perks, but purpose. And a business model that sees boots-on-the-ground labor not as a challenge—but as a competitive advantage. Participants will walk away with: - A fresh perspective on how AI and workplace health trends - Practical strategies for building a company culture - Messaging tools to attract and retain younger talent, Landscape businesses like ours never went remote—we’ve always relied on people who show up, move their bodies, and bring transformation to life. That’s not a liability. That’s our edge.

Utopia AB Project Planning: Design Charges, Budget Planning, and Project Phasing Presenters & Company: Dan Wells, Elan Landscape Development Inc. Meagan Provencher, Wasco Nursery & Garden Center Shawn Pawlak, Grant & Power Landscaping Moderators: Nina Koziol, Instructor, Chicago Botanic Garden and feature writer Landscape Illinois Magazine This panel presentation explores clients’ budget realities, the pros and cons of charging design fees and “upselling” projects, along with proven sales and marketing strategies.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

WEDNESDAY

2026 Classes

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Nirvana A It’s Not What You Say—It’s How You Say It: Mastering the Spectrum of Communication Lola Wright, Lola Wright Enterprises In high-stakes industries like landscape design and construction, relationships are everything—whether with clients, crew members, vendors, or business partners. But even the most skilled professionals can find themselves caught in miscommunication, frustration, or team breakdowns—not because of what they said, but how they said it. In this engaging and practical session, transformational leadership expert Lola Wright introduces the Spectrum of Communication, a powerful model for increasing your self-awareness, enhancing collaboration, and creating stronger, more effective relationships. You will explore the three core modes of communication—Ego, Curiosity, and Essence—and learn how to recognize and shift where you are communicating from. Nirvana BC Landscape Bloopers C.L. Fornari, The Garden Lady

Euphoria Preserving Heritage Trees – Why and How Kris Bachtell, The Morton Arboretum (Retired) Many heritage trees hold truly interesting stories. Learn from an experienced horticulturist and propagation expert, who has over 45 years of experience, clonal propagation techniques that can be used to preserve these special trees and why they are worth the special effort for your important clients. Preserving these historic trees can prove to be an excellent and unique business opportunity for special clients that are interested in not only preserving these trees, but also the stories that relate to them.

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM Churchill Downs Stage Raffles & Giveaways

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Tradeshow Derby Party

This talk looks at design mistakes that are commonly made by landscapers and home-gardeners alike. By looking at where things have gone wrong, and sometimes seeing a corrected version through the magic of Photoshop, I explain the reasons why some garden designs look better than others. Learn how to provide plantings that please your customers on the day the job is finished, and for years afterwards.

Join us for a Derby Party filled with Southern charm and spirited fun! Enjoy live trivia, craft your own stylish Derby hat, savor Derbyinspired bites, compete in our hat contest, and try your luck with exciting raffles. A perfect way to celebrate the first evening of iLandscape!

Utopia AB Preparing the Grounds of Historic Churchill Downs for the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports Matt Bizzell, Churchill Downs Matt will discuss the care and effort that goes into maintaining historic Churchill Downs Racetrack’s almost 200 acres. Utopia CD Scaling to $10MM & Beyond: Staff Accountability Secrets For Rapid Growth Landscapers Danny Kerr, , Breakthrough Academy When your company grows, and you aren’t on your job site all the time… problems creep in. First, deadlines get missed. Your staff lacks focus. Then, quality starts to dip, leaving you to deal with mistakes that shouldn’t have happened. Petty finger-pointing becomes an ongoing issue… and you bleed profits because of all the inefficiency. The bad news: Your vision of running a high-performing team feels more like a fantasy… The good news: Improving accountability with your team is surprisingly easy to fix. The solution for smart landscapers is to rethink your system for holding people accountable. It isn’t complicated to fix. BUT your employees can’t do it for you. It’s the owner’s job. Join Danny as he hands over Breakthrough Academy’s internal secrets for higher performance, faster growth, and fatter net profits. This is a presentation of our most popular team management system.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

THURSDAY 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Nirvana A Soil Nutrient Density: Research and Practices Dan Kittridge, Bionutrient Food Association Description to be announced. Nirvana BC Exploration to Exploitation – The Road from Plant Discovery to Market Tony Avent, Plant Delights Nursery at Juniper Level Botanic Garden A behind-the-scenes look at where new plants come from and how they fit into different market niches. Euphoria The Cool, Calm Landscaper: How To Plan Your 2026 Profit & Team Goals Danny Kerr, Breakthrough Academy If you’ve ever started the year without a clear plan, or, a plan that lives entirely in your head, then this session is for you. You probably intended to build your strategic plan, but you just haven’t gotten around to it yet because, well, Q4 is nuts and you’re too busy trying to wrap projects. You’re not alone! In this session, Breakthrough Academy will show you an industry-proven approach to creating a one-page Strategic Plan that doesn’t take forever to build. He will walk through an industry example to demystify the confusion of strategic planning. It will help you reach your goals and allow your business to grow (while avoiding making the same old mistakes). Start 2026 off right. BONUS: You’ll be given a ready-to-go template that gets your vision out of your head and outlines your strategic initiatives in quarterly rhythms. Utopia AB Elevated Cut Flower Design: Transforming Landscapes into Living Experiences Tracy DiSabato-Aust, DiSabato-Aust Design Go beyond ordinary garden designs—offer your clients something truly memorable! By blending vibrant cut flowers, ornamental vegetables, and healing herbs, you create gardens that nourish the senses, the vase, the table, and the spirit. This engagement leads to happier clients, enthusiastic referrals, and more opportunities for ongoing support and education. These gardens open doors for you as a designer. You can expand your services by teaching clients when and how to harvest, how to care for cut flowers for longer vase life, and how to create beautiful, fear-less, arrangements for gatherings and celebrations. Drawing from over two decades of experience and her own enclosed raised-bed gardens, Tracy demonstrates how to maximize beauty and productivity—even in small urban or suburban spaces where separate flower or vegetable gardens aren’t possible. She will share valuable input on her favorite varieties to help take the guess work out of plant selection. Stop thinking of beauty and bounty as separate—let them work together in your designs!

Utopia CD NLT: Elevate & Empower: Building Leaders in the Field, One Crew at a Time Pam Berrios, Infinity Group, LLC En Espanol with AI English translation Leadership isn’t reserved for the office. It lives and breathes in the field, on the job site, and within every crew member who chooses to lead by example. This transformative session, we’ll explore how cultivating leadership among landscape workers can elevate not only performance, but also purpose, pride, and potential. This presentation dives deep into the principles of servant leadership, where the true power of leading comes from lifting others. You’ll learn how to foster an inclusive culture that values every voice, celebrates diversity, and creates space for growth, regardless of title or background. Discover how empowering crew members to take ownership, communicate effectively, and support one another can radically shift team dynamics and drive long-term success. Whether you’re a business owner, crew leader, or aspiring mentor, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to elevate your team and empower individuals to become leaders in their own right.

