SEP.25 Landscape Illinois Magazine DIGITAL EDITION
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Photo Credits
CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS
Awards Committee 1, 8-9,
Rick Reuland 10, 16-22
Woldhuis Greenhouse 24-25
Midwest Groundcovers 26-28
Turf Committee 32-33
Heather Prince 36-40
Nina Koziol 42-48, 50-51 61
Ross & Jack’s Landscaping 5 6 Mark Dwyer 6 2
The official publication of Landscape Illinois, — Landscape Illinois —The Magazine is dedicated to educating, advising and informing members of this industry and furthering the goals of the Association. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine carries news and features relating to landscape contracting, maintenance, design and allied interests. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication. Publication reserves right to refuse advertising not in keeping with goals of Association. www. LandscapeIllinois.org.
Volume 66, Number 9. Landscape Illinois — The Magazine (ISSN # 0194-7257, USPS # 476-490) is published monthly for $75.00 per year by: the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste. 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL and additional mailing offices. Printed in USA.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Landscape Illinois — The Magazine, 2625 Butterfield Road, Ste 104S, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Display Advertising Sales: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Ph. (630) 637-8632; email: rmgi@comcast.net. Classified ads, Circulation and Subscription: Landscape Illinois (630) 472-2851 Fax (630) 472-3150 Editorial office: Association Publishing Partners, Inc., Naperville, IL
Magazine
Executive Director
Scott Grams (630) 472-2851 sgrams@landscapeillinois.org
Statewide Director of Development
Kellie Schmidt kschmidt@landscapeillinois.org
Director of Events AnneMarie Drufke adrufke@landscapeillinois.org
Education Manager
Melissa Custic mcustic@landscapeillinois.org
Office Manager
Alycia Nagy anagy@landscapeillinois.org
Membership & Marketing Manager
Marissa Stubler mstubler@landscapeillinois.org
Landscape Illinois
2625 Butterfield Road Ste. 104S Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 472-2851 • Fax (630) 472-3150 www.landscapeillinois.org
“My idea of a perfect government is one guy who sits in a small room at a desk and the only thing he’s allowed to decide is who to nuke.”
— Ron Swanson, City of Pawnee Parks Director on the television show Parks & Recreation
“Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible.”
— Javier Pascual Salcedo
In order to balance out the scathing quote from Javier Pascual Salcedo, I searched for a positive quote about bureaucrats. I could not find one. There are hundreds of negative quotes about government employees and zero positive ones. The closest I could find is a backhanded dig from Eugene McCarthy who said, “The only thing that saves us from bureaucracy is inefficiency.” In essence, the only thing that stops a society from descending into a bureaucratic nightmare is the incompetence and ineffectiveness of the bureaucrats themselves. Gee, thanks, Eugene. Over the years, the term “bureaucrat” has been expanded to include anyone who works as part of a nameless, faceless organizational machine. For the purpose of this column, I will use bureaucrat in the traditional sense of workers in government departments at the local, state, and federal level. We normally don’t think about bureaucrats until we are forced to deal with bureaucrats. We interact with bureaucrats when we have to get a passport renewed or argue with the post office or get audited. We immediately are thrust into their world of process, order, and red tape. The normal rules of society fly out in the window. Forms must be completed in triplicate. Technology runs off Windows 95. The offices are windowless. The file cabinets are rusted. The fax machines beep. The fluorescent lights hum.
Department, the Forest Service, the US Postal Service, and the Secret Service are rated as the most favorable. The VA Hospital System, CIA, the EPA, and the Federal Reserve are usually the least revered. The CDC used to be near the top until Covid restrictions dragged them down to the bottom. One consistent is that the IRS is always dead last. The limited fluctuations in these lists over the years prove something that bureaucrats have known for a long time - when you stick your head up, it has a tendency to get lopped off.
Hollywood is right. Bureaucracies can be evil. Bureaucracies can be inept. There are governments that are deep states. There are governments that are in a deep state of confusion. If there are zero positive platitudes about effective bureaucracies, what do we do when we actually find one? To me, the answer is simple - we tell their story.
