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Celebrating 96 years

Snow Business

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CONTENTS Excellence In Landscape Awards Project

FOCUS: Snow Business and Turf Education Day Dutch Masters — DeVroomen Garden Products Family and customers are like one in the same

A Guide for Employers Understanding the OSHA Heat Index

Edge Down, Profits Up Maintaining your efficiency in snow business

Turf Education Day program

New Board Member Profile Kim Hartmann, Hartmann Consulting

EN ESPAÑOL

Una guía para empleadores — Understanding the OSHA Heat Index

What’s Hot with Consumers? Pros weigh in on the most popular plants

Diseases and Weeds 52 Ragweed and Aster yellows

Member Profile 54 Michigan Chloride Sales Inspiration Alley 61 Animal House Hidden Landscape Gems Fabyan Japanese Garden

On the cover... Premier Landscape Contractors, Inc. won a Gold Award in 2020 for this project titled English Revival The Landscape Contractor September 2021

62 3

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS ILCA Calendar From Where I Stand President’s Message Classified Ads Advertisers Index

Photo Credits

ILCA Awards Committee DeVroomen Garden Prod. Turf Committee Kim Hartmann Nina Koziol

1, 8-9 10-18 31 36 42, 61

Calendar 4 5 7 56 61

Michigan Chloride Sales Fabyan Japanese Garden

SEPTEMBER September 15, 2021 Turf Education Day September 22-24, 2021 OWN IT! - Owners & Senior Managers Conference The Abbey Resort, Fontana, WI

54 61

September 30, 2021 ILCA Golf Outing

OCTOBER

The official publication of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), The Landscape Contractor is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. The Landscape Contractor 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.ilca.net

October 19, 2021 The Impact Conference

Volume 62, Number 9. The Landscape Contractor (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.

NOVEMBER

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Landscape Contractor, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632 Fax (630) 637-8629 email: rmgi@comcast.net CLASSIFIED ADS, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: ILCA (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL OFFICE: Rick Reuland, rmgi@comcast.net, Naperville, IL 60540 Ph. (630) 637-8632

November 11, 2021 Annual Party & Member Meeting

PRODUCT DISCLAIMER: The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, its Board of Directors, the Magazine Committee, ILCA Staff, The Landscape Contractor and its staff, neither endorse any products nor attest to the validity of any statements made about products

ILCA Staff

Magazine Staff

Executive Director Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@ilca.net

Rick Reuland Publisher/Advertising Sales (630) 637-8632 rmgi@comcast.net

Education Manager AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@ilca.net

Debbie Rauen Advertising Sales (817-501-2403) debbie.landscapecontractor@ yahoo.com

Events Manager Terre Houte thoute@ilca.net Office Manager Alycia Nagy anagy@ilca.net Membership & Marketing Manager Marissa Stubler mstubler@ilca.net

Meta Levin

at dotynu rseries.co m to recei ve our

Feature Writer

meta.levin@comcast.net Nina Koziol

dotynurseries.com

Feature Writer

n.koziol@att.net

Heather Prince

ILCA

princeht@sbcglobal.net

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

Patrice Peltier

Feature Writer

Feature Writer patpeltier@charter.net

Shade TreeS • OrnamenTalS • evergreenS • ShrubS Ryan Doty sales@dotynurseries.com

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From Where I Stand — “Burnout occurs when you avoid being human for too long.”

Michael Gungor

The word on everyone’s lips this year is “burnout.” ILCA has had in-person committee meetings for months and the most frequent topic of conversation isn’t covid or supply chain shortages or labor issues or weather — it’s burnout. Landscape workers, at all levels, are just exhausted. The impact of client demands, labor challenges, soaring sales, and a chronic, seemingly endless pandemic have brought down even the most motivated and chipper of employees. We need to ask if burnout is avoidable or inevitable. Is burnout simply the result of choosing an industry that compresses its workload into eight breakneck months? We all know landscaping is not for the weak, but in late June, even the toughest struggle to pop out of bed when that alarm clocks says 5:00 am. This column will examine what burnout is, how it can destroy productivity, and finally, how it can be tamed. First, what is burnout? One would think the concept of burnout would trace itself back to when Edison invented the lightbulb. In reality, the term is less than 50 years old. It was first found in a book by Herbert Freudenberger entitled Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. Freudenburger succinctly described burnout as, “The extinction of motivation... especially where one’s devotion to a cause fails to produce the desired result.” In other words, our incentive to work diminishes when the results of our work fail to please us. That really nails it. That moves beyond simply being tired which is a common feeling on Friday after a 60-70 hour workweek or three-months in the grinder. Burnout can occur on a Monday morning. It can occur on a Thursday night. It is the palpable feeling that what we are doing is not worth the cost of doing it. The author goes on to identify three main characteristics that manifest with prolonged job stress: exhaustion, cynicism, and finally a feeling of reduced professional ability. No one would watch a landscape company work and be shocked if the employees said they felt exhausted. The work is physically demanding. The days and hours are long. There are long drives and traffic jams. Landscapers are dependent on a supply chain, subs, permitting officials, and each other just to complete a day’s work. The weather is unforgiving. People eat and sleep and drink like crap. Personal relationships suffer. And I haven’t even mentioned clients yet. The stress that comes from exhaustion and the exhaustion that comes from stress are both intertwined and inevitable. The landscape season is grueling and unforgiving and stress begins to build up in the body like plaque deposits in our arteries. This exhaustive stress leads to step two towards professional burnout; cynicism. As stress levels grow, we begin to take a harsher, colder attitude to our jobs, clients, and professional responsibility. Our elevated stress makes us misinterpret normal interactions through a negative prism. If a client makes a demand that three months ago would be brushed off as normal, it is now widened to be, “clients are changing” or “it didn’t use to be this way.” A mistake by a younger coworker is chalked up to millennial

laziness and entitlement. Oversight by field staff makes us doubt their ability and acumen. Problems with a supplier means they don’t care about you as a customer anymore. We go wide with everything and start every assumption off on the negative. We also conclude that everything has changed and it will never go back to the way it was. Our jobs and industry have eternally changed for the worse. This is all a result of failing to check our stress levels. Once we create our blast radius of cynicism, we enter the final stage — feelings of reduced professional ability. The stress started within, was sent outward, and has now looped back around to be internalized once more. Doubt in our acumen does not mean we forget how to design, build, sell, or negotiate. It means we don’t know if we can cut it anymore in an industry that we have concluded has changed for the worse. We wonder that if clients and coworkers and vendors and the industry’s culture have changed, if we even fit in anymore? If the grass is greener somewhere else. Some employees actually quit and leave. Others stare at ceilings fantasizing about getting out for good. Of course, the feeling of being trapped in a job we are no longer good at is a depressing and terrifying prospect. Most of us lack the stupidity/courage to actually leave, so we just sit and internalize our struggles. The burnout has become a perpetual motion machine — stress has arced to create more stress. So, now that we know why and how we burnout, what can we do to actually avoid it happening. Pulling out of the death spiral is easier at some points than at others. The simplest way to avoid eventual burnout is to avoid stress in the first place. I mean, that’s simple enough, right? Just don’t have stress during a 75-hour workweek filled with labor, client, and personal demands. Stress in the landscape industry is not going to be eliminated, but it can be managed. In an industry that is always racing the clock, salvation lies with slowing down. The worst part of anyone’s day is that feeling of a truckload of work beginning to pile up. This usually happens about 20 minutes after morning coffee and pleasantries are exchanged. All of a sudden the calls, texts, emails, and questions come bursting through the door. The next 8-15 hours are critical... but not every one of those hours is the same. The most stressed out people I know are the ones who never stop working out of fear that stopping working will lead to more stress. This mindset is as illogical as it is common. It would be like a person trying to avoid a hangover by drinking more. Eventually, we all need to stop and the stress cascades down like Niagara Falls. Thinking we can outrun and outwork stress is the wrong way to handle it. Instead, the trick is breaking our day into smaller, more manageable chunks. Let’s say a 12-hour day awaits. The sheer thought of a meandering, overloaded, and triple-booked day is enough to get anyone stressed out before 6:00 am. Instead, break that 12 hours into four- or three-hour chunks. In each segment, formally schedule time to externally communicate with clients, externally communicate with coworkers, internally work on short or long range

The Burnouts

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

From Where I Stand —

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projects, and take personal time to eat, drink, and recharge your batteries. If you can’t answer all your client texts or calls in the first segment, there will be another segment later on. If you can’t get them all done today, you can prioritize them for segment one tomorrow. The reason that chunking works, is twofold. One, it better structures our day so we feel more productive and accomplished. Two, it makes us avoid procrastination by focusing on tasks that allow us to avoid other tasks we like less. If you are the type of account manager who loves to talk to clients, but hates working on that proposal for a new HOA, you will try and talk to clients as much as possible while that RFP burns a paper-shaped hole into your desk. Chunking your day and using hard stops means you have less time to blame procrastination on “being busy.” Burnout is very real and very destructive. We need to avoid the mindset that burnout can only be fixed outside of the office on weekends, vacations, and fishing boats. Correcting burnout has to start while we are at work, not when we collapse on the couch after a long day. We can’t cram to avoid burnout by taking a Friday or Monday off in the summer. Those days are fun, but they are fleeting and the stress, cynicism, and doubt in our ability return the seconds the morning shower water circles the drain. Taking blocked time for ourselves is important throughout the day. That can mean peacefully enjoying a cup of coffee without distraction, talking to a coworker, or taking a 15 minute walk around the shop or need a client’s house. It is ok to break away because those short breaks are making one more, not less productive. The key is to make sure these moments of respite become part of each daily chunk. These are not times to squeeze in because they will be the first part to be ignored as burnout returns like a cancer. These are moments where you clear your headspace and can think more clearly about the road ahead. They are as essential as any work task. At the end of the day, we don’t like ourselves when we are burned out. It is the work equivalent of being hangry. Our tempers are short, we are tired, we are irritable, we become depressed, and we even fantasize about escape. We lash out at anyone within arm’s reach. Yes, it always seems to improve when the weather chills and the work begins to slow. However, according to those who work in this industry, the offseason has gotten busier and busier. There is “no slow time, anymore.” Is that true or just the cynicism that comes with burnout? Who knows, but not having chunked weeks and months to avoid burnout means it now must happen during the season. Make no mistake, burnout is a mental health issue. It does not mean someone is weak or not cut out for the demands of the job. It is also safe to talk about in mixed company versus beginning a conversation with, “My elevated stress levels are making me cynical and causing me to doubt my professional ability and role in this industry.” If we cannot solve this internally, then a mental health professional can also examine the situation and make recommendations for a lifestyle change. Burnout is common, but not chronic. It can be fixed through the right combination of managing stress and avoiding the warning signs of cynicism and doubt. Burnout, a word for machines and matchsticks, can only be fixed when we embrace our vulnerability and fallibility and take the first step towards becoming human again. After all, as the old saying goes, empty tanks take us nowhere.