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM

Utopia CD NLT: Next Generation Contractor: Harnessing Technology on the Jobsite Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock Midwest En Espanol with AI English translation Integrating technology into the jobsite has never been more accessible—or more essential. In this session, we’ll explore how contractors can leverage today’s most impactful digital tools to elevate every stage of their process. From utilizing cutting-edge Augmented Reality apps to boost sales, streamline design, and increase close rates, to implementing advanced 3D design software and next-level tools in grade surveying, you’ll discover how modern tech can transform your workflow. Learn how to bring greater accuracy, efficiency, and confidence to your projects—all with the power of technology right at your fingertips. Contratista de Nueva Generación: Aprovechando la Tecnología en el Sitio de Obra Integrar tecnología en la obra nunca ha sido tan accesible ni tan esencial como ahora. En esta sesión exploraremos cómo los contratistas pueden aprovechar las herramientas digitales más innovadoras para mejorar cada etapa de su proceso. Desde el uso de aplicaciones de Realidad Aumentada para impulsar las ventas, optimizar el diseño y aumentar el cierre de proyectos, hasta la implementación de software avanzado de diseño 3D y las herramientas más recientes en nivelación y topografía, descubrirás cómo la tecnología moderna puede transformar tu manera de trabajar. Aprende cómo lograr mayor precisión, eficiencia y confianza en tus proyectos—todo con la tecnología al alcance de tu mano.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

THURSDAY

2026 Classes

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Nirvana A Principles of Biological Systems Dan Kittridge, Bionutrient Food Association How to work with nature to increase the overall vitality of the soil Nirvana BC Landscaping in Drifts of One – Where Biodiversity and Aesthetics Collide Tony Avent, Plant Delights Nursery at Juniper Level Botanic Garden Gardening rules often encourage us to limit our plant palette, but this only makes gardens boring and biologically unhealthy. Instead, we’ll explore how to turn your yard into a sustainable ex-situ conservation garden by creating unique habitats to increase botanical diversity, while paying attention to aesthetic considerations like colors, textures, sizes and forms. Euphoria Harness the Power of AI in Marketing to Bring in New Clients Tami Wloch, Social/Digital Media, Strategic & Creative Marketing Do you know how to use AI for your business? Tami Wloch, Meta & LinkedIn Advisory Panelist, will teach you easy steps that give YOU the advantage in the marketplace. Learn to use AI for social media, graphics, videos, even SEO. Leave this session with the AI knowledge you need to get more clients! Utopia AB Lifescaping: The Audacity of the Start Tracy DiSabato-Aust, DiSabato-Aust Design Your career and your life are endurance events! Sharpen your pencils and your focus! Lace up your sneakers, put on your swim cap, mount your bike and saddle up your horse (just kidding) for an inspiring , and motivating discussion on lessons learned by 50 years of working in our industry, 23 year racing triathlons, 10 years riding and showing horses and battling and winning over breast cancer. We will connect your personal persistence to the core of your profession: * Overcome Fear: Transform the dread of failure into focused action, drawing strength from a variety of techniques. * Build Resilience: Learn to pivot from setbacks—on the course or on the client site—by practicing the same intentional, step-by-step focus required of an endurance athlete. * Validate Your Purpose: Understand the essential, therapeutic value of your work by examining the Evidence-Based Design Utopia AB Aromatic Symphony: Designing Fragrant Landscapes for Zones 4-6 Brie Arthur, Horticulturist Brie Grows Fragrance is one of the most memorable and client-pleasing elements a landscape can offer, and it’s far more achievable in colder climates than many realize. In this program,

Brie Arthur guides landscape professionals through a rich photographic overview of hardy, high-performing fragrant plants suited for Zones 4–6—organized season by season to support intentional design. Brie also highlights late-season performers that extend sensory appeal well into fall. Beyond plant lists, the session covers practical placement strategies, microclimate considerations, and ways to layer scent for continuous impact across residential, commercial, and public landscapes. Attendees will learn how to craft aromatic plantings that delight clients, support pollinators, and provide year-round sensory value even in colder climates.

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Utopia CD NLT: Maximizing Tools of the Trade and Installation Techniques Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock Midwest; Eduardo Tapia, Unilock Midwest En Espanol with AI English translation Whether you’re new to hardscaping or a seasoned pro, this session will deliver valuable insights for every skill level. We’ll dive into efficient coping-cutting techniques to help save cut time, explore innovative new fireplace kits that elevate both design and installation, and review the latest trends in wall systems. Come ready to sharpen your skills, discover new tools, and take your craftsmanship to the next level.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Nirvana A Root Zone Management, From Plug to Planting Kevin Donnelly, Midwest Trading Growing and installing landscape plants comes with a level of complexity regarding what can go right and what can. We will be exploring substrate and amendment materials and concepts to help your perennials and shrubs thrive during growing and during installation. Provide a deeper understanding of the substrate environment and how to ensure plants will thrive in the landscape. Nirvana BC Landscaping to Create Awe Wambui Ippolito, Wambui Design Description to be announced. Euphoria Smart Tax Strategies for Landscapers: What to Know Now Cody Daniels, Builders Tax Group, LLC In this session, we’ll explore proven tax planning strategies tailored for landscape contractors—from choosing the right entity structure and maximizing equipment deductions, to managing seasonal cash flow with the right accounting method. We’ll also cover important federal and state tax credits that are often overlooked in the green industry. With tax law changes possible before the 2026 filing season, we’ll look ahead at what landscapers need to be prepared for—including the expiration of key provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Whether you’re a design-build contractor or maintenance-focused business, this session will help you identify planning opportunities

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

to reduce your tax burden and reinvest in growth. Ideal for business owners and managers, this session is practical, forward-looking, and designed to help your landscaping business thrive year-round. Utopia CD Hard as a Rock! Detailing Natural Stone Paving for Timeless Durability Greg Osterhout, Northern Stone Supply; Dacia Woodworth, Natural Stone Institute For thousands of years, stone has been used to craft landscapes of enduring beauty. As project performance demands, applications, and complexity increase, consideration must be given to ensure the longevity of stone installations. This session examines the considerations, best practices, and detailing techniques to safeguard installations for generations to come.

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Nirvana A Resilience in Action: Green-Wood’s Stormwater Strategy Joseph Charap, The Green-Wood Cemetery This presentation showcases Green-Wood Cemetery’s comprehensive approach to stormwater management and environmental resilience. Joseph Charap, VP of Landscape, details how this 478-acre National Historic Landmark in Brooklyn transformed a critical flooding challenge into an innovative green infrastructure solution.

get. Brie Arthur will break down the most effective approaches to managing mammal browsing in residential, commercial, and public sites. Learn what truly works—from integrated deterrent systems to repellent programs, layout adjustments, and cost-effective fencing solutions suited to Midwestern conditions. Brie will also highlight plant-selection tactics, including using highly palatable species as “decoy crops” to divert browsing from priority plantings. Landscape professionals will leave with actionable methods to reduce plant loss, improve long-term performance, and set clear expectations with clients. Turn critter challenges into predictable, manageable parts of your maintenance plan and keep your landscapes thriving, season after season. Utopia CD Amazing Annuals for Impact Mark Dwyer, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services and Landscape Illinois Magazine feature writer Seasonal plants continue to see massive popularity with the general public and landscape clientele. With so many new annuals coming out on the market every year, it’s challenging to navigate in selecting the best of the best for both flower and foliage. We’ll review a wide range of some of the best new selections, old standards that perform well and will cover many examples of successful use, integration and maintenance of these role players in the landscape.

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM Churchill Downs Stage Raffles & Giveaways

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Euphoria Pesticide Label Gray Areas: Making the Right Call Drew Jeffers, Clemson University Cooperative Extension

Tradeshow Race Night: iLandPrix Showdown

Labels aren’t always crystal clear. In this highly interactive session, we’ll use Poll Everywhere live questions so the room can vote through real label scenarios—site vs. pest listings, ambiguous rate ranges and seasonal caps, split apps, tank mixes and adjuvants, pollinator/drift language, and REI/WPS nuances. We’ll debrief each scenario to show the correct decision path, then assemble a simple decision sequence and documentation checklist your crews can use the very next day to stay compliant, reduce callbacks, and protect people, pollinators, and your business. (Bring a smartphone/tablet.)

Rev up the excitement at Race Night with the iLandPrix Showdown! Cheer on the Pinewood Derby Grand Finale, dance to DJ-spun hits, and jump into games and activities packed with prizes. Enjoy on-site Questions with Katrinia and fuel up with crowd-favorite eats including a nacho bar, buffalo wings, and hot dogs. A full-throttle night of racing, music, food, and fun!