Civil Servants
Bureaucracies in movies and television fall into two categories. Bureaucrats are either entirely evil or entirely inept. We accept no in-between. 1984, V for Vendetta, Serpico, Mission Impossible, and Robocop are examples of shady bureaucratic operatives working within evil shadow governments. Parks and Recreation, Dr. Strangelove, Idiocracy, Zootopia, and The Incredibles are examples of government employees who can’t even find their own shadows let alone run a shadow government.
I want to make a clear distinction between bureaucrats and elected officials. Americans are obsessed with elected politicians, but they could not be more different than government employees. Elected officials are like improv actors. They get thrust into a role they have no idea how to play. They stand on a darkened stage and someone shouts, “You are now the 8th district of Illinois and your issue is pesticides...GO!” In my experience, politicians, even those who ae well-intentioned tend to fake it more than they make it. Elected officials, like improve actors, can be exhausting.
Bureaucrats, on the other hand, bring expertise, consistency, and longevity to their roles. Elected officials bring flash and pizazz, but their interest levels wane as quickly as they wax. Once elected officials pull apart an issue like a pack of hyenas, it is up to the agencies to craft, implement, and regulate the policy left behind. Bureaucrats do thankless work and that is not an overstatement.
Gallup has been tracking American perspectives on the government for decades. Agencies who leave us alone do better in the public’s eyes than those who bother us. NASA, the Parks
The story of the Illinois Department of Agriculture - Department of Environmental Programs will not be found in the newspaper. No one will write books about it. It will not be featured on a podcast. The Governor will not hold an emergency press conference to laud its accomplishments. What the IDOA has accomplished in the last 5 years is nothing short of remarkable for a government agency in Illinois. This is just a snapshot:
In 2021, IDOA pivoted their entire pesticide testing process online through a service called ProctorU. For years, applicants had to drive to remote testing facilities to take the paper-based exam in person at those little desks we used in high school. In just a matter of months, IDOA adopted a sophisticated online testing service to save applicants hours of travel time. It has become the testing method of choice for hundreds of lawn care applicants.
In 2023, IDOA heeded the calls of stakeholders like Landscape Illinois and translated the General Standards exam and two of the most popular testing modules into Spanish. This dual translation allowed applicants to take the exam in the language they are most comfortable with.
In 2024, IDOA worked with industry, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and mosquito abatement districts to develop an annual training regimen and licensure class for adult mosquito control. This has been a blossoming market segment for lawn care companies looking to diversify their revenue streams.
In 2025, IDOA worked with industry on creating a CEU-based license renewal process for pesticide applicators. This allows applicants to choose whether to retake the exam every three years or use continuing education credits earned at industry events towards their renewals.
Even one of these accomplishments would have been a blessing to the growers and lawn care operators who depend on the Department. Two would have been revolutionary. The Department nailing all four was like Christmas morning. In four years, it cast aside any stereotypes of bureaucrats. IDOA moved the regulatory environment further and faster than it has moved in the last 20 years. For that, they deserve credit
Yet, it doesn’t stop there. State nursery inspectors double as pesticide inspectors and oversee hundreds of licensed professionals in our ranks. They monitor and create containment strategies for new pests such as the spotted lantern fly and elm zig-zag sawfly. They oversee the pesticide misuse system and keep industry abreast of common licensure violations. They maintain a commitment to speak at our Turf Education Day and meet with our Turf and Growers committees on an annual basis. They attend our Weed Identification
Workshops and send a half dozen inspectors to InVigorateU. They invited Kellie and I to attend Interagency Committee on Pesticide meetings as nonvoting contributors.
Additionally, IDOA keeps open lines of communication to industry trade groups such as Landscape Illinois, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Farm Bureau, and ag commodity groups. For balance, they liaise with the Illinois Environmental Council and Prairie Rivers Network. IDOA attends Region V meetings where they meet with their counterparts in other midwestern states to get a sense of regulatory, pest, and disease concerns that may be heading our way. These collaborations with surrounding states allowed IDOA to get on board with the CEU-based renewal program being proposed by industry.
A cynic may think, “Isn’t all of this just their job?” I have worked with dozens of state and federal agencies in my career and no one has worked harder to listen to the needs of professionals, across all spectrums, than the Illinois Department of Agriculture. IDOA has been innovative and nimble and has done so without significant increases to fees and personnel. Rarely, do government agencies evolve so rapidly while preserving harmony with industry and advancing the needs of the public.