Scott Grams, Executive Director July 19, 2021

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

President’s Message — If this were like

any other year, I’d likely be writing about the success of Summer Field Day and the excitement of seeing everyone at the event. But due to the ongoing pandemic, we aren’t quite back to normal just yet and SFD waits another year. There is, however, some good news to share as ILCA forges ahead into its busy season. For the first time in 18 months, we hosted a live and in-person gathering for Committee Fest on August 5th. As a committee-driven association, the volunteers are the heart and soul of the programs, events, and opportunities for our membership, so this was the ILCA’s way of thanking them for their hard work through this rather difficult period of new challenges. We were even able to recruit some new volunteers. Additionally, we have some exciting events on the horizon! First, after a two-year hiatus, the golf outing is back in all its glory! Back to its full, 216 golfer attendance, this will surely be Scott McAdam, Jr. a great opportunity to reconnect after all those months of seeing our colleagues through a screen. And then there is the Impact Conference coming in October —a full day dedicated to the environment and sustainability. With sustainability and environmental stewardship becoming more and more important, this will be a can’t-miss event. Let’s not leave out the other educational and networking opportunities including foremanship training and the young professional’s event. I think it is clear to see there should be some excitement for what’s to come this fall. We are gradually working our way back to live events and fostering those personal connections we all enjoy so much. While there was a time and place for Zoom meetings, nothing can compare to the face-to-face, hands-on impact that these live events afford us. I am enthusiastic about what lies ahead in our fall calendar, and you should be, as well! Slowly, but surely, we are clawing our way back to the good old days of what we have come to know and love about being a member of the ILCA.

President

Scott McAdam, Jr. McAdam Landscaping, Inc. (708) 771-2299 Scottjr@mcadamlandscape.com

Vice-President

Jeff Kramer Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc, (630) 293-5444 jwkramer@kramertree.com

Secretary-Treasurer

Ashley Marrin Bret-Mar Landscape Management Group, Inc. (708) 301-8160 ashley@bretmarlandscape.com

Immediate Past President Donna Vignocchi Zych ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com

Directors

Eric Adams Russo Power Equipment (847) 233-7811 eadams@russopower.com Jim Cirrincione Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. (630) 323-1411 jcirrincione@hinsdalenurseries .com

Sincerely, Scott McAdam, Jr.

Kim Hartmann Hartmann Consulting 847-404-7669 hartmannkim@comcast.net Jennifer Fick Wilson Nurseries and Landscape Supply (847) 683-3700 jennf@wilsonnurseries.com Tom Klitzkie Nature’s Perspective Landscaping (847) 475-7917 tklitzkie@naturesperspective.com Dean MacMorris Night Light, Inc. (630) 627-1111 dean@nightlightinc.net Kevin Manning K & D Enterprise Landscape Management, Inc. (815) 725-0758 kmanning@kdlandscapeinc.com Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com

www.ilca.net

Si este año fuera como cualquier otro año, seguramente estaría escribiendo sobre el éxito del Día de Campo de Verano y la emoción de verlos a todos en el evento. Pero debido a la pandemia continua, no hemos regresado a lo normal todavía y el Día de Campo de Verano espera otro año. No obstante, hay algunas buenas noticias que compartir mientras ILCA avanza hacia su “temporada alta.” Por primera vez en 18 meses, organizamos una reunión en vivo y en persona para el Festival del Comité el 5 de agosto. Siendo una asociación impulsada por el comité, los voluntarios son el corazón y el alma de los programas, los eventos y las oportunidades para nuestra membresía, y esta fue la manera en que ILCA les agradeció su arduo trabajo durante este período bastante difícil de nuevos desafíos. Incluso nos fue posible reclutar algunos nuevos voluntarios. ¡Adicionalmente, tenemos algunos eventos emocionantes en el horizonte! ¡Primero, después de una pausa de dos años, la salida de golf ha regresado en toda su gloria! Volviendo a la nutrida asistencia de 216 golfistas, esta seguramente será una gran oportunidad para reconectarse después de todos esos meses de ver a nuestros colegas a través de una pantalla. Y luego está la Conferencia de Impacto que viene en octubre – un día completo dedicado al medio ambiente y la sostenibilidad. Con la importancia creciente que han adquirido la sostenibilidad y la gestión ambiental, este será un evento que no se puede perder. No dejemos fuera las otras oportunidades educativas y para establecer contactos que incluyen el entrenamiento en gestión de capataces y el evento de jóvenes profesionales. Pienso que es claro comprender que debe haber entusiasmo por lo que viene este otoño. Gradualmente estamos trabajando para regresar a los eventos en vivo y promoviendo esas conexiones personales que todos disfrutamos tanto. Si bien hubo un tiempo y lugar para las reuniones en Zoom, nada se puede comparar con el impacto práctico que nos proporcionan estos eventos en vivo, cara a cara. ¡Estoy entusiasmado por lo que nos espera en nuestro calendario del otoño y ustedes deben estarlo también! De forma lenta pero segura estamos recuperando aquellos buenos tiempos de lo que hemos llegado a conocer y amar sobre ser miembro de ILCA. Scott McAdam, Jr. President, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Premier Landscape Contractors, Inc. • Lemont Suburban

This site was a project

that started with a simple 3-season room addition and morphed into its title, a suburban oasis. The formal wrap-around porch called for a simplistic hydrangea backplanting with boxwood hedge and seasonal color in the foreground. The new motorcourt leads to the linear layout of a firepit area connected to the lounging patio, connected to the elevated dining terrace. Each outdoor

room is surrounded by diverse plant massings that provide year-round blooms. Disticnt architectural features draw the eye to potential hidden landscapes and create a further illusion of depth. The final incorporation of extensive landscape lighting allows the site to be enjoyed at all times and leads to many enjoyable future events.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Dutch Masters — DeVroomen at 96 Years

Dutch Masters —

At DeVroomen, family and customers are one in the same by Nina Koziol

Jacobus Theodorus de Vroomen.

sell tried, true and top quality. They were plants people, not just The name sounds like it belongs to one of the old masters of sales people. I think they are a great example of supplying qualDutch painting, but Jacobus (1895-1958) was a different kind ity goods, but they also have the people side of it. They get it. of artist. He “painted” with plants If they’re short on something they do and flower bulbs since launching their darnedest to help get a reasonDeVroomen Garden Products in able substitute — they go the extra 1925. He started with very little, mile.” but built the business into an incredibly successful company a The Back Story few years shy of its 100th anniIn the 1950’s, Jacobus’s sons versary. Hugo, Ben and Dick took over the “The DeVroomen family has business. Since that time, the comcreated many long-term partnerpany has gone from offering bulbs ships over the years,” said Roland to selling about 60 percent perenniVanDenBergh who joined the als and 40 percent bulbs. “About 40 company in 1988 and serves as percent of our product is for growers, Chief Operating Officer. The cus40 percent is for landscapers and 20 tomer relations experience goes percent is for independent garden far beyond placing an order. “I’ve centers,” VanDenBergh said. watched customers grow, change Most of the sales team has been ownerships from parent to the next with the company for a very long generation, and we have helped time — Jack DeVroomen (42 years) each other through tough times .” and Eric Olson (39 years). Richard DeVroomen Garden Products Walsh, Ben VandeGulik, Tom is well known as a premiere Hudak — just to name a few — have wholesale supplier of spring- and all represented DeVroomen at least summer-flowering bulbs along 20 years. “We have seen the same with bare root and plug perenlongevity and dedication with our Dick DeVroomen and his wife Puck nials. Landscape architect Craig customer service team, led by Angela Bergmann of Craig Bergmann Schultz, our director of operations,” VanDenBergh says. Landscape Design in Lake Forest has been a customer for (continued on page 12) nearly 30 years. “DeVroomen’s way of selling plants is to

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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Dutch Masters — DeVroomen at 96 Years (continued from page 10) “DeVroomen opened the door to so much opportunity in my career, and their friendships have lasted until this day,” said Jill Selinger, manager of education at the Chicago Botanic Garden. “I have such fond memories of driving the car for Dick as we delivered flower bulbs all over the Chicagoland area. I look back on my days working with them so fondly, and learned so much about bulbs, the green industry, and myself during those years.”