Utopia AB Guardians of the Garden: Mastering Critter Control for Midwest Landscapes Brie Arthur, Brie Grows Wildlife pressure is a constant reality for landscape pros across the Midwest, where deer, rabbits, voles, groundhogs, and other mammals can quickly undermine even the best-designed plantings. This session equips you with practical, science-based strategies to protect client landscapes while maintaining aesthetics and staying within bud-

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

FRIDAY

2026 Classes

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Nirvana BC Lessons from the Garden: Sharing 5 Key Insights Learned from 100 Years of Landscaping Ed Laflamme, The Harvest Group Bill Arman, The Harvest Group Unlock the secrets to personal and professional growth with, The 5Lessons from the Garden.”Drawing on practical wisdom from a lifetime of tending both the literal and metaphorical gardens, this session offers fresh insights into leadership, teamwork, and innovation. Through this unique perspective, you’ll gain the insights to cultivate success in all areas of life. Join us as we delve into five essential lessons that leaders and organizations can learn from the garden. Euphoria The Power of Relationship-Building in Sales Success Ivy Sagrado, Langton Group

Outdoor fire features continue to evolved from a basic wood fire pit in the backyard. Current trends are showing gas fireplaces and gas fire features as one of the top items ask for by consumers looking to create a unique outdoor living space to enjoy with family and friends. This seminar will focus on introducing the trends, different types and options of gas fire features, fireplaces, as well as, understanding the ins-and-outs of designing a space that is not only beautiful to look at but functional, as well. Ken takes you through the process from beginning to end, providing you with confidence in your landscape design.

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Nirvana A Managing Tree Pests 101 Aaron Schulz, Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal LLC

Unlock the secret to sustainable sales success in the landscaping industry through the power of genuine connection. In this session, Ivy Sagrado shares proven strategies for building trust, nurturing client loyalty, and turning prospects into long-term partners. You’ll discover practical techniques for follow-ups, communication, and service that create meaningful relationships — not just transactions. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable steps to strengthen customer bonds, boost referrals, and grow revenue through authenticity and consistency.

Correct identification of common tree pests (insects, diseases, and mites) is crucial in developing a successful management strategy. This session will explore how to identify multiple tree pests that we commonly encounter in the field, how to work through diagnostic steps, how to identify pest and plant vulnerability stages, how to develop management programs based on approach and timing, and how to obtain professional lab assistance so that you can confidently manage causes instead of symptoms.

Utopia AB Reawakening Ancestral Connections to Land Wambui Ippolito, Wambui Design

Euphoria Leveraging AI Tools to Boost Marketing Efficiency Ivy Sagrado, Langton Group

Working ethically in landscape design requires a recognition that land holds memory, that our ancestors’ footsteps, struggles, and blessings are embedded in it. By honoring our own family land heritage, we can learn to foster a healthy reciprocal relationship with nature. In this talk, Wambui will share how to identify and locate one’s ancestral relationship with nature and, in so doing, completely shift your design process.

Discover how AI can revolutionize your marketing and business growth. In this forward-thinking session, Ivy Sagrado demonstrates practical AI tools that help landscaping businesses streamline workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance customer engagement. Learn how to generate targeted ad copy, analyze client behavior for personalized campaigns, and integrate AI chatbots for lead generation. Attendees will gain simple, actionable steps to save time, increase productivity, and boost ROI using tools that make marketing smarter — not harder.

Utopia CD Impacts of Drought and Climate Change on Trees as aNature-Based Solution for Urban Heat Christy Rollinson, The Morton Arboretum Trees provide critical cooling benefits to cities around the globe and can be a nature-based solution for urban heat. However, urban trees and their benefits are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including rising summer temperatures and altered rainfall patterns. This presentation will assess the capacity of trees to mitigate urban heat, how current climate change projections may impact urban trees, and discuss how aspects of tree selection and care can help build a more resilient urban forest.

Nirvana A Gas Firepits Ken Love, Earthcore Industries / Isokern

Utopia AB Biohacking Your Landscape Trevor Smith, ReEarth Studio Our current approach to land care is akin to sending plastic, rubber and steel to a factory without even knowing who works there and hoping a car comes out. Biohacking the landscape is a new concept using existing methods to dial in on what a property needs. Trevor Smith will show you the tools and methods to understand what’s really going on in a given landscape. Imagine being able to offer your clients a new service that can decrease your loss to 3% or less while making their property more climate resilient and eco-friendly.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

You will be surprised at how easy your job becomes and how much money you save when you Biohack your client’s landscape. This class will cover the three pillars of soil health, their importance and what we can do to heal and build our degraded soil. Each section will outline one pillar the problem and the solution on how we can fix or amend each to optimize soil performance and in turn the performance of our landscape.

Winter in the Midwest may feel like the longest season, but then Mother Nature reminds us of the resilience of plants with the earliest flowers. We’ll explore a wide array of plants from trees and shrubs to perennials, bulbs, and natives that flower in March and April (sometimes earlier!). From fleeting surprises to long-blooming selections, there are many options for late winter charmers. Surprise and delight clients with these floral experiences that celebrate the turning of the year and the soil waking up.

Utopia CD The Extended Harvest: Your Illinois Kitchen Garden, 10 Months of the Year Nicole Jagielski, Patio Produce LLC

Euphoria Leading the Next (And All) Generations Steve Ludwig, Ludwig Speaks, LLC

Unlock the secrets to a thriving kitchen garden in Illinois, providing fresh vegetables and herbs for ten months of the year! This comprehensive course is for all levels, teaching you how to achieve a continuous harvest that extends far beyond the typical summer. Learn strategic planning, season extension techniques, and the best plant choices for our unique climate. Imagine fresh herbs in early spring, vibrant summer tomatoes, crisp greens, and root vegetables as autumn arrives. Empower your clients to enjoy the satisfaction of growing their own food nearly year-round in Illinois, taking control of their health and well-being. Utopia AB Reading the Landscape and Managing Natural Areas Jens Jensen, Jensen Ecology Every site tells a story and learning to “read” these narratives is the first, most critical design move when a project touches a natural area. In this session, Jens will walk attendees through the fieldto-studio workflow he has refined over 22 years of Midwestern restoration practice. Using recent terrestrial and aquatic projects as living case studies, Jens will demonstrate how early site diagnostics directly inform construction documents, planting palettes, and long-term stewardship budgets.

Utopia AB Beyond the Mow: Leading Crews, Communicating with Clients, and Spotting What’s Next Justin Nowak, Great Oaks Landscaping Running a landscape maintenance division means living in the middle of constant demands—from the field, from the office, and from your clients. This session is designed for the professionals who juggle it all: evaluating properties, keeping crews on schedule, communicating with clients, and still finding time to walk sites with a critical eye. How do you make time for estimating and proposals without falling behind on your routes? What’s the best way to handle an unhappy client without sacrificing your teams morale? Whether you’re an account manager, operations lead, or owner-operator, you’ll leave with insights on how to bring more structure to your week, more clarity to your communication, and more value to your landscape visits. Utopia CD Biocontrols in Landscapes: What Works— and How to Sell It Profitably Drew Jeffers, Clemson University Cooperative Extension

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Nirvana A Early Intervention: The Importance of Structural Pruning in Tree Development Kris Bachtell, The Morton Arboretum (Retired)

Structural pruning is a type of pruning that aims to improve the tree’s structure, health, and longevity by favoring a single, dominant leader and reducing the size of competing branches. Structural pruning is typically performed on young to medium-aged trees, but it can also be applied to mature trees to manage weight distribution and reduce the risk of failure. Structural pruning can enhance the tree’s appearance, stability, and its full benefits to the environment. Nirvana BC Waking Up with Late Winter Plants Heather Prince, Landscape Illinois Magazine

When we review the results of employee surveys, often, the biggest response is communication around here is not good and I don’t feel valued or seen. In this session we will look at the individual people you find on your team, and discuss strategies for knowing them better and understanding that what drives them is not necessarily what drives you.

Biological control isn’t just for greenhouses. This session shows landscape pros exactly where biocontrols deliver in outdoor sites— and how to package, price, and market those services. We’ll cover conservation tactics (flowering strips, mow/trim timing, refugia), targeted augmentations (predatory mites for spider mites, entomopathogenic nematodes for grubs, Bt/Beauveria for caterpillars/ soft-bodied pests), and when to integrate soft chemistries. Then we’ll translate that into business: service tiers, pricing models (retainer + materials), client messaging that avoids “organic” traps, and ROI math that sells. Leave with SOPs, a one-page service menu, and a simple margin calculator.