A lot of the credit lies with Brad Beaver, Acting Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Environmental Programs, Scott Schirmer, Plant & Pesticide Specialist Supervisor, and the staff in DeKalb, Springfield, and in the field. They understand the industry provides a mosaic of perspectives. The more communication that industry groups can have with each other, out in the open, the better agricultural policy will be in our state.
Recently, this all came into perspective during an Interagency Committee on Pesticides meeting. IDOA staff took a few minutes to cover some recent pesticide misuse reports filed by the general public. Too often, industry loses perspective that IDOA deals with both internal stakeholders and the external public. One only has to flip though Facebook or social media to understand the public’s distrust of chemicals and pesticides. The general public does not understand pesticides and their lack of understanding fuels fear and distrust. The public sees stunt planes ripping across farm fields, they seem boom sprayers launching clouds into the sky, they see lawn care applicators spraying the fence lines where pets and children play. When the fear becomes overwhelming, they contact IDOA.
IDOA has to treat each complaint with sensitivity and care. Some of these complaints turn out to be legitimate while others are based in paranoia, fear, and revenge. Hearing the human side of these interactions made me realize that bureaucrats have feelings too. These regulators have to sit at a kitchen table and hear a husband say he’s convinced the local farmer gave his wife terminal cancer. They have to stand on a fence line while two growers battle over pesticide drift and hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. They need to tell growers to burn thousands of ash trees because of a pest no bigger than a penny. They take statements from terrified field workers who had been inadvertently doused with noxious chemicals.
It has always been safe, easy, and lazy to complain about the government. Clearly, the most quotable members of society have been dunking on them for years. Sometimes, it is warranted. In the instance of the Illinois Department of Agriculture - Department of Environmental Programs it is not. They have been on a 5-year heater of making the impossible, possible and the State of Illinois is better off for it. Civil servants don’t get monuments. I hope they will settle for a hearty thank-you from an industry who recognizes and appreciates all they have accomplished. I guess a full pension isn’t half-bad, either.
Becky Thomas Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. (815) 448-2097 bthomas@springrovenursery.com
Mark Utendorf Emerald Lawn Care, Inc. (847) 392-7097 marku@emeraldlawncare.com
Aaron Zych
ILT Vignocchi, Inc. (847) 487-5200 azych@iltvignocchi.com
www.landscapeillinois.org
Inthe hustle of our summer season, it’s easy to forget one of the most powerful tools we have at work: laughter. It lifts moods, sparks creativity, strengthens bonds, and reminds us how fun it is to be silly. At our recent Fire & Ice event, which had a wide array of demonstrations, exhibits, and education, some of the most memorable moments were at the dunk tank. Thanks to our hosts “Fire” and “Ice” and several of our Landscape Illinois Board members, we had the pleasure of laughing out loud as people tried to throw a ball with enough accuracy and force to hit the target while being taunted by our brave volunteers about to get dunked again and again. The pure joy and appreciation for those willing to participate was infectious and made you laugh until you cried.
Having fun isn’t a distraction from work, it’s part of doing it well. In many cases, laughter is the best team-building exercise. When we make space for lightness, for shared jokes, for those moments of silly brilliance, we make space for trust, collaboration, and innovation. At Rosborough Partners, we actually measure how much fun people believe they are having at work because it is a key indicator of engagement, loyalty and productivity.
Play fuels creativity. Fun builds resilience. And finding joy at work isn’t a perk, it’s a strategy for success. Find ways to encourage fun. Whether it’s a summer cookout, competing in relay races, making music, performing in a skit, drawing pictures, or telling stories, make time to play. Being playful reminds us also not to take ourselves too seriously. It takes courage and vulnerability to be silly. Be the example, set the tone, create the vibe.
So let’s keep bringing the energy. Let’s continue to laugh, play, experiment, and create unforgettable experiences. I’m proud of all the work our Landscape Illinois staff, Board, and volunteers have done to create experiences that are memorable because they are both valuable and fun. These moments remind us why we do what we do and who we do it with.
Because as Frank Sonnenberg said, “If work isn’t fun, you’re not playing on the right team.” Thanks for playing on and with our Landscape Illinois team. We work hard, play hard, we have fun!
Keep smiling!