Building Relationships

Diblik still buys bareroot plants and all of his bulbs come from DeVroomen. “I mix them with plant communities, especially small-flowered species tulips. You can count on them to have what you need, when you need it.” Before joining Midwest Groundcovers, Christine Darbo worked at The Natural Garden. “I knew Dick and his son and still get emails from Dick’s wife, Puck. I designed a plaque and placed it in the woods where the DeVroomen bulbs grew. It was a woodsy quiet spot. I love the quotation at the bot-

Preparing the beds for bulb planting

Double-digging bulb beds for good drainage

Roy Diblik of Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, Wisconsin, has known the company since 1982. “Jack and his dad came to The Natural Garden where I worked. We bought bare-root plants from them. There was a tremendous consistency with the products and the visits were nice — so social and friendly. I always knew I’d learn something from them. I’d only known perennials for four years and when they are bare-root plants, you don’t have a reference point for potting. They helped me understand how they grow in containers and how to get them to live. Jack had a great personality — comfortable and friendly, and then I met Roland — he was the same way — that’s just their nature.”

tom: ‘Together still so many plans, together so much courage. We often said together, how well we’re off.’ It’s a translation of the Dutch, of course.” She brought it to Midwest Groundcovers where it is displayed in the patio garden. Peter Orum, founder of Midwest Groundcovers has dealt with DeVroomen for decades. “They were not the first company we bought from — we had a perennial supplier at the time, but they are very persistent without pestering you. I talked to them at trade shows.” DeVroomen has supplied him with perennials and bulbs for about 40 years. “Jack, over the years, helped us with trips to Holland and what to see there. It’s a very special relationship we have. You know the prod(continued on page 14)

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Dutch Masters — DeVroomen at 96 Years (continued from page 12) uct is good and they take care of you.” “I was one of the first Americans in the Chicago region to meet Jack,” Bergmann said. “He showed me pictures of his wife, his kids, his farm. They were nice people and the Dutch are so ingrained in horticulture. It was just so fun to meet such a professional with bulbs and perennials. They were very keen on selling bare root perennials and we’ve bought every year since. When Jack’s father died, I went to Holland for his funeral. Jack was nice enough to come to my father’s funeral. I’d never been to Holland and went for four days. I took a train and a bus to get to where they live — very rural. His mom was still alive — all sweet as get out. They really treated me like family.”

Evolution

In the past two decades, VanDenBergh has witnessed many changes. “We’re constantly trying to figure out how to maintain the quality of the product. Everything comes by ships and they are well-ventilated and/or frozen.” Perennial sales declined a bit for a few years. “But with Covid hitting and with families getting back into gardening, we’re seeing a definite uptick. Our industry is doing very well.” Transportation costs have soared. “We are always working with our partners to keep our prices competitive, so we work hard to find out what the consumers want to pay, and work backwards from there. We’ve all become smarter business people over the years.”

Growing the Catalog

“The bulb industry is different from perennials,” VanDenBergh said. “We’re focused on the varieties that have

been around and proven. There might be 40 to 50 new bulb varieties every year, but landscapers are looking for tried-and-true varieties that are sure to make a splash come spring,” VanDenBergh said. DeVroomen offers an outstanding selection of 900 different bulbs. “We can always purchase varieties outside of the core program. We have three temperature controlled warehouses with over 150,000 square feet. This enables us to bring in one of the largest bulbs and perennial stocks in the U.S. and to hold orders for customers that need later deliveries.” In 2014, the company took over the Simple Pleasures retail brand. They also brought to market many other products like citrus plants and succulents for independent garden centers.

Challenges

Roland VanDenBergh at Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands 14

When VanDenBergh looks to the future, he expects more mergers. “I think companies will be working together more because of logistical issues throughout the world. We’re going to be spreading out and helping each other a lot more.” Labor has become the number one issue for the green industry, including growers. “It’s a tough thing, and you have to find innovative ways to get things done. This is global, not just in the U.S.” DeVroomen has many customers — large and small in North America. “We supply the White house, most botanical gardens, (continued on page 16)

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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Dutch Masters — DeVroomen at 96 Years (continued from page 14) large cities like Chicago, Atlanta, and Denver, as well as airports like O’Hare, and millions of personal gardens.” One of his fondest memories is the relationship with Mayor Richard and Maggie Daley. “When she became sick with cancer, we were in the test field in Holland that had unnamed bulbs. We purchased a pink, lily-flowering tulip and we named it for her. When she christened it, she told the crowd that the first fight she and Richard had before their wedding was because she wanted to carry tulips into the church — and she did. When she spoke, Major Daley shed a tear which will be remembered by many who were present. They did a lot for Chicago and the horticultural industry as a whole. It was one of the most special events I’ve been involved in and she will be remembered for a very long time.” The company’s customer relationships are long lasting for many reasons. “We stand behind what we sell and there’s the simplicity of doing business with us. We have one of the largest warehouses of bulbs.” VanDenBergh

Looing Ahead

Dick DeVroomen and one of his beloved horses.

prides the company on its attention to special packaging. “We package everything for a job to help prevent any errors on job sites.” Quality, longevity, standing behind the product and being 99.9 percent on time is what has kept the company thriving. VanDenBergh notes that this year, like last, will be a challenge because of Covid.

“The Dutch are innovators when it comes to the environment,” VanDenBergh said. “We try to grow clean and stay away from chemicals. Quality is a huge issue, but at the same time we’re asking ‘what are we doing for the environment?’” He spent three weeks in Holland where all the talk was about how to make the world a better place. “We’ve been looking at our plastics, our paper and everything we touch and we ask if there’s a better way to do things. We see more solar panels and wind energy used. One of our main (continued on page 18)

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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Available from Proven Winners® ColorChoice® growers. www.provenwinners-shrubs.com Eureka, IL • 309-261-7008 The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Dutch Masters — DeVroomen at 96 Years (continued from page 16) packers in Holland decided to do their entire warehouse with about 250,000 square feet of solar panels, and now they don’t have to use any other energy to run this massive operation.”

Parting Thoughts

Sustainability is not just a buzzword for DeVroomen. Their core value is ‘Increasing the Quality of Life while always keeping the environment as our top priority.’ “DeVroomen would not be where we are today without our customers and vendors as well as all of the partnerships and the dedication of our employees,” VanDenBergh said. Like an old, fine Dutch painting, we expect DeVroomen and its partners will be treasured and admired well into the future. See for yourself at www.devroomen.com

BRINE/DE-ICER

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30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 gal or 300 gal

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PEST CONTROL

1300 gal

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

TREE SERVICE Tank size options

NURSE TRAILERS

TRAILERS

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Special Report — Safety Sense

Using the Heat Index:

A Guide for Employers

Water, Rest, Shade: The work can’t get done without them. Outdoor workers who are

exposed to hot and humid conditions are at risk of heat-related illness. The risk becomes greater as the weather gets hotter and more humid. This situation is especially serious when hot weather arrives suddenly early in the season before workers have a chance to adapt to warm weather.

Primary sources of heat for workers

Workers become overheated from two primary sources:

1. 2.

The environmental conditions in which they work The internal heat generated by physical labor

Heat-related illnesses occur when the body is unable to lose enough heat to balance the heat generated by physical work and external heat sources. Weather conditions are the primary external heat sources for outdoor workers. For people working outdoors in hot weather, both air temperature and humidity affect how hot they feel. The heat index is a single value that takes both temperature and humidity into

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

account. The higher the heat index, the hotter the weather feels since sweat does not readily evaporate and cool the skin. The heat index is a better measure than air temperature alone for estimating the risk to workers from environmental heat sources.

Heat-Related Illnesses •

Understand and use the heat index when managing workers. Heat and humidity raise workers’ risks for heat-related illnesses, and the heat index takes both into account.

•

Be aware certain workers should

ALTORFER IS WITH YOU.

EVEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP. If it were easy to remove snow and ice, we wouldn’t need tools for it. When the snow starts falling, you can rely on Cat machines and dedicated work tool attachments to provide unmatched snow and ice clearing power. So no matter how unpredictable the weather is, you'll be ready day or night to complete your jobs, fulfill your contracts and make more money without ever worrying about downtime. Don’t get stuck in the snow this winter. Visit www.altorfer.com/industry/snow-ice-equipment/ or scan the QR code to see all of Altorfer’s snow removal capabilities. Have questions? Call 1-866-DEMO-CAT to connect to our team today.

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Special Report — Safety Sense take precautions beyond those warranted by the heat index. This group includes employees performing strenuous activities, those using heavy or non-breathable protective clothing and equipment, crew members who are new or have been away from outdoor work a week or more, those with particular health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, kidney or heart problems), and those who are pregnant, overweight or taking certain medications. •

Train employees to prevent, recognize, and respond to heat-related illnesses.

•

Acclimatize new and returning crew members. Allow them to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they build tolerance for working in the heat — a process that takes weeks. The human body slowly builds up heat tolerance through changes in blood vessels and in sweating, and those who are not acclimatized are most at risk for heat illness.

•

Allow all crew members to take frequent breaks in the shade. In full sunlight, heat index values can increase by 15°F compared to a shady spot on the same site. If a shady area is not available, provide

an outdoor canopy, sold at most sporting-goods stores. Employees can even work under these canopies in some cases, reducing their skincancer risks. •

Schedule tasks with temperature and sun exposure in mind. Arrange strenuous work and tasks involving direct sun exposure for early morning or evening hours.

•

Provide workers with plenty of water. Consider purchasing lowprofile hydration packs, which are worn like backpacks and hold up to 2 liters of liquid. Workers drink from the packs, available from safety-supply and outdoor-recreation stores, via plastic tubes they pull over their shoulders.

•

Teach crew members to protect themselves. Wear appropriate clothing, PPE, and sunscreen when exposed to heat and UV radiation. Consider providing company shirts made from materials meant for outdoor workers or athletes. You can even find clothing with embedded sunscreens since lightweight clothing usually doesn’t provide full sun protection. Encourage employees to check for skin cancer. Crew members should examine their bodies often for skin-

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

cancer signs and consult a doctor about anything suspicious.

OSHA campaign OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention campaign, launched in 2011, educates employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat. Through training sessions, outreach events, informational sessions, publications, social media messaging and media appearances, millions of workers and employers have learned how to protect workers from heat. Our safety message comes down to three key words: Water. Rest. Shade. Several additional risk factors must be taken into consideration even when the heat index is lower. •

Work in direct sunlight — adds up to 15 degrees to the heat index.

•

Perform prolonged or strenuous work

•

Wear heavy protective clothing or impermeable suits

Additional Resources

OSHA’s Heat Index Guide for Employers osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/ heat_index/pdfs/all_in_one.pdf. Federal OSHA’s Heat Safety Tool app, available in English and Spanish for Android and iPhone, www.osha.gov/SLTC/ heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html.