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Churchill Downs Stage Raffles & Giveaways

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Next Level Training

2026 Classes Por

Clases de Español 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM

na vez más, iLandscape ofrecerá una capacitación de dos días en español, “Next Level Training: Classes in Spanish”. ¡Únase a nosotros el 25 y 26 de febrero de 2026 en el Hotel Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center para disfrutar de sesiones que lo llevarán al siguiente nivel en su carrera! La presentadora Pam Berrios te guiará en temas esenciales como el desarrollo profesional, la comunicación efectiva, el trabajo en equipo y la resolución de conflictos. Con su guía experta, contarás con las herramientas necesarias para triunfar en el sector del paisajismo. Además de sus sesiones, tendrás la oportunidad de profundizar en la capacitación práctica sobre muchos otros temas, como el aprovechamiento de la tecnología en la obra, la introducción de plantas populares, la selección de plantas que se adapten a las condiciones de tu obra, entre otros. El conocimiento que adquirirás en estas sesiones te diferenciará de la competencia y te ayudará a alcanzar tus metas profesionales. Su inscripción al programa de capacitación Next Level también incluye un pase a la feria comercial iLandscape, lo que le da acceso a los últimos productos e innovaciones del sector. Aproveche esta increíble oportunidad por solo $50 para miembros y $85 para no miembros, ¡pero no se pierda el aumento de precios el 20 de enero! ¡Asegura tu lugar en la serie de capacitación Next Level registrándote hoy mismo en ilandscapeshow.com y prepárate para impulsar tu carrera profesional! ¡Nos vemos allí!

$50 early member, $65 late member $85 nonmember early, $115 nonmember late

Wednesday, February 25, 2025

Utopia CD NLT: Elevate & Empower: Building Leaders in the Field, One Crew at a Time Pam Berrios, Infinity Group, LLC Leadership isn’t reserved for the office. It lives and breathes in the field, on the job site, and within every crew member who chooses to lead by example. This transformative session, we’ll explore how cultivating leadership among landscape workers can elevate not only performance, but also purpose, pride, and potential. This presentation dives deep into the principles of servant leadership, where the true power of leading comes from lifting others. You’ll learn how to foster an inclusive culture that values every voice, celebrates diversity, and creates space for growth, regardless of title or background. Discover how empowering crew members to take ownership, communicate effectively, and support one another can radically shift team dynamics and drive long-term success. Whether you’re a business owner, crew leader, or aspiring mentor, this session will equip you with actionable strategies to elevate your team and empower individuals to become leaders in their own right.

9:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Utopia CD NLT: Training Your Field Staff for Safety Armando Actis, Professor College of DuPage This Spanish-language Next Level Training Session will cover safety practices, troubleshooting equipment issues, and OSHA regulations, including how to train your field staff on how to recognize and respond to heat stroke and extreme cold.

Utopia CD NLT: Right Plant in the Right Place Fredy Lopez, Rosborough Partners To be announced

Thursday, February 26, 2025

8:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Utopia CD NLT: Popular Plant Introductions for 2026 Catalino Mendoza, Midwest Groundcovers

Discover the newest plant varieties for your 2026 designs and stay ahead of the curve! Explore vibrant colors, unique textures, and innovative plant combinations that will elevate your landscape projects. Learn how to create stunning, sustainable designs that not only captivate but also thrive with durability and resilience. Get inspired by the latest trends and plant selections that will make your landscapes both beautiful and environmentally conscious.

Utopia CD NLT: Next Generation Contractor: Harnessing Technology on the Jobsite Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock Midwest Integrating technology into the jobsite has never been more accessible—or more essential. In this session, we’ll explore how contractors can leverage today’s most impactful digital tools to elevate every stage of their process. From utilizing cutting-edge Augmented Reality apps to boost sales, streamline design, and increase close rates, to implementing advanced 3D design software and next-level tools in grade survey-

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

how to bring greater accuracy, efficiency, and confidence to your projects—all with the power of technology right at your fingertips. Contratista de Nueva Generación: Aprovechando la Tecnología en el Sitio de Obra Integrar tecnología en la obra nunca ha sido tan accesible ni tan esencial como ahora. En esta sesión exploraremos cómo los contratistas pueden aprovechar las herramientas digitales más innovadoras para mejorar cada etapa de su proceso. Desde el uso de aplicaciones de Realidad Aumentada para impulsar las ventas, optimizar el diseño y aumentar el cierre de proyectos, hasta la implementación de software avanzado de diseño 3D y las herramientas más recientes en nivelación y topografía, descubrirás cómo la tecnología moderna puede transformar tu manera de trabajar. Aprende cómo lograr mayor precisión, eficiencia y confianza en tus proyectos—todo con la tecnología al alcance de tu mano.

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección. Mariani Plants se enorgullese en su attencion al cliente. Tenemos expertos ajentes de ventas de habla hispana en nuestras dos localidades, Kenosha Wisconsin y Garden Prairie Illinois. Mariani Plants esta aquí para proveerle mejores plantas, mejor servicio y mejor selección.

Llámenos a Mariani Plants: 866-627-4264 / marianiplants.com

TODOS JUNTOS MEJOR.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Utopia CD NLT: Maximizing Tools of the Trade and Installation Techniques Auggie Rodriguez, Unilock Midwest Whether you’re new to hardscaping or a seasoned pro, this session will deliver valuable insights for every skill level. We’ll dive into efficient coping-cutting techniques to help save cut time, explore innovative new fireplace kits that elevate both design and installation, and review the latest trends in wall systems. Come ready to sharpen your skills, discover new tools, and take your craftsmanship to the next level. Maximizando las Herramientas del Oficio y las Técnicas de Instalación No importa si seas nuevo en el mundo del hardscape o todo un profesional, esta clase ofrecerá información valiosa para todos los niveles. Profundizaremos en técnicas eficientes para cortar coping (capas) que te ayudarán a optimizar tu trabajo, exploraremos innovadores kits para la construcción de chimeneas que mejoran tanto el diseño como la instalación, y revisaremos las tendencias más recientes en sistemas de muros. Ven listo para perfeccionar tus habilidades, descubrir nuevas herramientas y llevar tu trabajo al siguiente nivel.

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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Growing Into the New Year:

Plant Varieties You’ll Want to Try By Shannon McEnerney

stitutions. Carex woodii grows to 12-18’ tall and is adaptable he beginning of a year is a time for refresh and to both sun and shade. renewal, new year’s resolutions, maybe a fresh new In the ornamental grass category, there are layer of snow – and new plants! a couple newer to the market varieties that are Each year Midwest Groundcovers at the top of our list. Schizachyrium ‘Ha Ha refreshes our product line with some Tonka’ (Little Bluestem) has an appearance new introductions – some completely unlike any other on the market; the leaves are new to the market, while others more covered with fine hairs that give the plant a in the “new to you” vein — some that hazy feel – a morning sunrise with a bit of dew we can finally provide good availability only increases the effect. The foliage reaches on, others that may have proved their about 30”, which allows it to blend well in worth in the landscape, and some that matrix combinations in summer and early fall; we felt filled a void in our product line. once the blooms emerge it reaches 3-4’. Native to just a few counties in Sorghastrum nutans (Yellow Prairie Grass) Illinois, and sporadically throughout Sorghastrum nutans (Yellow Prairie Grass) is a less often used native species, but the introthe Midwest, Carex woodii (Wood’s duction of Golden Sunset® should finally give Sedge) came on our radar after the pubit its due. A base of olive-green foliage gives lication of the Mt. Cuba Center Carex way to a column of golden stems, topped off trials. One of the top performers in by golden flower plumes. It holds its upright the trials, it is similar to Carex pensylform into winter, even in the event of snow; and vanica (Pennsylvania Sedge) with its reaching 4-6’ tall, it could be a slightly taller low spreading habit. However, while alternative to Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’. C. pensylvanica can take time to fill Selected from a seedling by the University of in, C. woodii quickly creates a dense Minnesota, it is hardy to zone 3. mat of foliage – an element that made Salvia Perpetual Purple™ (Meadow Sage) is it the top performer in their mowing a new introduction from Bloomin Easy® and evaluation, which was done to provide (continued on page 36) recommendations on the best lawn sub- Salvia Perpetual Purple™ (Meadow Sage)

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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Tagging appointments available. Secure the trees you need. Growing since 1985 and located in Wonder Lake, IL, we are proud to be the region’s leading wholesale nursery supplier for over 40 years with 900+ acres and more than 500 varieties of locally grown trees, shrubs, and perennials. We are committed to delivering top-quality plant material, providing unwavering customer support, and partnering with you for longterm success. We are excited to grow with you!