Kim President, Landscape Illinois
Enel ajetreo de nuestro verano, es fácil olvidar una de las herramientas más poderosas que tenemos en el trabajo: la risa. Nos levanta el ánimo, despierta la creatividad, fortalece los lazos y nos recuerda lo divertido que es ser gracioso. En nuestro reciente evento Fire & Ice, que contó con una amplia gama de demostraciones, exhibiciones y educación, algunos de los momentos más memorables fueron en el tanque de inmersión. Gracias a nuestros anfitriones “Fire” y “Ice” y a varios miembros de la Junta de Landscape Illinois, tuvimos el placer de reír a carcajadas mientras la gente intentaba lanzar una pelota con la precisión y la fuerza suficientes para dar en el blanco, mientras nuestros valientes voluntarios se burlaban de nosotros a punto de ser sumergidos una y otra vez. La alegría y el agradecimiento hacia quienes participaron fueron contagiosos y nos hicieron reír hasta las lágrimas.
Divertirse no es una distracción del trabajo, es parte de hacerlo bien. En muchos casos, la risa es el mejor ejercicio para fomentar el espíritu de equipo. Cuando dejamos espacio para la ligereza, para compartir chistes, para esos momentos de ingenio ingenioso, dejamos espacio para la confianza, la colaboración y la innovación. En Rosborough Partners, medimos cuánto creen las personas que se divierten en el trabajo, porque es un indicador clave de compromiso, lealtad y productividad.
El juego impulsa la creatividad. La diversión desarrolla la resiliencia. Y encontrar alegría en el trabajo no es una ventaja, es una estrategia para el éxito. Busca maneras de fomentar la diversión. Ya sea una barbacoa de verano, competir en carreras de relevos, componer música, participar en una obra de teatro, dibujar o contar historias, dedica tiempo a jugar. Ser juguetón también nos recuerda que no debemos tomarnos demasiado en serio. Se necesita valentía y vulnerabilidad para ser un poco tonto. Sé el ejemplo, marca la pauta, crea el ambiente.
Así que sigamos aportando energía. Sigamos riendo, jugando, experimentando y creando experiencias inolvidables. Estoy orgulloso de todo el trabajo que nuestros comités, el personal, los comités y los voluntarios de Landscape Illinois han realizado para crear experiencias memorables, valiosas y divertidas. Estos momentos nos recuerdan por qué hacemos lo que hacemos y con quién lo hacemos.
Porque como dijo Frank Sonnenberg: “Si el trabajo no es divertido, no estás jugando en el equipo adecuado.” Gracias por jugar en y con nuestro equipo de Landscape Illinois. ¡Trabajamos duro, nos divertimos y nos divertimos!
¡Sigue sonriendo!
Kim
Presidenta de Landscape Illinois
Kim Hartmann
Mariani Landscape • Lake Bluff Inspired Lakeside Living
The landscape maintenance team works passionately and creatively to meet the client’s high standards of care. The property is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan and used to entertain family and friends regularly. The property also maintains a stunning garden aesthetic and requires white glove standards during the growing seasons. The property care manager
will constantly check the weather and even walk the property barefoot to get a real assessment of irrigation needs. The ensuing regimen imposes a disciplined standard that serve the maintenance team well. They need to be prepared as the property will host two weddings next summer.
by Meta L. Levin
WSeptember
hen Landscape Illinois Executive Director Scott Grams takes the podium at the beginning of the 2025 Turf Education Day (TED), his comments may warm the heart of attendees.
“Next year a new law will go into effect allowing pesticide applicators to get CEU credits for attending educational sessions like this,” he says. The law, which has been dubbed the “pesticide application CEU bill,” is the result of a years long work by Landscape Illinois and other related groups. “Now, we roll up our sleeves and work with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to come up with the requirements.”
Under the new law, pesticide applicators, who previously had been required to take an annual test to renew their licenses in Illinois, will have the option of earning CEUs by taking a certain number of educational classes, like many of those offered through TED, in lieu of taking the test.
Scheduled this year for September 10, 2025, at Northern Illinois University’s Naperville campus, TED will also feature a full day’s worth of sessions, taught by some of the luminaries in the field, as well as an array of vendors in the expo area. “We try to keep it diverse, so there is something of interest for everybody,” says Josh Murray, who with Brandon Burns, co-Chairs the Turf Committee.