Royal Oxford Naturalizing Meadow

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“Increasing the Quality of Life while always keeping the Environment as our top priority”

A member for more than 40 years

Special Feature — Snow Removal Winter 2021-22

Edge Down, Profit Up What’s the standard for profitability in

snowremoval? Efficiency, or clearing more snow faster with less manpower and equipment. And what’s the standard for efficiency? Hint: It’s not containment capacity, anymore. The new standard for efficiency is “cutting-edge downtime,” thanks to technological advances in snow removal attachments and machines. It refers to the amount of time your cutting edge is on the surface being plowed in relation to the total time required to complete a job. The greater your cutting-edge downtime, the faster you get jobs done and the more money you make. Edge down, profit up. It’s really that simple. Upside Down The opposite of cutting-edge downtime is cutting-edge uptime, which refers to any time your cutting edge is not on the surface moving snow. It’s all nonproductive time. You get cutting-edge uptime when you lift your snow pusher, a.k.a. box pusher, off the ground to back up for another pass, to chase after and clean up trickles of snow that came off during earlier passes or to travel to the other side of a lot. Let’s say a job takes your operator two hours with a box pusher. During that time, his cutting edge is only on the surface for one hour; the cutting-edge downtime is only 50 percent. That’s fairly typical for clearing a lot with a snow pusher because of time spent backing up and chasing trickles. In this example, for every two hours your operator is working he’s actually only moving snow for one hour. Edge up, profit down. The New Standard in Snow Removal The box pusher was invented more than 25 years ago. It revolutionized the snow removal industry at the time due to its capacity for containing and carrying snow; operators could clear more in one pass than with a standard or snow bucket. Over the years, this has led to what has become the greatest misconception in our industry. Just because you can contain more snow in one pass with a box pusher compared to any other attachment, that no longer 24

means using a box pusher is the most efficient way to clear snow. Note the emphasis: in one pass. We all understand one pass doesn’t equate to efficiency on an entire job. Here’s why: Box pushers can’t angle or windrow. At the end of every pass, the operator has to lift the box (and the cutting edge) off of the ground, back up all the way to where he started the previous pass, lower the box and commence the next pass. Over and over. And somewhere in there he has to go back and clean up snow trickles. All of that is nonproductive, cutting-edge uptime; no snow is being moved. Now, for the first time in more than a quarter of a century, technology has given us a more efficient, and therefore profitable, tool for clearing snow: the autowing plow. An autowing is a straight plow with wings that move automatically depending on which way the blade is angled. Whether it’s on a small skid steer or a huge loader, an operator with an autowing plow can angle the blade and windrow every pass. When he reaches the end, he simply turns the machine around and heads back the way he came, angling the blade the opposite way and moving snow all the way. Because the auto -wing plow angles and has a wing on the leading edge, trickles off the wrong side of the plow are greatly reduced, if not eliminated altogether. That’s all productive, efficient, money-making time. The snow pusher has served us well for a long time, but its time is past. The time for autowing plows as our primary tool has come. Head-to-Head Productivity Consider the difference Box – Make a pass. Lift the attachment off the ground. Back up. Align the machine. Make another pass. Back up again. Catch trickles. Back up again. Repeat. Over and over, moving snow about 50 percent of the time. (continued on page 26)

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Special Feature — Snow Removal Winter 2021-22 (continued from page 24) Autowing – make a pass. Turn the machine around. Make a pass in the opposite direction. Repeat. Over and over, moving snow 75-90 percent of the time. What’s that really mean? Take the example we started with: The box pusher operator gets 50 percent cutting-edge downtime and finishes the job in two hours. The autowing operator achieves 75 percent cutting-edge downtime and finishes the job in one-and-a-half hours. If he’s really good with his machine and attachment, he might achieve 90 percent cuttingedge downtime and get the job done in one hour and six minutes. At 75 percent cutting-edge downtime, you gain 30 minutes of productive time for every two hours in an eight-hour shift. That’s two additional hours, plenty of time to add another job to the operator’s shift. Or you can send your hourly paid operator home two hours early. At 90 percent cutting-edge downtime, you gain about three-and-a-half hours. Whatever the gain in your cutting-edge downtime is, and

whether you put it toward extra jobs or cutting overhead, there’s more money on the black side of your ledger. A Box is a Box is a Box A 16-foot box pusher has a carrying capacity of around 21 yards. You can get it in different brands or colors and with different types sideplates or unique floating sections. You can even upgrade certain elements, like moving from a rubber to a steel cutting edge. Unfortunately, doing so will increase your carrying capacity – the amount of snow a box pusher can move in one pass — by exactly zero. At the end of the day, it’s just a box. All it can do is push the same amount of snow forward. Snow Removal in the Age of More An autowing plow does so much more. Four times more, in fact, which gets to the “less manpower and equipment” portion of our efficiency equation. (continued on page 28)

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Special Feature — Snow Removal Winter 2021-22 (continued from page 26) With an autowing, you can push snow, angle plow with wings, wide-angle plow and backdrag. You can do all of those things with one guy, one machine and one attachment. You don’t need a second operator on a jobsite with a second piece of machinery and a second attachment to get into hard-to-reach areas or backdrag snow from garage doors, dock doors, parking stalls and more. Look at Snow Removal with New Eyes Maximizing cutting-edge downtime will improve your efficiency and profitability on every kind of job, not just specific lots or for specific applications. That makes now the perfect time to step back and rethink the way we approach snow removal jobs of all kinds.

Now, thanks to advances in technology, we have sophisticated mixes and types of salt, liquids and brines. We regularly use GPS and everyone on the jobsite has a cell phone. Yet we’re still accepting the snow pusher as the best tool for moving snow. Why? Profitability in snow removal isn’t about one-pass containment capacity anymore, but how much time your cutting edge is on the surface moving snow. So do we keep thinking the way we did a quarter of a century ago, or do we change our approach to take advantage of the latest innovations? Edge down, profit up. It really is that simple.

And why wouldn’t we? Think about it. Twenty-five years ago we didn’t have mobile phones on our jobsites and we weren’t using GPS tracking. We were still using sand.

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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September 15, 2021

The Landscape Contractor 31 September 2021

Registration 7:15 AM - 8:15 AM

Pullman Room

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

C20 Soil Builder Improves the Health of Turf, Trees and Woody Ornamentals by Improving Their Soil

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Alsdorf Auditorium

Dr. John Lloyd, Precision Organics

Shane Griffith, Weedman, Turf Committee Chair

ILCA ADVOCACY UPDATE Alsdorf Auditorium

From Grass to Grassroots 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

ILCA Executive Director Scott Grams will provide a brief update on state and local political issues that impact the lawn care industry. With Speaker Michael Madigan retiring, the General Assembly is playing by a new set of rules. Peer into the regulatory process the ILCA employs to protect the industry and understand your vital roles as licensed applicators and practitioners.

OPENING KEYNOTE SESSION 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM Alsdorf Auditorium

Sponsored by

Avoiding Herbicide Injury to Your Turf Aaron Patton, PhD, Purdue University Let’s admit it, we have all injured turf unintentionally at some point with our herbicide application. Learn from the mistakes of others and prevent future errors but understanding the common pitfalls most applicators and companies make. This presentation covers either principles to avoiding herbicide injury. Through a combination of research studies and real-world case studies, this presentation will discuss herbicide rate, cultivar sensitivity, temperature effects, mode of action, herbicide fate, adjuvants, water movement, and the human factor. Learning these principles can prevent your next mistake.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS — 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Linneaus Room

IDA Regulatory Update Brad Beaver, Illinois Department of Agriculture Join Brad as he provides an update on the Department Pesticide Programs. He will also address changes to the licensing and certification system, online options for training and testing, and COVID restrictions. Finally, Brad will provide updates on pesticide misuse including issues with posting and notifications.

This session will review the importance of porous, healthy, living soil, and the impact soil has on the health and appearance of turf, trees and woody ornamentals surviving in the urban environment. We will review how C20 Soil Builder works, the value to your customers, and how C20 can be used by industry professionals to achieve their goals and/impact their bottom line.

Alsdorf Auditorium

Automation in the Green Industry Logan Fahey, Robin Auto Pilot

During our session we will dive into the technology helping to evolve the green industry. Specifically, we will cover how robotics are helping landscapers to solve labor demands, reduce costs and improve their environmental footprint. This will include an overview of both residential and commercial units and how they are managed remotely through fleet software.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS — 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Linneaus Room

Management Strategies of Billbugs, Chinch Bugs and Information on Annual Bluegrass Weevil Chris Williamson, PhD, PBI Gordon Attendees will be learn the biology (i.e., behavior, life cycle, ecology, damage symptoms, etc.) and appropriate management strategies of Billbugs, Chinch Bugs and Annual Bluegrass Weevil (ABW). After attending this seminar, turfgrass managers will be equipped with the information to accurately identify billbugs, chinch bugs and Annual Bluegrass Weevils, including potential hosts (turfgrass species), damage symptoms and effective management approaches.

Pullman Room

Supply Chain Issues in Turf Rusty Stachlewitz, Advanced Turf Solutions This talk will discuss procurement issues within the Green Industry, focusing on Fertilizers, Seed and Plant Protectants. During the last 18 months there have been many factors that have affected product availability. You will learn why things are getting more expensive and what you can expect as we head into the future.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Sponsored by

Alsdorf Auditorium

Air-8 Liquid Aeration University Study Sponsored by Results and Discussion

How Efficient is Your Operation Sarah Cummings, Savatree

John Perry, Greene County Fertilizer

Learn how to challenge your mindset on how efficiently your business operates. An efficient operation pays off in profitability, safety, and success; positively impacting your customers and employees. We will discuss simple Lean Six Sigma tools to take the first steps, and how to sustain those results.

In 2020, Greene County Fertilizer Company completed year one of a two year study to evaluate Air-8 in comparison to mechanical aeration. In this session John Perry will present data from the trial, give pro’s and cons to both methods, describe the differences in liquid aeration products and include the benefits to your customers and their lawns.