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(continued from page 34) has proven to be a durable landscape performer. Growing to about 18” tall and wide, plants form a nice mound of purple flowers. Even as the petals fade, purple stems and calyxes extend the appeal of the plant. While a cut back can help tidy the plant up in the dog days of summer, plants will continue to push new flowers through fall, even through spent flower stems. Geum ‘Mai Tai’ (Avens) from Brent Horvath at Intrinsic Perennials has been such an eye-catching spring bloomer in the Midwest Display Gardens that Midwest is adding more of his introductions to their line. ‘Cherry Bomb’ is a red to cherry pink flower, and ‘Top Shelf Margarita’ is a bright, clear yellow that pops against the green foliage. While both are semi-double flowers, ‘Top Shelf Margarita’ reaches about 18” tall, while ‘Cherry Bomb’ is only about 12-15”. While they can survive periods of drier conditions, plants will look their best in moist, well drained, fertile soil, with some afternoon shade in the heat Geum ‘Mai Tai’ (Avens) H. quercifolia Gastby Glow Ball® of summer. As with almost every year in the past decade or two, there is no shortage of Hydrangea introductions! What may be less common is that this year we have four different species represented among them: • H. macrophylla Endless Summer® DreamCloud® - an improvement over ‘Blushing Bride’ with a more compact form, deeper green foliage and longer lasting white bloom • H. arborescens Incrediball® Blush and Incrediball Storm Proof™ - a pink version and an even studier version of Proven Winners® Incrediball®, respectively • H. paniculata Little Hottie® and Spring Sizzle® - two First Editions® varieties, the former a compact plant with white blooms that won’t burn in summer sun, the H. Spring Sizzle® H. Storm ProofTM latter a larger variety that ages better in summer heat. To learn about the over 30 plants that will be new to Midwest • H. quercifolia Gatsby Glow Ball® - another Proven Groundcovers in 2026, join Shannon and Nikki Melin for a Winners® variety with an improved, faster growing “New to Midwest in 2026” webinar on Friday, January 16, compact habit. 2026. To register, visit midwestgroundcovers.com.

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Translating Ecological Landscaping Tenets into Your Practice by Heather Prince

e caught up with Chris Fehlhaber, formerly a horticulturist at Chanticleer Gardens and now an independent landscape consultant in the Midwest, to discuss some of the ideas swirling around naturalistic landscape and how to make them actionable.

Asking Why

Sometimes one word can be incredibly powerful and an excellent beginning. A simple ‘why’ can spark a deeper conversation and a broader connection. As we assess our practices during our winter slow season, it can be a good time to climb up into the balcony to see the bigger picture of our standard practices and training. “Something I like to ask when I’m out working with someone, and I do this a lot with young students and people coming up in the industry, is ‘Why are you doing that?’,” commented Fehlhaber. “It is important to be genuinely curious and nonconfrontational. Very often they would tell me that it is just how it’s done.

To me, that’s not an answer. That’s an opinion. Tell me why you’re doing that, and if you can give a thoughtful answer, then, great! By all means, proceed!” One example of this might be leaf blowers. As we navigate more communities banning or limiting the use of gas-powered blowers, it’s an opportunity to step back and examine the whole practice. Why blow the leaves? Is it because it’s the most efficient way to move plant material where you want it to go? Is it a client-driven expectation of a “clean” landscape? Does it signal that work is being done? “I once talked to a landscaper who told me he would unnecessarily power up the blower at the end of a job, because the noise was a signal to the client that work was being done,” recounted Fehlhaber. “The client thought they were getting a value out of him blowing an already clean driveway, because there was noise. As he was taking off the machine, he’d rev it up one last time and shake the blower end in the air as a final crescendo. I (continued on page 40)

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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(continued from page 38) think it is a perfect example of how something like a leaf blower can generate such strong feelings. The client felt that since it’s really loud, the crew must be doing a lot out there and that they were getting a value. It might seem ridiculous, but he met client expectations, even if it annoyed the neighbors.” As the requests for naturalistic landscapes and native plants continue to build, it might be a good time to reassess your best practices and in some cases reeducate the team. If switching to rakes and brooms is too daunting, consider blowing those leaves back into beds instead of spending the time to bag them. It saves man-hours and fuel as well as builds critical habitat for overwintering insects.

Exploring Care

We use terms like ‘maintenance’, ‘management’, and ‘stewardship’ frequently when we talk about spending time in a landscape working with plants. “I like the term ‘care’ a lot better than ‘stewardship’,

because I think people can better relate to it and understand it. It brings the personal component into play,” said Fehlhaber. “And I always go back to a quote that Roy Diblik told me years ago, that gardening is your personal way of relating to nature.” Of course, we have businesses to run, families to feed, and employees to pay, but for many of us, we work in plants because we care about them and the natural world. If we use the term ‘care’ Fehlhaber feels, “It makes gardening a little more digestible. I think as soon as you do that, it allows people to be a little bit more thoughtful about what they’re doing on their property and with their land. It gets them to slow down and think a bit more, which is the goal. We want people to slow down, to embrace that practice of gardening, which is slow. Someone once said it’s the slowest of the performing arts.” Part of our continual challenge in horticulture is educating our clients. A key component is communicating what we are doing on their property and why we are doing it. Often, the hardest idea to communicate

to clients is the concept of time in the garden. Our concept of time and a plant’s idea of it can be two very different things. “In today’s go, go, go, society, it’s hard to slow down. But, if you’re able to do that, then you can begin to understand the time scale of everything in the landscape. A tree’s time scale is so much different than our own, because an oak tree is here for centuries, and we’re lucky if we get one.” If we can move expectations away from snapshot perfection and instant gratification, we can craft a resilient landscape instead of just reacting to perceived problems. We often talk about cues to care in a naturalistic landscape as ways to demonstrate that a planting is intentional. It might be a turf border around a prairie or a deliberately placed bench. What if we pull that concept deeper into our practices? If we leave foliage and stems in place in a perennial border for bees to nest in and fireflies to dwell, we not only care for the plants, but the larger habitat. Plus, the dried foliage and flowers provide beautiful (continued on page 42)

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(continued from page 40) winter architecture as snow catchers and ice scaffolds. Dried plants also can be decoration indoors and out, encouraging the creativity of you and your team in fall and winter designs.