When turfgrass professionals attend the usual landscape conferences, they are lucky if there are one or two sessions that address their interests and needs. Once a year, however, Landscape Illinois rectifies that with TED.
“It’s a good mix of research and practical advice,” says Melissa Custic, Landscape Illinois’ Education Manager.
Topping the list is morning keynote speaker, Fred
10, 2025
Yelverton, PhD, professor and extension specialist at North Carolina State University. He will speak about “Impact of Climate Change on Turf Management for LCOs – A Peek into the Future.”
This is crucial, says Grams, because the Midwest is becoming warmer and wetter. “People in lawn care are starting to see warmer evenings and more precipitation,” he says. “The grasses don’t get a chance to cool down and this leads to more fungus and insects.” Yelverton’s presentation leans heavily on the turf education.
Well known throughout the turfgrass community, Yelverton’s research focuses on weed management systems in turfgrasses and forage crops; weed biology and ecology of turfgrass weeds; ecological and physiological effects of plant growth regulators on turfgrasses and invasive plants. “He’s clearly an expert in the field,” says Murray.
Attendees can hear from Yelverton again during the afternoon Breakout Session 3, when he will speak on, “Management of Troublesome Turfgrass Weeds in CoolSeason Lawns.”
Dr. Derek Settle, Senior Director of Turfgrass Programs for the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA), will provide the afternoon keynote presentation, “A Review of CDGA Turfgrass Research Impactful to Lawns.” Under the direction of Dr. Settle and Shehbaz Singh, the CDGA program includes research into turfgrass variety trials, control of broadleaf and grassy weeds and investigations of newer fungicides and nematicides. Dr. Settle’s keynote will cover a historical overview of research relevant to lawn care.
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Bear down
In a departure from previous TED conferences, the committee snagged Ben Baumer, the assistant groundskeeper for the Chicago Bears Football Club. “That’s going to have some interest,” says Murray. “We don’t usually have something this unique.” He will speak on “Sports Turf Management.”
This will be of special interest to the many attendees who work for park districts and are responsible for high use areas where a variety of sports are played, says Grams, “I can’t think of an area that is more high use than where the Bears play.”
Armed with a degree in turfgrass science and management from Purdue University, Baumer has been with the Bears since 2020. He also served on the Super Bowl grounds crew in 2021, was assistant groundskeeper for the Washington Football Team in 2019, was groundskeeper for the Chicago Cubs from 2015 to 2019 and even spent four years as a part time ice technician for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Grams also points to Joe Langton, CEO of Automated Outdoor Solutions, who will speak about “Automated Mowers.” He also is president of Langton Nursery and Landscape Supply, as well as the Langton Group.
“This is phase 2.0 of automated mowers – the next generation,” says Grams. “He looks at how to use manpower along with automated mowers.”
Kim Hartmann, Landscape Illinois president, and Brandon Burns, TED co-chair, will welcome the attendees at 8:15 am, while Grams will provide the opening remarks, “Landscape Illinois Advocacy Update – In the Weeds.”
Breakout sessions will include a variety of topics.
Illinois ag update
Brad Beaver, senior public service administrator, Bureau of Environmental Programs, Illinois Department of Agriculture, will make his annual report on the state of the State, “Illinois Department of Agriculture Regulatory Update.” Grams expects him to include the new state legislation regarding the
Delivering results so stunning, they’ll make you stand out.
pesticide application license CEUs.
Landscape Illinois members, Brett Gold, American National Sprinkler & Lighting, and Kevin Battistoni, Hunter Industries, will cover “Irrigation 101,” talking about the core principles of efficient irrigation aimed at turfgrass.
Turf health
Paul Koch, PhD, Department Chair, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin – Madison, will cover, “Identification and Management of Winter Injury on Turfgrass Lawns.” In his presentation, he will talk about the primary types of winter injury to which Midwest turfgrass lawns are susceptible, provide strategies for preventing them and recommendations for recovery.
During a later session, Dr. Koch will cover, “Turf Health Impacts of Mulching Tree Leaves on Turf and Soil Health.” This will summarize a threeyear study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, of the impacts of tree leaf mulching on turf and soil health.