Lunch McGinley Pavilion — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Sponsored by

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM Alsdorf Auditorium

Pigments and Biostimulants – Can You Incorporate Them Into a Homeowner Program? Dr. Ed Nangle, Ohio State University Two sets of products that offer an opportunity in an ever evolving market where knowing what they do or how they can help in drought or in a more organic or naturalized home lawn may be of benefit. The benefits of applying a pigment vary but in a dormant lawn offer an instant low environmental impact green color while offering homeowners without irrigation and opportunity to retain a greener lawn in the heat of summer. Biostimulants have many impacts on the plant and in a marketplace where homeowners are developing greater focus on what goes on their lawns – these natural occurring products may offer alternatives to many of our synthetic products – at a price!

Sponsored by

Linneaus Room

Why are these weeds in Lawns so difficult to control now? Sponsored by Craig Shepherd, Advanced Turf Solutions Over the past 10 years we witnessed a shift in Broadleaf & Grassy weed populations in Turfgrass. There are more weeds present and those weeds seem nearly impossible to control. We will examine different active ingredients & application techniques that will help with control of every weed we face in the Chicagoland Region.

Conclusion — 2:50 PM - 3:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS — 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM Pullman Room

Soil Amendments: What? Why? How?

Sponsored by

John Gruneisen, Foliar Pak With soil amendments increasing in interest and popularity, it’s important to really understand why we are interested or choosing to use these tools. In this presentation we’ll explore what they are. We’ll look at the actual multiple reasons growers decide to implement the amendments. Lastly, we’ll explore how the products actually accomplish the solutions we seek.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS Premier Sponsor

Session Sponsors

Tabletop Sponsors

EC Grow PBI Gordon SiteOne Landscape Supply Soil Technologies Corp Syngenta

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

New ILCA Board Member —

Kim Hartmann — Hartmann Consulting by Meta Levin

Kim Hartmann is beam-

ing with pride these days. Her goal of attracting more young people to the green industry is bearing fruit in her own family. Hartmann, one of the newest ILCA Board Members, is watching as her niece, a biology major, is finding her way to plant science as she works in her agriculture and horticulture internships. Her son, an environmental science and geology major, is studying some of the same climate change and soil concepts she discussed with him as he was growing up. Known around ILCA for her work on the Education Committee, Hartmann grew up on a farm, the daughter of a farmer and a teacher. She earned degrees in agriculture and communications from the University of Illinois, working for 18 years in management consulting. It was then that she decided to follow her passion, which, as it happens, was gardening and garden design. Off she went to classes at the Chicago Botanic Garden, Northwestern University and the College of Lake County. That led to a job with Craig Bergmann in Winthrop Harbor and finally to Countryside Flower Shop Nursery and Garden Center in Crystal Lake, where she was a landscape designer, led tours, lectured to garden clubs, schools, youth groups and others, as well as teaching Master Gardener courses. She heads the Master Gardener program Speaker’s Bureau. While at Countryside, the Illinois Green Industry Association (IGIA) was in merger talks with ILCA and leadership there suggested that she join the ILCA education committee, as a liaison from IGIA. She did and quickly became involved. “My ILCA work got much deeper quickly,” she says. This led to eventually becoming the chair. Under 36

Kim Hartmann

her leadership, the committee’s activities, primarily at iLandscape, grew. She is still involved in IGIA, as well. “They overlap, but with different priorities and needs.” Now she is taking one more leap: she has left Countryside to start her own business, Hartmann Consulting, which focuses on horticulture communication, education and design. As part of her new business, she will continue speaking to green industry, consumer and school audiences, as well as using her expertise in marketing, consumer and employee research for the green industry. She hopes to bring these capabilities to the ILCA board. “In my former career, I did consumer and employee research, quantitative and qualitative,” she says. She foresees using one-on-one conversations and focus groups to gather data, then interpreting it and creating action plans to benefit ILCA and its members. In addition, she looks forward to using the knowledge she has gained by organizing and planning not only the iLandscape educational offerings, but conferences, garden tours and training sessions for ILCA, IGIA and the Perennial Plant Association. The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Hartmann loves to travel, always stopping at botanic gardens in whatever location she is visiting. She considers owning her own business a gift that will allow her more flexibility to do that, as well as visit her son, Zak, who lives in Colorado and spend time with her daughter, Aly, and granddaughter, Dahlia, who live a quick six minutes away from her. As her youngest, Teddy, finishes his degree at Illinois State University, she can travel with him to various geologic field study locations. Married and the mother of three, grandmother of one – with another on the way – Hartmann has a cutting garden and loves to provide flower arrangements for friends and family. In fact, she has created personalized floral arrangements for weddings and special occasions for friends and family. She even traveled to England to do wedding flowers for a family friend. She also is a fan of live music “of all genres, especially R&B and Classic Rock,” she says. Hartmann hasn’t left the ILCA Education Committee. In addition to being the ILCA Board liaison to the committee, she is helping reimagine the education offerings in the pandemic era and beyond. In 2021, the committee made a quick pivot to an all-virtual conference. Now ILCA must decide how future conferences will look. Hybrid with some sessions recorded and offered for later viewing? With a goal of reaching more people, how do you price that? How to make it more accessible longer? “We can do things as education for education’s sake, but we want attendees to think about what they can do with the knowledge,” she says. And that is but one of the reasons Hartmann wants to stay active. It is, she says, energizing. There is much to do.

FALL HAS ARRIVED!

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

3737

Cómo usar el índice de calor:

Una guía para empleadores

Agua, descanso, sombra: El trabajo no se puede hacer sin ellos Los trabajadores que laboran al aire libre y están expuestos a condiciones de calor y humedad corren riesgo de contraer enfermedades relacionadas con el calor. El riesgo aumenta a medida que el clima se vuelve más cálido y húmedo. La situación es especialmente grave cuando el clima caliente aparece súbitamente a comienzos de la temporada, antes de que los trabajadores tengan la oportunidad de adaptarse al clima cálido.

Principales fuentes de calor para los trabajadores: Los trabajadores pueden ser afectados por el calor excesivo proveniente de dos principales fuentes:

Cuanto más elevado sea el índice de calor, más caliente se siente el clima debido a que el sudor no se evapora rápidamente para refrescar la piel. El índice de calor es una medida mejor que la temperatura del aire por sí sola para calcular el riesgo que las fuentes de calor ambiental representan para los trabajadores. 1. 2.

Las condiciones ambientales en que trabajan El calor interno generado por el trabajo físico

Enfermedades relacionadas con el calor ocurren cuando al cuerpo no le es posible perder suficiente calor para equilibrar el calor generado por el trabajo

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

físico y las fuentes de calor externas. Las condiciones climáticas son las principales fuentes de calor externas para los trabajadores que laboran al aire libre. Para las personas que trabajan al aire libre en clima caliente, tanto la temperatura del aire como la humedad afectan el calor que sienten. El índice de calor es un valor único que toma en cuenta tanto la temperatura como la humedad.

Enfermedades relacionadas con el calor •

Comprenda y utilice el índice de calor para administrar el personal. El calor y la humedad aumentan los riesgos para los trabajadores de contraer enfermedades relacionadas con

Mejores Plantas, Mejor Servicio Y Mejor Selección. el calor y el índice de calor toma ambos en cuenta. •

Tenga en cuenta que algunos trabajadores deben tomar precauciones más allá de las indicadas por el índice de calor. Este grupo incluye a empleados que realizan actividades extenuantes, los que usan ropa y equipo de protección pesados o no transpirables, miembros del equipo de trabajo que sean nuevos o no haya realizado tareas al aire libre durante una semana o más, los que tienen afecciones específicas (diabetes, hipertensión, nivel alto de colesterol, problemas renales o cardiacos) y las embarazadas, los que tienen sobrepeso o toman ciertos medicamentos.

•

Entrene a los empleados para prevenir, reconocer y responder a enfermedades relacionadas con el calor.

•

Aclimate a los nuevos miembros del equipo de trabajo y a los que regresan. Permítales aumentar gradualmente las cargas de trabajo y que tomen períodos de descanso más frecuentemente mientras incrementan su tolerancia a trabajar en condiciones de calor — un proceso que toma semanas. El cuerpo humano incrementa lentamente su tolerancia al calor mediante cambios en los vasos sanguíneos y en la transpiración y los que no están aclimatados corren más riesgos de sufrir una enfermedad por calor.

•

Permita a todos los miembros del equipo de trabajo que tomen períodos de descanso frecuentes en la sombra. Permítales aumentar gradualmente las cargas de trabajo y que tomen períodos de descanso más frecuentemente mientras incrementan su tolerancia a trabajar en condiciones de calor — un proceso que toma semanas. El cuerpo humano incrementa lentamente su tolerancia al calor mediante cambios en los vasos sanguíneos y en la transpiración y los que no están aclimatados corren más riesgos de sufrir

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The Landscape Contractor 39 September 2021

una enfermedad por calor. •

Programe tareas teniendo en cuenta la temperatura y la exposición al sol. Haga los arreglos necesarios para que los trabajos y las tareas extenuantes que impliquen la exposición directa al sol se realicen temprano por la mañana o por las tardes.

•

tomar precauciones más allá de las indicadas por el índice de calor. Este grupo incluye a empleados que realizan actividades extenuantes, los que usan ropa y equipo de protección pesados o no transpirables, miembros del equipo de trabajo que sean nuevos o no haya realizado tareas al aire libre durante una semana o más, los que tienen afecciones específicas (diabetes, hipertensión, nivel alto de colesterol, problemas renales o cardiacos) y las embarazadas, los que tienen sobrepeso o toman ciertos medicamentos.

•

Entrene a los empleados para prevenir, reconocer y responder a enfermedades relacionadas con el calor.

•

Permita a todos los miembros del equipo de trabajo que tomen períodos de descanso frecuentes en la sombra. A pleno sol, los valores del índice de calor pueden aumentar en 15°F en comparación con un lugar sombreado en el mismo sitio. Si no hubiese disponible un área sombreada, provea un toldo al aire libre, los cuales se venden en la mayoría de las tiendas de artículos deportivos. En algunos casos, los empleados pueden trabajar debajo de estos toldos, reduciendo sus riesgos de contraer cáncer de piel.