Inspiring Our Clients

If garden management or care is a key part of your business, repeat clients are the foundation of your bottom line. Sometimes those clients want a static landscape, like a photo in a frame. Wouldn’t it be more interesting for you and the homeowner if their landscape changed and evolved from season to season? Let’s face it, creating a dynamic four-season landscape is hard. It requires not only regular labor, but deep plant knowledge, and artistic style. You and your team do it every day, but it might be even more rewarding to get the client involved and invested in caring about their little piece of the planet. “I see a disconnect between some of the big cultural themes that are currently very prevalent about living exciting, fulfilling, dynamic lives and where we actually live and garden,” observed Fehlhaber. “You want to grow, you want to change, you want to be your best, etc. Isn’t that what we’re trying to achieve here in the landscape? Our landscapes should also grow, evolve, and change. If we’re supposed to be dynamic professionals, shouldn’t our landscapes also be dynamic?” How do we inspire our clients to care and be involved? “Much of what I think we’re doing as an industry is really addressing the insecurities people have about their landscape,” commented Fehlhaber. There isn’t a quick fix, but consistent communication, spending the time to talk and listen to them, and sharing our excitement all contributes. If you can spend a few more minutes explaining what the crew is doing (or not doing), sharing a photo of the (continued on page 14) 42

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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(continued from page 12) hummingbird in the penstemon, or showing their kids the toad that lives in the brush pile, you create connection. And with connection comes value. Making it Billable At the end of the day, landscaping is a business. Yes, it’s a craft, a skill, and an art, but all those aspects mean you and your crews have value. And with value comes billable hours. “You have to bill what you’re worth,” emphasized Fehlhaber. “You have to stop giving it away for free. We as an industry need to do a better job of helping everyone understand horticulture is a skill. No one’s looking for the bargain plumber or the cheapest electrician. We need to be forthright about this is what I’m worth.” “There is a huge knowledge gap between ourselves and our clients. We’re just not sharing enough knowledge and positioning ourselves as trusted experts. We need to take the time to do that. My model is if I talk to a client for an hour, that’s billable hours. I’m happy to talk with them and share my knowledge and educate them. I’ll answer their questions and address their insecurities, so that at the end of the day, they feel excited and empowered to move forward with a (continued from page 42)different direction in the landscape. Initially, it was tough and it felt weird, but once I realized that people were happy to pay for me to talk to them, then, yeah, I’ll do this all day.” This winter, consider reassessing your best practices through an ecological and practical lens, start putting communications plans in place so they are ready to go before busy season hits, and be clear about billing for the time your team takes working and talking with clients. We can do better for our landscapes and our customers, but maybe, as a closing huzzah, keep the final flourish of the leaf blower.

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Waking From Winter with Containers by Heather Prince

hink of that first warm day of late winter when snow melts, soil is still half frozen, and the first robin comes calling. Suddenly, we are itching to be in the garden and clients are calling to ask for pansies in their containers. It’s too early, but no one can resist the urge to throw open the windows and start counting the bags of potting soil. To bridge this shoulder season between the winter designs and ubiquitous pansies, there are some strategies to keep our containers interesting without risking the expense of losing tender greenhouse-grown annuals. It’s an opportunity to stretch your creativity and emphasize forms and textures with a dash of hardy early spring color.

beachball-sized offer wonderful rustic globe shapes to containers. Not only are they sculptural snow catchers, there’s something captivating about circles in the landscape. Anchor with some landscape staples in case of winter storms and they can be instant focal points, especially when lit.

Go Sculptural

Branches, grapevine, and cut logs or poles can make a statement in the winter garden beyond the holidays. Pull out the crispy evergreens of your December designs and let the rich textures of bark and twigs take the stage. Low winter light is captured by birch logs, dogwood stems, and curly willow’s corkscrew charm. Grapevine balls, from baseball to

A few strings of fairy lights (try the battery-powered ones on a timer) and you’ve got container magic until flowers start to open. Late winter is an excellent time to prune hydrangeas. Why not use those

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

gorgeous dried flowers? Panicle and Anabelle-type flowers stay looking good well into April. Wire armfuls into simple urns for a long-lasting display that pairs beautifully with nearly any architecture from farmhouse to mid-century modern.

Early Blooming and Elegant

From an elegant iron urn to a rustic hypertufa trough, sometimes the container itself is a charming focal point in the late winter garden. The simplicity of a concrete form captures the eye and creates a moment of pause. Sited thoughtfully among early spring bulbs like winter aconite or snowdrops, it creates a place to seek out to enjoy these small, cheerful reminders that spring is on the way. Early bulbs melt away in summer when the seasonal change out calls for layers of color or serene textures. Also consider placing containers within drifts of hellebores for a peaceful vignette. In our Midwestern climate, hellebores thrive in part to full shade in average to well-drained soils. (continued on page 48)

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(continued from page 46) They are hardy, long-lived, and drought tolerant. Plus, deer and rabbits avoid their toxic leaves and flowers. With thousands of fascinating cultivars, these durable perennials reward us with clusters of flowers in white, pink, purple, chartreuse, and buttercream as soon as snow melts. Blossoms can be cut for indoor arrangements and are particularly charming when floated in a bowl or tray. Allow hellebores time. The flowers will remain weeks after drying to continue the show. The plants will

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slowly multiply over the years and add splashes of near-evergreen texture in winter. Look for new cultivars like ‘Molly’s White’, ‘Penny’s Pink’, and ‘Anna’s Red’ that feature lovely white or pink veining on the foliage. These selections bring elegant color and texture to the garden in every season. On those damp chill days of March, the bright leaves of lettuce bring charm and cheer to our container designs. With so many choices in purple, chartreuse, fresh green and mottled, lettuce can offer a punch of foliage power and withstand frosts. It germinates quickly from (continued on page 50)

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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(continued from page 48) seed, so start some in drop-in containers for instant spring freshness.

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

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(continued from page 50) flower power. For containers close to buildings or under the protection of walls, we can take advantage of those warmer microclimates to push the boundaries. While there’s lots to love about a classic pansy, don’t forget the delicate charm of violas, their smaller cousins. Dot them in like tosses of confetti against bolder foliage of coral bells or cabbage. Put those forced plants from trade shows to work! You know you couldn’t resist adopting a few and tucking them in a sunny window. Perennial foliage plants can be beautiful back up singers when you have a brilliant yellow viola to take center stage. Plus, more and more growers are offering frost-tolerant early annuals. Stock, lobelia, snapdragons, euphorbia, alyssum, and more will adapt to chilly nights. Early bloomers tend to have delicate wands of flowers or small, sweet blossoms. Blend these delicate textures with big, coarse foliage to create interesting layers in frost-tolerant containers. Showy cabbages, kale, lettuces, and chard offer tasty big coarse foliage texture and bring structure to the middle of your designs. Hardy ornamental sedges and variegated sweet flag add delicate grassy notes and can be planted out into garden beds in summer. Height is easily achieved with those leftover dogwood twigs and birch poles. Their rustic touches blend beautifully with the frothy flowers of spring. Try weaving a small teepee from willow twigs or create a bird nest with preserved moss for a woodland touch. Late winter holds its own garden magic. It offers opportunities to rethink traditional container designs and exercise your creativity. While combinations may be more subtle, it’s a wonderful time to let the serene forms of concrete pots sing in a quieter landscape. A dash of flowers, a flurry of foliage, and we’re ready to welcome the sunny days of April and the promise of summer heat.

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Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Beneath the Sur

by Kevin Donnelly

Case of Confusion: What Does Organic Mean? In my line of work as a soil scientist, I deal with things that are organic in several very different ways. Because the same word is used to describe scientific measurements, material types, and regulatory programs, confusion is common. I’d like to take the opportunity to bring some clarity to the term organic as it is used in soils and soil amendments. In practice, the word organic is generally used in three distinct ways: • Organic Matter – a laboratory measurement of carbon-based compounds in a material • Organic Material – materials derived from plants or animals • Certified Organic – materials that comply with non-synthetic standards under organic regulations. Understanding the differences between these uses can help avoid misunderstandings in specifications, product selection, and project approvals.