Don’t forget the bugs
In another breakout session, Nikki Hendrickson, Advanced Turf Solutions, will speak about “The Ins and Outs of Grub Control.” She will cover identifying grubs and their life cycle and how to get the best control. She has served in various capacities with the Indiana Professional Lawn and Landscape Association, the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, the Indiana Outdoor Management Alliance and the Purdue Ag Alumni Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in entomology and horticulture production from Purdue University and a Master of Science in entomology from the University of Kentucky.
TED sponsors are crucial to its success. Russo is back as the premier sponsor, followed by Weed Man®, lunch sponsor; sessions sponsors Clesens, ConservFS, PBI/Gordon Corporation and Stihl®.
“It’s going to be another wonderful Turf Education Day,” says Custic.
Montale Nursery Welcomes
by Nina A. Koziol
After weeks of drought, a line of ominous dark clouds began rolling in as the Women’s Networking Group (WNG) kicked off its July event at Montale Wholesale Nursery in Wauconda. The threat of thunderstorms didn’t dampen any spirits, however. This year’s theme, “Networking Olympics” really delivered for the 90 registrants who enjoyed brain-teasing games, networking, refreshments and rows of spectacular plants as they celebrated summer together.
“The committee knocked it out of the park with creative, team-based activities that had everyone laughing, mingling and cheering each other on,” said Marissa Stubler, Landscape Illinois’ membership and marketing manager. “My favorite part of the event was listening to each team sing their national
anthem and awarding our Gold, Silver and Bronze teams at the end. A huge thanks to Montale and ILT Vignocchi for being fantastic hosts and helping make this event such a success.”
Laura Gianorio, senior vice president of the maintenance division at Mariani, is a former WNG associate chair, and frequently attends the events. “Some of my really good industry friends are here, and it’s fun to see all the new and younger people attending. I think it’s really good,” she said.
Harry Vignocchi, owner of the nursery and ILT Vignocchi (aka Italian Lawn and Tulip) was there to greet attendees along with his daughter, Donna, president of ILT Vignocchi, and her husband, Aaron Zych, landscape architect and vice president. Guests who stepped into the offices marveled (continued on page 16)
(continued from page 14) at Harry’s paintings that line the walls. As one attendee remarked, “These belong in an art museum!”
Montale’s Melisa Bell welcomed attendees before they began self-guided tours of the nursery. “I’m happy that you’re here to help us celebrate. It’s our job to be a partner with you, and that’s the whole idea with networking,” she said. She took attendees to the new garden surrounding the office where drifts of sedges and other perennials created a beautiful matrix of textures in dappled shade. Bell has worked for the Vignocchi family for more than 25 years. “I’m so fortunate—they let me do what I want, and I like the freedom and the plants,” she said.
Ling Ji, designer and project director for Schmechtig Landscapes, enjoyed the networking and the nursery. “I wanted to communicate with ladies from different companies and not just in the design and purchasing areas. It’s good to build relationships,” she said.
Bell’s presentation on new shrub rose offerings hit home, too. “I’m really attracted to the setting at Montale,” Ji said. “I’ve been using shrub roses and hydrangeas, and they’re very reliable.”
When the rain finally moved in, everyone headed under the tent to enjoy more conversation, a lovely meal and plenty of refreshments.
Fire & Ice mix it up at a fun-packed event
Demonstration Derby takes the event to new heights!
By Nina A. Koziol
The smoke from Canadian wildfires took a break just in time for last month’s Fire & Ice show at Heritage Park in Homer Glen.
“The big theme this year was Demonstration Derby and we loaded the program with demos that attendees could participate in — tree pruning, planting, equipment, plant layout, naturalized area maintenance, and of course, container wars,” said Scott Grams, Executive Director of Landscape Illinois. “We really wanted people to get their hands on stuff and that will likely be a theme as Fire and Ice grows.”
Besides the activities, attendees were there to see the exhibits. “I try to come every year to meet vendors we
work with, otherwise it’s all email and it’s nice to put a face to a name,” said Cynthia Godinez from Beary Landscape Management.
Two Container Wars — a game in which contestants must put together their best plant combos, even “stealing” plants from one another — was a big draw. Landscape designer Elaina Blankenhagen won first prize in the afternoon game. “It was so much fun.” she said. “My container had a love theme with Carex ‘Ice Dance’, bleeding hearts and ferns.”