•

Ponga a disposición de sus trabajadores abundante cantidad de agua. Piense en comprar mochilas de hidratación de perfil

bajo, las cuales se llevan como mochilas y tienen capacidad para 2 litros de líquido. Los trabajadores beben directamente de las mochilas, disponibles en tiendas de suministros de seguridad y artículos de recreación al aire libre, por tubos plásticos que pasan sobre los hombros. •

Enseñe a los miembros del equipo de trabajo cómo protegerse. Usar ropa apropiada, equipo de protección personal y filtro solar cuando se expongan al calor y a la radiación ultravioleta. Piense en proporcionar camisas de la compañía confeccionadas con materiales destinados a trabajadores que laboran al aire libre o atletas. Usted puede incluso encontrar ropa con filtro solar incorporado debido a que la ropa liviana usualmente no proporciona protección solar completa.

•

Recomiende a sus empleados que se revisen la piel para detectar señales de cáncer. Los miembros del equipo de trabajo deben examinar sus cuerpos para verificar si tienen signos de cáncer de piel y consultar con un médico si detectan algo sospechoso.

Campaña de OSHA La campaña de prevención de las enfermedades por calor de la OSHA, lanzada en 2011, educa a los empleadores y trabajadores sobre los peligros de trabajar en condiciones de calor. Mediante sesiones de capacitación, eventos de alcance comunitario, sesiones de información, publicaciones, mensajes en medios sociales y apariciones en los medios, millones de trabajadores y empleadores han aprendido cómo proteger a los trabajadores del calor. Nuestro mensaje de seguridad se reduce a tres palabras clave: Agua. Descanso. Sombra. Varios factores de riesgo adicionales deben tomarse en cuenta incluso cuando el índice de calor sea bajo. •

Trabajar bajo la luz directa del sol —agrega hasta 15 grados al índice de calor.

•

Realizar trabajos extenuantes o prolongados

•

Usar ropa protectora pesada o trajes impermeables

Recursos adicionales

Guía para los empleadores sobre el índice de calor de la OSHA osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/pdfs/ all_in_one.pdf. La aplicación federal de la OSHA, Herramienta de seguridad contra el calor, disponible en inglés y español para Android o iPhone, www.osha.gov/SLTC/ heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Special Feature

What’s Hot with Consumers?

Garden centers and landscape pros weigh in on what’s been popular this season Nina A. Koziol

Earlier this year, we featured an article on plant

shortages. Now, here’s a look at plants that have been in great demand this spring and summer. Gardening, which roared back into popularity with the Covid lockdowns, continues to be big with consumers, whether they’re empty nesters looking to redo their landscape or millennials searching for houseplants or organic herbs. We checked with garden center staff and landscapers to see what’s in vogue. Something to keep in mind when you’re planning and ordering for future projects. “One thought that comes to mind is that because demand has been so high and it has taken time for new crops to become available, (wholesale) customers have had to look at other options,” said Janie Grillo, customer service rep at Midwest Groundcovers in St. Charles. “In turn, this may have helped expand the palette that they always use.” And that can be a good thing. Be prepared to have a list (and photos) of substitute plants to show your clients. “Almost everything is flying off the shelf,” Grillo added. “And that seems to be true of all vendors, probably because with the pandemic, people were at home more and perhaps eager to update and beautify their yard.” She notes that longtime reliable plants are still among the biggest sellers. “There’s Stella de Oro daylily because of the beautiful foliage and long bloom time, Happy Returns daylily, Karl Foerster feather reed grass, Autumn Joy sedum, Knock Out roses and the Summer Beauty and Millennium alliums.” Hostas and echinaceas have

been big sellers this year for Midwest Groundcovers, too, while the requests from landscapers for Diervilla and shorter shrubs like Gro-Low sumac have been very high. “The most popular annuals going out of the garden center this spring and summer have been calibrachoa, dragonwing begonias, lantana, coleus and zonal geraniums,” said Kim Hartmann of Hartmann Consulting. But that’s not all. “People want pollinator plants!” she said. “Butterfly bushes, phlox, coreopsis, hardy geraniums and heuchera have been selling.”

Calibrachoa

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Like hotcakes. The plight of honeybees and monarch butterflies, and the news media’s continuous drumbeat on climate change have enlightened consumers who want to make a positive impact, no matter how small. (continued on page 44)

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Special Feature (continued from page 42)

Extending the season

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But it’s not just about buying plants for the birds and bees. Customers are looking for as much color and bloom time as they can get, said Trevor Woldhuis of Woldhuis Farms-Sunrise Greenhouse in Grant Park, Illinois. “Reblooming shrubs, such as the Bloomerang series of lilacs, have been popular. Hydrangea paniculata varieties are always a huge hit. If customers aren’t satisfied with the bloom time on a plant, they are willing to add plants with interesting and colorful foliage. Heucheras have been a great seller this year, especially the Hydrangea paniculata Forever and the Timeless series — both newer. Heucherella and Aralia fall in this category for us as well. And, Candy Corn spirea and Lemony Lace elderberry have been huge in this area.” For Sharon Marrin at Bret-Mar Landscapes in Homer Glen, Illinois, some of her clients are looking beyond flowers and they’re asking for colorful foliage especially in shades of burgundy or purple. While visiting Ball Seed’s Customer Days last month she was struck by Lobelia Royal Purple Cotinus ‘Starship Rose’ and ‘Copperhead’ coleus. Dark-leaved Cotinus (smoke bush) and Physocarpus (ninebark) can fill those rolls, too. Things are looking rosy In recent years, rose rosette disease

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

tamped down enthusiasm for buying roses. That’s changed with the introduction of newer shrub varieties that show promising disease resistance. “Roses have been very popular,” said Kyle Lambert of The Growing Place in Naperville. “We’ve had a lot of requests for the petite Knockout Roses and the David Austins.” The Growing Place also has restocked their shelves of annuals several times this summer. Petite Knockout Rose Perennial vines like honeysuckle and clematis are sought-after as are annual vines, like Dichondra and black-eyed Susan vines tumbling from hanging baskets and containers. “Clematis are very popular this year,” Lambert say, “especially the lighter blue ‘Stand by Me.’” And, nothing says English-style garden like a combination of roses and clematis.

Clematis ‘Stand by Me’ “We can’t keep up with perennial alliums on our shelves,” said Susy Stone of Hinsdale Nursery. It’s no wonder. Their long bloom time, pollinator-attracting flowers and low maintenance needs have created a booming demand for ornamental alliums, like Summer Beauty, Millennium, and Windy City. “Natives and pollinator plants are still very popular.” And maybe it’s the fact that people have been cooped up for a year that Stone finds them looking for fragrant shrubs like lilacs and viburnum. “And just about any annuals, trees and shrubs.” (continued on page 46)

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Special Feature (continued from page 44) Social media has been a great influence on customers’ purchasing decisions this year. “If it looks good in a picture, people are interested,” said plant breeder Brent Horvath of Intrinsic Perennials. “It’s the

Covid bump in sales that we’re seeing.” That’s understandable as many people are still reluctant to travel out of state or overseas—instead, that expendable cash is being spent on their home landscapes.

Edibles Although seed packet sales continued to soar this year, many customers interested in growing their own edibles are buying plants. That hints at newbies who want an instant garden. “Herbs like basil, rosemary, lavender, oregano, thyme, and stevia are in demand,” Hartmann said. But customers are also interested in growing heirloom tomatoes, hot peppers and summer squash. What does that mean for landscapers? Perhaps adding raised planting beds in your designs for families who want to grow their own food. Other potential clients for raised beds include assisted living facilities, restaurants, schools and small workplaces that have employee patios. Landscape designer Ashley Marrin of Bret-Mar Landscape has had many requests for perennial geraniums in residential projects. “Rozanne, in particular, is hard to keep on hand. It’s a great plant.” (continued on page 48)

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Special Feature (continued from page 46) “One other newer plant that we can’t keep stocked is Spigelia ‘Little Redhead,’” Woldhuis said “It’s a good bloomer in sun or part shade and a nice full perennial. We have one planted in a display garden and sell out almost instantly once it starts blooming. It’s a long-term

Mixed border with ninebark and allium

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

crop from a production standpoint, so it’s not a cheap perennial, but a great seller with useful applications.” Consumers are spending money on “big” annuals — mandevilla and dipladenia vines in two-gallon pots, canna lilies, tropical hibiscus and agapanthus. (continued on page 50)

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Special Feature (continued from page 48) Something to think about when you’re designing pots for clients next summer or doing a tropical display around a pool or pond. And finally, it’s no surprise that panicle hydrangeas continue to be the darling of the shrub world right now. With so many cultivars in different shapes and sizes, there’s a hydrangea for just about any

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

project. “Ninebark, weigela and hypericum have done well, too,” Hartmann said. What’s a landscaper/landscape designer to do? Be prepared to place orders early and have a substitution list ready.

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Special Feature

Weed of the Month: Ragweed Disease of the Month: Aster Yellows

Weed of the Month: Ragweed

It is the time of year again when both common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and giant ragweed (A. trifida) bloom. Usually confused with goldenrod, ragweed sends thousands of pollen grains into the wind, hoping to fertilize neighboring plants and causing misery to humans with allergies. This is a common weed of the roadside and ditch, but can easily sneak into planting beds, lawns, and natural areas. Common and giant ragweed both grow as erect, summer annuals with primarily fibrous roots. Common ragweed typically grows one to four feet tall. Giant ragweed grows four to eight feet tall, but in fertile, moist soils, it can reach 12 to 18 feet. The leaves of common ragweed are mostly alternate, nearly smooth, fernlike, and deeply cut into a number of lobes. The leaves of giant ragweed are opposite, rough, hairy, and large with three to five lobes.Both plants have small, green, inconspicuous flowers that produce an abundance of pollen that is hazardous to hay fever sufferers.