Organic Matter

We’ll start with the most technical and scientific use of the word. Organic matter is a laboratory measurement, commonly using Loss on Ignition (LOI). In simple terms, LOI involves burning a sample in a furnace. In the lab, we typically take a 5 gram, oven-dried sample and heat it to roughly 400–550°C (750–1,000°F) for several hours. The amount of mass lost represents the organic matter and is reported as a percentage by weight. This measurement often appears in project specifications for topsoil blends and composts. In our region, a typical mineral topsoil contains about 3–5% organic matter, while composts often fall in the 40–60% organic matter range. A typical garden mix of 1 part topsoil : 1 part sand : 1 part compost (by volume) will often test at only 4-6% organic matter. It can take a lot of compost to increase the percent of organic matter in topsoil and sand blends because it is a weight-based measurement.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

rface Organic Material

Organic material refers to the origin of a material, not a laboratory measurement. Organic materials are those derived from plants or animals—such as bark, peat, compost, wood fiber, or manure. In contrast, materials like sand and topsoil are considered minerals. Contrasting organic materials and organic matter may seem like a minor distinction, but I have seen projects delayed when this wasn’t fully understood. In the garden soil example, someone might expect an organic matter results of 33% when that figure represents the volumetric rate.

Certified Organic

This is often what people think of first when they hear the word organic. In a soils and amendments context, certified organic generally refers to products that do not contain synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or other A muffle furnace is used to test the percent of oragnic matter prohibited substances. In the United States, the term organic in commerce is governed by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). This program applies to end products—such as produce, plants, and processed foods—not to soil amendments, fertilizers, or potting mixes themselves. Instead, soil-related products must comply with NOP standards for inputs. When people refer to a soil or amendment as being “certified organic,” they usually mean that it is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). OMRI is a third-party organization that evaluates soil amendments, fertilizers, and other inputs for compliance with NOP requirements and publishes a list of approved products. They provide a convenient list of brand-named products that organic producer can select from. Common inputs like compost, bark, limestone, and others inherently comply with those standards. A trusted supplier will be able to direct you to an NOP compliant product even if it isn’t listed through OMRI. The Mulch and Soil Council is currently working on their own certification program for all natural materials. The meaning of organic, like many things, depends on context. Hopefully this has helped clear up some of the potential confusion and leaves you more informed on how this term is utilized in our industry. Landscape Illinois Magazine 55 January 2026

By Design Landscaping, LLC Jason Mauhar

8 Grand Oaks Drive Lincoln, IL 62656

by Meta L. Levin

ason Mauhar was a high school teacher and wrestling coach in Ft. Worth, TX, when he started doing side jobs to pick up extra cash. It was then that he realized he much preferred being outside and working with his hands, to teaching high school students about biology, anatomy and physics. Eventually, he left Texas and returned to Lincoln, IL, his hometown, where his first job as a youngster was working for a man who did landscape maintenance. He also owned a twohole mini-golf course. Mauhar’s job interview for that one? Dig a hole. Once back in Illinois, he managed a beekeeping operation

for the owner, but he wanted to work for himself, so he “went out on a limb” and started his own landscaping company. By then he was married and had two children, so he needed regular money coming in. While building By Design Landscaping, he took a job as the facilitator for a CEO program in Lincoln, working with students who wanted to be entrepreneurs. Seven years ago, By Design Landscaping, LLC, grew so much that he dropped the other job. Mauhar admits there was no grand plan for his business. Instead, it has grown primarily by word of mouth. “We pride ourselves in doing excellent work,” says Mauhar. “If a client sees something that is not right, we want them to tell us, so that we can make it right.”

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

“At first I was all over the map,” he says. He would do anything that a customer wanted done. Gradually, however, he identified those jobs at which he excelled and dropped the others. Now, he focuses on hardscapes, redoing older landscapes, spring clean-up, building decks, concrete work and snow control. He estimates that 70 percent of his work is residential and the rest commercial. Initially, Mauhar did all the work himself, but it wasn’t long before he realized he needed help. His first employee was a young teen, barely 20 years old, who now has gone on to a larger landscape company in Bloomingdale, IL. He hired local help, high school and college students. Often when he needed help, he called on his current employees, who recommended friends and family. “This is our work family,” he says. “For the last four years, we have had a good, solid crew.” Some of these he found through his church, others from Lincoln College, which was located in the community. “I am really blessed.” Chad McFadden is one of those. Mauhar describes him as his main crew boss. “He gets everyone organized and ready.” This is his fifth season with By Design Landscaping and Mauhar has learned to rely on him. “He’s my lead guy. Foreman Brandon DeAndrea has been with the company

for six years. He worked for Mauhar while in college and is in his first full season after graduating with a degree in geographic information systems. Like Mauhar, he likes working outside and with his hands. “He’s quick and motivated,” says Mauhar. Will Ewald is also a lead and runs the job sites. He is in his third season with the company. “He wants to work,” says Mauhar. Like the coach that he is, Mauhar describes his crew as “coachable. I give them the tools they need to be successful,” he says. “It’s awesome to watch.” Mauhar came to Landscape Illinois through educational opportunities. He was registering some employees for training and saw information about what was then ILCA. “I thought I need to be a part of this,” he says. “I saw some neat opportunities I want to take advantage of.” His wife, Ashleigh, is a school counselor, but the two of them are branching out. They just bought a local pizzeria that was closing. A community staple since 1969, they decided they just couldn’t let it disappear. The couple has three children. Arrington is now 17 and helps with By Design Landscaping, mowing, painting and around the shop. Addisyn is 14 and Hollis is 10 and loves to drive the tractor and skid steer.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

HELP WANTED

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. 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

Participate in snow event planning and supervise operations during weather events. Qualifications: -3+ years of supervisory or management experience in landscaping, construction, or snow operations. -Fluent in both English and Spanish (required). -Strong organizational and analytical skills; capable of interpreting and using performance data. -Proficient with scheduling and routing software (BOSS, Aspire, or similar preferred). -Excellent communication, leadership, and team-building abilities. -Valid driver’s license (CDL a plus). What We Offer: -Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses. -Company vehicle and phone. -Health, dental, and vision insurance. -Paid time off and holidays. -A supportive, growth-oriented workplace culture. Benefits: -401(k) -Dental insurance -Flexible schedule -Health insurance -Paid time off -Vision insurance Join Countryside Industries and help lead our teams to excellence in both landscape and snow operations — where strong leadership and accountability drive year-round success. How to apply: Email Vic Bondi - vbondi@ countrysideindustries.com Salary Range: $75,000-$90,000

Production Manager Position Overview: We are seeking an experienced and bilingual Production Manager to oversee daily field operations for multiple landscape maintenance and snow removal crews. This position is responsible for scheduling, routing, material coordination, and reporting key operational metrics. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can balance crew management with data-driven decision-making. Key Responsibilities: Supervise and coordinate multiple landscape and snow removal crews daily. Develop and manage weekly schedules and routes for maximum crew and equipment efficiency. Coordinate materials, deliveries, and pickups to ensure jobs are completed on time and on budget. Conduct regular site inspections to ensure safety, quality, and adherence to specifications. Track and report key production metrics, including: -Crew labor efficiency and job completion rates -Material usage and cost tracking -Equipment utilization and downtime -Safety and quality control compliance -Snow event response and completion times Generate weekly performance and production reports for management review. Identify and implement process improvements to increase productivity and reduce waste. Train, mentor, and develop foremen and crew members to maintain company standards.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Ingleside Branch Manager Clarence Davids & Company, an award-winning landscape design-build firm, is seeking a Branch Manager for our Ingleside, IL office. This is a full-time leadership role responsible for daily branch operations, driving growth, and fostering strong client relationships. Founded in 1951, Clarence Davids & Company has a long-standing reputation for outstanding landscape management, creative seasonal rotations, and beautiful design/build landscape construction. We have three locations: Matteson, IL (Corporate), Plainfield, IL, and Ingleside, IL. Learn more at www. clarencedavids.com. Key Responsibilities: • Oversee branch operations and staff management • Support and mentor team members to meet

HELP WANTED

goals and deliver excellent service • Build and maintain client relationships, addressing any concerns or requests • Coordinate with staff on proposals and project execution • Maintain quality standards and ensure adherence to company policies and safety guidelines • Identify growth opportunities within the Chicagoland market Qualifications: • Leadership experience in landscape architecture, construction, or a related industry preferred • Strong organizational and problem-solving skills • Excellent written and verbal communication • Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and adapt in a fast-paced environment • Proficiency with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Outlook; Experience with Oracle NetSuite (preferred) • Experience managing budgets and scheduling Benefits: We offer competitive pay, benefits, and the chance to grow within an established firm that values innovation, teamwork, and professional development. How to apply: Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to: Alan Watkins Clarence Davids & Company 22901 S. Ridgeland Avenue Matteson, IL 60443 alan.watkins@clarencedavids.com Salary Range: based on experience

Hursthouse Landscape is Hiring! Come Audition for The Hursthouse Landscape All Star Team! We’re initiating an intense search for these key positions: Design Manager…Leader of a tremendous design team.