Equipment gets the spotlight
The equipment vendors put on a show with everything from small autonomous electric mowers to ginormous snow plows. (continued on page 20)
Elaina Blankenhagen’s prize-winning creation
THE COOL CLIMATE WORKHORSE
HAPPY FACE ® ORANGE
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Minporoug01’ PP#36,116; CBRAF Native species | Long blooming | Cold hardy
1.5-2.5’ tall + 2-3’ wide
Danville Gardens
Danville, IL • 217-442-4944
Midwest Groundcovers St. Charles, IL • 847-742-1790
Could it be? An orange potentilla that holds its color, even in summer? Years of trials and observation say yes! Happy Face Orange potentilla is an outstanding plant with a nice, dense habit and handsome green foliage. It blooms continuously all season long in cool climates.
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Platt Hill Nursery Carpentersville, IL • 847-428-6767
Platt Hill Nursery Bloomingdale, IL • 630-529-9394
Siwicki Evergreen Nursery Momence, IL • 815-472-4154
Woldhuis Farms Grant Park, IL • 815-465-6310
(continued from page 18)
Nursery exhibitors showed off everything from natives, perennial cultivars and woodies to tropicals. “People love the plants,” said Homer Trecartin, Jr., of Twixwood Nursery in Berrien Springs, Michigan. “We brought in new and unusual things that not everyone is using.”
For Tyler Volmering, sales and marketing manager for Superior Wholesale Landscape in Grand Rapids, Michigan, “Being at this event and seeing people face to face helps. We get a chance to check in with other nurseries and talk about best practices.”
Green Glen Nursery in Elwood, Illinois, was among the exhibitors and had woody plants on display. “Everyone was walking by and touching the sage-leaf willow,” says Amanda Levins, a third-generation grower with the nursery. “It’s so pretty and they’re all asking about it. We also have tons of people asking for pollinator plants.”
Semi-retired arborist Roger Ross and his wife Dianne attend the event each year. “We did a tree survey at (continued on page 22)
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Heritage Park in 2015 when the property was bought,” he said. In two days in November, he and his wife cataloged some 600 trees on the property. “It’s a great location and it gets so much use.” For Kristen North, who begins teaching at Kankakee Community College this fall, “It’s a chance to meet people and it’s my first time attending.”
Greg Roos, purchasing manager for Bertog Landscape in Wheeling, has been in the industry for 46 years and has enjoyed the summer event since it first began as Summer Field Day years ago. “It’s the camaraderie and seeing what’s new and what’s out there. You learn a lot about what each vendor has and what they can do for you. And, I get to see my buddy Jim Matusik and have a beer in his Tree Connection tent.”
Site selection and planning takes a year. “Our Fire and Ice Committee is invaluable,” Grams said. “We also need help from the hosts—this year Jennifer Vittori and Dan Waddick of Homer Glen’s Park District.” Even Scott’s 13-year-old son was there to help on his birthday no less. Attendees sang happy birthday to him before the raffles took place.
“Personally, I love the wacky fun of Fire and Ice,” Grams said. “AnneMarie and the committee always outdo themselves adding quirky twists to the event. Dunk tanks, container wars, the demo derby car, the Fire and Ice characters, Kona Ice, the beer tent…we want this to be a laid back day where business and fun collide. Life’s too short not to enjoy the weather and each other’s company as the season takes a pause.”
• Designed for Landscape Contractors
• 19-5-8 Fertilizer Lasts Through the Season
• Ideal for all Container Sizes and Hanging Baskets
• Superb Balance of Drainage and Water Retention
• Amendment and Mulch in One
• Fuller, Healthier Plants
• Suppresses Weed Growth
• Requires Less Watering
• Includes Mycorrhizae & Gypsum
• Skip the Rototilling (see website for info)
Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc.
Trevor Woldhuis
10300 E 9000 N
Grant Park, IL 60940
815-465-6310
https://woldhuisfarms.com/
by Meta L. Levin
Each spring customers come from Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and even Nebraska to a small town in Illinois for one reason: Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc. More commonly, the regulars drive as long as two hours. They all are seeking the same things: bedding plants, hanging baskets, perennials, trees, shrubs and vegetable plants, says co-owner Trevor Woldhuis.