Treatment:

For lawns, ragweed can be prevented with proper practices including mowing high to shade out weeds as well as fertilizing and watering at appropriate times. For landscape beds, a thick mulch can be used to prevent seeds from germinating. Preemergent herbicides such as isoxaben can be used in the spring. Plants can be removed by hand or with a postemergent broadleaf herbicide such as 2,4-D or a 3-way product in lawns. For best success, apply to young plants. For spot applications, glyphosate could be used, however, it is suspected there are glyphosate resistant populations in Illinois so adequate control may not be achieved.

Pest of the Month: Aster Yellows

Aster yellows are commonly found on members of the aster family, Asteraceae, especially coneflowers (Echinacea spp.). It does pop up on other plants like carrots and onions, as well. The classic symptoms are distorted flowers, most often with green petals instead of the typical bright colors, although plants may also be stunted. Eriophyid mites may also cause distorted flowers, however, the petals do not tend to be different colors. Aster yellows is caused by a phytoplasma disease spread by leafhoppers, a sucking insect that hops from plant to plant.

Treatment:

There is no cure or treatment for aster yellows. Infected plants should be removed and discarded to keep the disease from spreading. Deadheading the flowers will not stop the spread. You may also try weed control near planting beds as the leafhoppers may feed on many weeds such as dandelions and plantain. You may also spray leafhoppers regularly with an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil in a commercial planting, but they are tricky and difficult to control.

Additional resources: University of Illinois Extension Service https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php 217-333-0519 52

The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/ 630-719-2424 The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information Service: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ plantinfoservice 847-835-0972

New Member Profile Snapshot

Michigan Chloride Sales, LLC 402 W. Jackson Road St. Louis, MI 48880 (800) 286-7312 www.michiganchloride.com

by Meta Levin Bill Kinney is proud to be part of what he describes as a “tight knit team” producing more than 50 million gallons of calcium chloride annually from four wells in the St. Louis, MI area. Headed by Karen Van Dooren, the company president, Michigan Chloride Sales has 10 full time employees with 20 seasonal ones. Kinney, regional sales manager for the company, describes Van Dooren as detail oriented and aware of environmental concerns, working to ensure strict environmental rules industry wide. The central Michigan company, which began in 1957, drills the wells one mile deep, lines their storage with heavy industrial plastic liners to protect the surrounding environment and pumps up enough to keep five million gallons on hand at all times. It is, says Kinney, “the largest supplier of liquid mineral well calcium chloride brine in the Midwest.” Used for a variety of purposes, but best known to landscape contractors as a component of snow and ice control programs, calcium chloride measures 102 degrees F when it comes out of the ground. Michigan Chloride Sales stores it in tanks and open pits on site. It fits right into the snow and ice control business, where liquids are, says Kinney, “becoming a growing force,” because it allows the use of less salt, saving money and the environment. In addition to snow and ice control, it is used by municipalities, counties and townships for dust control. It’s also used in mining. “We send it out in tankers all across the country,” says Kinney. Michigan Chloride is located in St. Louis, MI to take advantage of what is known as the Sylvania Formation, a prehistoric geologic landform that dates back nearly 600 million years and runs through the Green Bay, WI area, through parts of Michigan and into Ohio. Underground water seeps through limestone and forms the calcium chloride. “Our production is at the heart of it,” says Kinney. “There aren’t a lot of companies like us.” 54

The company concentrates on bringing the calcium chloride out of the ground. “There are no contaminates in our product,” he says. “And it is environmentally friendly.” Kinney signed Michigan Chloride up for ILCA membership about a year and a half ago. Although he has been with the company for four years, he has been in the business for 30 years, bringing industry knowledge to his job. He lives in northern Indiana. In his free time, Kinney rides his Honda Valkyrie Sports, six-cylinder motorcycle throughout the state of Indiana and has a solo drive to the Gulf Coast planned for this summer. He also has a sailboat and restores old British sports cars. He is the father of three adult children — one in the medical field, one a schoolteacher and one who does computer design. He is proud of the Michigan Chloride products and boasts that the Michigan Department of Transportation has started a program using the company’s product as a liquid only method of controlling ice and snow on the roadways, in order to reduce contamination of lakes and rivers. For snow and ice control, using the products takes some getting used to, but “once you try it, you are never going back,” he says.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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Christy Webber is a full-service landscape provider offering design, construction, and maintenance programs to residential, commercial, and municipal clients throughout Chicago. We are looking to fill a Project Manager position. The Project Manager will serve as a vital link between Christy Webber Landscape’s (CWL) high-profile construction clients and the company to ensure that client expectations regarding quality and service are consistently met and exceeded for the lifespan of the project. Managing the project costing, installation, billing and procurement for a variety of commercial construction projects. Please email your resume to jobs@christywebber.com Project Manager NU Construction/ Enhancements Christy Webber Landscapes is a full-service landscape provider offering design, construction, and maintenance programs to residential, commercial, and municipal clients throughout Chicago. Through proper project management, the Project Manager serves as the vital link between CWL’s high-profile enhancement clientele and the Company to ensure that client expectations regarding quality and service are consistently met and exceeded for the

Please email your resume to jobs@christywebber.com Junior Account Manager Christy Webber is a full-service landscape provider offering design, construction, and maintenance programs to residential, commercial, and municipal clients throughout Chicago. Under general direction, the Junior Account Manager is the consistent Christy Webber Landscapes’ representative that clients trust. This is an entry-level mentorship position designed to assist the AMs and Senior AMs with contract administration, site visits, measuring, documentation, and account management under 1 million dollars in actively managed accounts. The candidate will work closely with senior staff assisting and learning our processes and practices, all while building a portfolio of their own and gaining expertise. This includes, but is not limited to, sales, estimating, budgeting, invoicing, and quality control through management of horticultural practices and site personnel.

HELP WANTED Field Supervisor Christy Webber is a full-service landscape provider offering design, construction, and maintenance programs to residential, commercial, and municipal clients throughout Chicago. Under limited supervision, the Field Supervisor directs the work of field and snow production crews to ensure that jobs are completed efficiently and on budget and following CWL standards. Acts as a firstlevel liaison to clients and vendors to ensure job satisfaction and to advance companywide goals. 3+ years of landscaping production and crew management required. Class “C” driver’s license. Please email your resume to jobs@christywebber.com Snow and Landscape Operations Manager Alan, a mid size growing firm out of Lemont and Batavia is seeking a wellrounded experienced operations manager to help run our snow work. Top pay, full benefits. Inquire today to get a full description of pay and job detail. Dan@alanhorticultural.com

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Residential Maintenance Account Manager Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Landscape Designer/Project Director Management Associate Call Maria for more information at (847) 876-8042 Or visit jamesmartinassociates.com/careers 56

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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JOIN US LIVE! The iLandscape Show is a three day show that features opportunities for lawn and landscape professionals, equipment dealers, growers, construction businesses, and more to view the newest products, technology and best practices.

Attendee Data Over 6,400 attendees with these top job titles:

Landscape Company Owner/Senior Management Landscape Operations/Project Manager/Estimator Landscape Foreman/Supervisor/ Laborer/Technician Landscape Designer Landscape Architect Landscape Maintenance Municipal/Parks/Government Supplier/Sales Grower/Nursery/ Retailer/Garden Center Other: Arborist, Turf and Irrigation Professionals

         

Attendee Growth Year After Year (Minus a Polar Vortex in 2019)

5,045

5,500

2015

2016

6,003

6,125

2017

2018

5,300

2019

6,430

2020

Attendees

Exhibitor Data 2020 Exhibitor Feedback:

Number of Exhibiting Companies

 210

210

235

275

244

285



95% of exhibitors rated the show good to excellent! 92% of exhibitors rated the quality of visitors to their booth as it

relates to future business good to excellent! 

90% of exhibitors rated the quantity of visitors to their booth good to excellent!

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

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2020

Number of Exhibiting Companies

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show and we’ve had a phenomenal response from participating! It has given us great exposure in the landscape community and we’re happy to say we have projects scattered all over the southern Wisconsin and Chicago land area. We really feel like we’re targeting the right people – the location is great – easy exhibit inand-out . . . it all adds up to a positive experience. ” BARB FOSTER, AESTHETIC METALS LLC

Interested in exhibiting? Contact Terre Houte at thoute@ilca.net www.ilandscapeshow.com The Landscape Contractor September 2021

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Horticulturist Needed for Organic Lawn Care & Landscape Design Firm

GROUNDSKEEPER

Greenwise is Chicagoland’s premier organic and sustainable landscape company. We are seeking a horticulturist who is passionate about a sustainable approach to gardening. If you’re looking for a long-term role with a company that offers a competitive salary and full benefits package, please email your resume and a brief cover letter. See below for additional responsibilities, requirements and details. Upsells small garden enhancements Identifies trees and plants that need to be replaced or spaces that need filling Procures annuals for displays Approves and edits service schedule; alerts clients to their upcoming schedule date Works closely with Operations, Sales team and Clients Directs horticultural timing of full service/ garden maintenance and Pruning Trains field crews on best practices Orders, sells, and Installs Seasonal Displays Email resume to: robyn@iamgreenwise.com PLEASE NOTE: “HELP WANTED” AD SALES ARE LIMITED TO ILCA MEMBER COMPANIES Submit your ads online at ilca.net or call Alycia Nagy (630) 472-2851

HELP WANTED

Harper College is currently seeking applications for the full time Groundskeeper position. Groundskeeper responsibilities include the maintenance, care and modification of campus grounds. Duties include snow removal and first level maintenance on equipment as needed. The successful candidate will respond to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns within or outside normal working hours. You must also be able to work shift work, weekends, overtime, and holidays as well as be available (on call) for snow removal responsibilities. You must be able to operate motorized landscaping equipment, snow removal equipment, vehicles and associated tools for landscaping and snow removal. Job hours will be Monday through Friday, 7am – 3:30 pm. Requirements include: • High School Diploma or equivalent required. • At least three years’ experience in grounds, nursery, gardening, or related work, and have performed maintenance on related equipment appropriate to the needs of the campus

ILT Vignocchi is hiring a Production Manager We are looking for a committed individual to join our company that has been in business for over 50 years. Our production manager position will entail scheduling, material procurement, budgeting and staff management. To know our company is to know our philosophy. It is our opinion that you should always surround yourself with intelligent people who have an unwavering passion for their craft, an inner drive to succeed, and sensitivity for other people. We strive to fill our company with caring people who just want to do what they love, the best they can, every day. Our people are our most valuable resource in continuing to build our amazing organization of creativity, craftsmanship and quality. Should this environment sound like one you would like to join please contact Donna Vignocchi at dvignocchi@iltvignocchi.com with a resume. We look forward to talking with you about your future as a part of our team..