Business for Sale I am retiring, and my single-location Natural Area landscaping business is for sale. Tools and equipment include everything needed to do all phases of natural area work, including herbicide application, brush clearing, tree and plug planting, mowing, and prescribed burning. For more information, call 847-847-6519.

Sales Master…. The King or Queen of Connecting with People. Flower Specialist…. The unmatched Floral Artist. Hursthouse Landscape is a highly respected Award winning residential Landscape Architecture, Contracting and Maintenance Company based in the Chicago suburbs for the last 35 years. Our reputation is highly regarded as having the industry leading culture, attention to detail and overall fabulous place to build a career. We’re seeking a high-performing Design Department Manager to lead our design team, collaborate with Sales and Construction teams and play an integral role in leading the company into the future. ($100,000 and above plus benefits) The Sales Master position we’re in search of is someone who just loves meeting with clients and connecting them with the landscape of their future. Strong communication skills and the ability to convey our culture and expertise to clients while working so strongly with our Design, Construction and Maintenance teams is of high importance. ($75,000 and above plus benefits) The Flower Specialist role is one of fine artist expression and careful planning. This individual will thrive in all aspects of designing, selling, ordering of materials and coordinating the installation of our drooled over award winning containers and plant bed displays for all seasons. ($60,000 and above plus benefits) If you’re Awesome, we want to hear from you. If you connect with our Core Values of: 1.Do the right thing, Today! 2. Value Reputation, for tomorrow! 3. Have Fun! Here’s How to Apply! Submit your resume and any other cool stuff to: Jeff True V.P. of Operations jtrue@hursthouse.com Check out our website too at www.hursthouse.com

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

[]\ CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES FEB. 2026 issue ads: Jan. 10, 2026 MAR. 2026 issue ads: Feb. 15, 2026 PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Magazine Cost is $5 per line Minimum charge $50 Website Cost is $12 per line Minimum charge $120 (About 6 words/line) Submit your ads online at ilca.net or Call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

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So the World Bilds Better

•

Company

Supplying All Your Landscape Needs

Since 1934

DELIVERY AVAILABLE • Outcroppings and Boulders • Concrete & Clay Pavers • Retaining Walls • Ponds and Low Voltage Lighting • Seeds & Fertilizers • Mulch & Decorative Stone • Limestone Sills & Counter Tops • Bluestone - Nominal & Dimensional • Building Stone • Masonry Products

1300 Route 31 • South Elgin, IL 60177 (Corner of Route 31 & McLean Blvd.)

847-888-6133 • www.foxriverstone.com

1st Choice Equipment .............................................44 Amrise Fox River Stone ..............................................61 Bartlett Tree Experts .................................................45 Bowling Nursery ........................................................37 Cedar Path Nurseries ..................................................49 Dayton Bag and Burlap ............................................50

Stop, Look, & Listen By Nina A. Koziol

If only I had a crystal ball or was proficient at reading tea leaves, I could tell you exactly what would be trending this year in landscape design, plants, containers, edibles, hardscaping, lava rock or gnomes. For now, I’ll rely on social media, influencers, cheeky marketing people, garden center offerings, podcasts, Pinterest, Houzz, and what’s on the mind of fledgling designers. Here’s a peek.

DeerPath Nursery ..................................................34 Doty Nurseries LLC .....................................................4 Goodmark Nurseries ..................................................35 Green Glen Nursery ....................................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. .............................................40 Homer Industries ........................................................19 Kane County Landscape Materials & Supply...............48 Longshadow Planters ..................................................51 Mariani Plants .............................................................6

Cut-flower Gardens

Pollinator Gardens

Mariani Plants ............................................................31 McCullough Kubota .................................................39 McGinty Bros. ...........................................................45 Midwest Groundcovers ................................................2 Midwest Trading ........................................................47 Northern Family Farms ...............................................48 Rocks etc. ...................................................................52 Russo ..........................................................................41 SFI Soils.... ............................................................32-33

Natural Swimming Ponds

Spring Grove Nursery ................................................52 Spring Meadow Nursery ............................................21 Stantec .......................................................................36 The Mulch Center .......................................................53 Turtle Creek Nursery .................................................50 Unilock, Inc. ...............................................................64 Vermeer Midwest .......................................................43 Wilson Nursery & Landscape Supplies .............. ...42 Xylem Ltd. .................................................................52

Crevice gardens

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

Yellow Fumitory — Fanciful Filler

by Mark Dwyer

hen addressing the frequent question, “What is the longest blooming perennial in our area?”, there is no hesitation in suggesting the yellow fumitory (Corydalis lutea, syn. Pseudofumaria lutea). I’ve long been entranced by this amazing perennial that thrives in shadier sites and features small yellow flowers from late May until hard frost. There are no contenders for that duration of bloom, particularly in the shade or part shade garden. When thriving in the landscape, yellow fumitory is literally the “gift that keeps on giving!” Native to the southern Alps of Europe the yellow fumitory, also referred to as rock fumewort and yellow corydalis, is hardy in USDA zones 4-8. This low, attractively mounded perennial (12”-18”) has delicate, finely-dissected, three-lobed foliage that has a blue-green tint and is reminiscent to that of the related bleeding heart (Dicentra or Lamprocapnos). This member of the poppy (Papaveraceae) family features numerous, small, canary yellow, four-petaled, tubular shaped flowers with a spur on the back. This perennial is almost never out of flower and the bright yellow blooms really pop visually with the textural, bluegreen foliage. Seed capsules later burst and scatter seed which does result in a notable quantity of seedlings. In warmer locations, admittedly, it has

been described as “weedy”. I’ve never found the reseeding to be problematic as yellow fumitory seems to successfully migrate to gaps in the composition and is also easy to cull out as desired. They don’t transplant well but that is also an option. This perennial is both deer and rabbit resistant. It is important to note that this plant is poisonous to dogs and horses. While listed as tolerating full sun to deep shade, I find that partial shade seems to be ideal for this perennial. Preferring rich, moist, humusy soils, this plant also tolerates drier locations and even clay. Settings in full sun require ample moisture. Good drainage is imperative and wet winter soils are detrimental to establishment. Being intolerant of hot, humid summers, yellow fumitory simply thrives as a “blooming powerhouse” in partly shaded locations. I’ve used it extensively as filler amongst shadier borders and in locations where I know it will spread lightly to fill the open voids with long-lasting texture and color. In newly planted gardens with larger gaps between younger plants, Corydalis lutea can create a wonderful carpet of color only to be later displaced by other plants as they mature. Availability of plants seems to fluctuate and when I have found them offered, I know I only need a few to get the population started for this fanciful filler.

Landscape Illinois Magazine January 2026

ILT VIGNOCCHI Best Outdoor Living

Congratulations to our Illinois and Indiana

2025 Awards of Excellence Winners! / MARR LANDSCAPING

/ YURITZY OUTDOOR LIVING

/ WESTERN DUPAGE LANDSCAPING

/ ILT VIGNOCCHI

/ ERICKSON LANDSCAPING

/ THE NL GROUP

Best Project Under 1,000 Sq. Ft.

Best Driveway

Best Front Entrance

/ INFINITY LAWN & LANDSCAPE Best Use of Arcana/Soreno

UNILO CK .C OM | 1 - 8 0 0 - UNILO CK

Best Transformation

Best Outdoor Living

Best Use of Uvision