Harper College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Visit http://jobs.harpercollege.edu/cw/en-us/ job/493993?lApplicationSubSourceID= to apply.

371 BEINORIS DRIVE WOOD DALE , IL

AVAILABLE FOR LEASE

IDEAL CONTRACTOR’S FACILITY WITH FENCED YARD! • 7,000 SF Industrial Building

• 16’ Clear Ceilings

• 16,000 SF (100’x160’) Fenced-in Yard

• Near O’Hare Airport with convenient expressway access (I-390, 90, 290 & 294)

• 1,200 SF Office Area • 3 Drive-in Doors with DriveThru Capability

Joe Feeney Senior Associate jfeeney@lee-associates.com 773.355.3039

• Low DuPage County Property Taxes

Mike Plumb Principal mplumb@lee-associates.com 773.355.3019

9450 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 550 | Rosemont, IL 60018 | 773-355-3000 | www.lee-associates.com All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or representation is made to the accuracy thereof and same is submitted to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions prior to sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice. No liability of any kind is to be imposed on the broker herein.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Classified Ads HELP WANTED Landscape Architect / Designer (Design/ Build/Sales) Premier is a MULTI-AWARD WINNING full service design/build/maintenance landscape contractor. Our service area encompasses Chicago, and it’s Suburbs including NW Indiana. The Landscape Designer/ Architect is responsible for all aspects of architectural assignments from utilizing graphic programs, master planning, and construction detailing and project implementation. Individual should be versed in design concepts and basic planting design, hardscape materials, layout and grading. Position will require initiative, unique design palette, teamwork and technological skills. Project creation and implementation coupled with vision and continuous education will guide this individual in the field. Position includes a company provided vehicle. Minimum of 5 years of experience in landscape architecture. Bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, REQUIRED. To apply, email hr@premierservice.com

CLASSIFIED ADS CLOSING DATES & RATES October 2021 issue ads: Sept, 15 November 2021 issue ads: Oct. 15 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

FOR SALE/REAL ESTATE

HELP WANTED Landscape Estimator

Business for Sale

Responsibilities: • Reading plans and specifications to determine scope of work • Perform accurate material, equipment and labor take-offs • Solicit sub & supplier pricing and estimate volume of work • Prepare timely estimates and meet bid deadlines • Review contract documents upon award • Communications with clients, project architects, subcontractors, etc. • Project billing and cost evaluation Qualifications: • Experience in estimating Commercial landscape work is preferred • Excellent communications, computer and math skills • Independent problem solver • A team player with integrity and a strong desire to win bids. Salary based on experience and qualifications.

Located in the south suburbs for over 35 years, multi-million dollar landscape maintenance company is for sale. Instant satellite office that could be added to your brand. Fully staffed (yes, fully staffed!) with long time field employees and managers. Located near source of labor, with room to expand. 70% Maintenance, 15% Installs, 15% snow/ salt. This is a seven-figure cash deal ideally suited for a VC firm. Email to retirementplan2021@gmail.com

Email resume and cover letter to: accounting@allied-landscaping.com

Not an ILCA Member? JOIN NOW for 2021! Call Marissa at 630-472-2851 for membership information. Set yourself up for the great recovery ahead.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Plans are already underway for the 2021-22 Edition of the Green Industry Guide

THE

Single Most Comprehensive Reference in the Green Industry

Contact Debbie Rauen for advertising information

817-501-2403

debbie.landscapecontractor@yahoo.com 60

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Advertisers R. A. Adams Enterprises .....................................25, 27 Alta Equipment .......................................................13 Altorfer Cat ..............................................................21 Arlington Power Equip. ...........................................29 Bartlett Tree Experts ..............................................48 Bonnell Industries ....................................................45 Breezy Hill Nursery ................................................44 Cardno ....................................................................22

Inspiration Alley Editor’s Note: Over time, we run across a mountain of fun, innovative, and generally creative ideas. They don’t always fit with the magazine content, but we do collect them for some future use. This brings us to Inspiration Alley, a place where we display pure creativity. It’s up to you to judge the merit of each offering. So use it, lose it or be inspired to try something different.

Animal House By Nina A. Koziol

Sometimes we just need to lighten up a bit. Add some fun, some whimsy for clients who are willing to be a little edgy.

Clesen Wholesale ....................................................50 Compost Supply .......................................................42 Conserv FS .............................................................26 Contree Equipment .................................................18 Dayton Bag and Burlap ..........................................50 DeVroomen Garden Products .................................23 Ditch Witch Midwest ...............................................30 Goodmark Nureseries .............................................49 Doty Nurseries LLC ..................................................4 Great Lakes Landscape Supply ................................28 Green Glen Nursery ...............................................63 Hinsdale Nurseries, Inc. ..........................................16 Homer Industries ...................................................53 James Martin Associates .........................................56 Lafarge Fox River Stone ........................................43

This Quacked Us Up. Television personality Bill Kurtis and his wife, producer Donna LaPietra, created a stunning setting on their 65-acre property in Mettawa with the help of Craig Bergmann and a fulltime gardener. Although their house is a princely, elegant 1930s-era Tudor with expansive formal borders, there’s also a prairie, a potager, a cutting garden and so much more. But it’s the soothing touches like this pond. And, who doesn’t like a rubber ducky or two?

The Power of Three: One artistic bird feeder or lantern is good, but three are better, especially when they create vertical focal points over this shade garden’s flat plane.

Lee & Associates ......................................................58 Longshadow Planters .............................................11 Mariani Plants ..........................................................6 Mariani Plants ........................................................39 McGinty Bros. .......................................................48 Midwest Groundcovers ............................................37 Midwest Trading .......................................................2 Monroe Truck Equipment ........................................35 Montale Gardens ......................................................15

When this topiary couple picks up after their dog, are they collecting pine cones or acorns?

Russo ..................................................................51, 55 Spring Meadow Nursery ..........................................17 Straughn Farm ........................................................47 The Landscape Contractor magazine ........................60 The Mulch Center ....................................................19 Turtle Creek Nursery ................................................46

Right, Bugged Out? Forget the Integrated Pest Management strategy. This critter might need rust-preventing oil.

Unilock, Inc. ...........................................................64

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Hidden Gems Worth Visiting

Fabyan Japanese Garden

1925 S. Batavia Ave, Geneva, IL https://www.ppfv.org/fabyan-japanese-garden

by Heather Prince

A surprising tranquil oasis is tucked along the

Fox River in Geneva. Managed by the Kane County Forest Preserve, the Fabyan Japanese Garden is part of the former Riverbank country estate of George and Nelle Fabyan and offers a small, approachable interpretation of Japanese garden style. Installed around 1910 and designed by renowned landscape designer Taro Otsuka, this historic one-acre garden is a hidden treasure. Over the years the garden has been neglected and restored a few times. Today, it is maintained by a dedicated gardener at the Forest Preserve. It was designed as a combination garden, so you will find several traditional elements of Japanese garden style. Enter through the Torii Gate and you will be directed to the left to follow the Dewy Path. This curving crushed stone path leads you under redbud trees and twists and turns to slowly reveal glimpses of the garden and the hosta collections. You will come to the machiai or waiting bench chamber, which marks the beginning of the Tea Garden. A sculptural mature weeping spruce sits across from this shelter, inviting you to take a few moments of contemplation before continuing your journey. The lantern on the path was donated by the Geneva Garden Club and is placed according to historic photos. Follow the boulder strewn path to the bridge to symbolically enter the Inner Garden. Take in the view from the small artificial hill and admire the stately yews pruned to flow along the ground amid the

trickle of a waterfall. Across the slab bridge over a small stream is the Tea House. The porch was designed for viewing the moon. Garden beds are filled with ferns, hosta, and shady groundcovers to provide a serene backdrop for the trees. As you continue on the path under the branches of a stately American linden, you come to the open lawn designated for small weddings. The curved moon bridge anchors the peninsula to the opposite side of the pond. The original lantern provides a serene focal point as waves of iris line the banks. As you follow the path, notice a second weeping spruce, also original to the garden is sited among white and Jack pines. A set of steps leads down to the pond so you can check for turtles and fish. Opposite the steps is a replica of Mt. Fuji nestled in ivy and capped in white cement intended to resemble snow. Originally, the garden would have been much more open. With time, trees have been added or allowed to grow, creating a cool, shady respite on a hot sunny day. The garden borrows views of the Fox River and surrounding oak savannah. This can be a good example of ways to incorporate Japanese elements in a client’s garden or get inspiration for your own. You can find out more about the Fabyans, their passion for Japanese culture, and their eccentric history at the Frank Lloyd Wright-remodeled Villa up the hill from the gardens. Private guided tours of the garden are available for a fee and may include the Villa if desired.

The Landscape Contractor September 2021

Arcana

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NON-SLIP SURFACE

FINE BLASTED TEXTURE Refined surface and long-lasting color

UNIQUE TEXTURE AND SPECKLED COLOR PALETTE

LARGE-FORMAT 2” HEIGHT

24x24 // 18x24 // 12x24

Granite, quartz and marble are exposed in the ﬁne blasted surface of Arcana to deliver brilliant color and a non-slip surface that is perfect for patios, pool surrounds, walkways, roof decks and overlay projects. Its silky matte appearance is further enhanced with EasyClean Stain Resistance for easier cleanup of spills. Contact 1-800-UNILOCK or visit UNILOCK.COM to connect with your local Territory Manager.