The family owned and operated company primarily grows what it sells. “By selling what we grow on site, we are able to control costs and keep them lower. This we pass on to our customers,” Woldhuis says.
Each year an estimated 50,000 customers come through Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse’s doors.
In the fall, customers head for tiny Grant Park, IL (pop.1,000) and Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc. for hardy fall mums. When winter approaches in November and December, they are seeking poinsettias and winter porch pots.
More recently, the company started selling decorated poinsettas, which allow customers to choose from a variety of colors, as well as glitter. “We do it by hand,” says Woldhuis. “They’re flying off the shelves.”
Things slow down in January and February, when the company focuses on house plants, but in March some regular customers know to show up again for “Spring Fever,” a celebration of the upcoming planting and gardening season. That’s when the people at Woldhuis offer seminars, tours of their greenhouses and other events to get people excited about the coming season, says Woldhuis, who is the great-grandson of its founder, Herman Woldhuis.
The Woldhuis family has owned and operated what now is known as Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc. since 1960, when Herman Woldhuis moved his family from Chicago Heights to a 160 acre farm in Grant Park. At the time, he was growing onion sets, sugar beets and tomatoes for Campbell’s Soup.
Things have changed since then. The family moved into the egg business, with 20,000 laying hens at its peak, which Herman Woldhuis’ son, Dan A. Woldhuis, and his wife bought from his father in 1979. As he delivered eggs to customers, he often sold extra produce that they grew in their garden.
While the story goes that in 1980 Dan built a small greenhouse, Trevor Woldhuis notes that family lore has it a
bit different. “He tore the roof off a shed on the property and replaced it with clear plastic, so the sun could come through,” he says.
Gradually, the business evolved until it became what it is today: a primarily retail greenhouse and garden center, still selling what they grow, with 390,000 square feet of greenhouse space, plus outdoor growing space, employing 110 full and part time people in season, with 50 to 55 of those also working in the winter months.
Their employees are hard working, with a good work ethic, says Woldhuis. “They put the customers first and share our values.” As an example, he cites Will LaReau, the company’s hard goods manager. “He does an excellent job and is great with the team.”
The company continues to be a family affair. Woldhuis’
father and grandfather are active in the business, but there are eight Woldhuis families involved, as well, including the fifth generation. In fact, Woldhuis’ three children, ages 10, 8 and 6, worked “on the line” four hours every week in June and July. They did jobs like tagging pots and helping plant perennials, some of the same things Woldhuis did as a child.
Trevor Woldhuis co-owns the business with his father, Dan Woldhuis, Jr.; his uncle, Jeff Huizenga, and his brother, Jake Woldhuis. “I’m proud of the family ownership,” says Trevor Woldhuis. “We all get along.” They also share a devout Christian faith and most attend the same church. The business is closed on Sundays, even during the busy season.
Their Landscape Illinois membership gives them an opportunity to learn from others in the industry, says Woldhuis. “We are looking forward to making new friends.”
Bridging the Gap: How Growers Can Support Landscape Design
Elevate Design Integrity in Built Landscapes
By Matt Dingeldein & Christa Orum-Keller
When landscape architects and designers sit down to imagine a space—whether public garden, streetscape, healing garden or backyard sanctuary—their visions are rich with form, function, and purpose. They invest deeply in understanding the needs and requirements of their clients and use that enlightened vision to develop a distinct and deliberate design intent. Yet between concept and completion lies a complex supply chain, where plants move from drawing to ground, often with minimal involvement from the very people who know them best: the growers.
As horticulturists and nursery growers, we’ve seen too many projects where planting intent is diluted under the pressures of time, availability limitations, scenarios of misaligned siting of plants or miscommunication. But what if the grower was part of the design conversation from the start? What if plant professionals weren’t just vendors at the end of the pro-
cess, but collaborators shaping the palette, guiding feasibility and helping ensure long-term success?
This article invites both landscape architects and landscape contractors to reconsider how, when and why they engage with growers—and what’s possible when they do.
The Current Landscape: Where Roles Meet and Often Miss In most projects, the timeline looks something like this:
Time pressures occur throughout the project, which vary from deadlines, milestone requirements, permitting processing, client pace, seasonality, or funding pressures.
This system works—but only to a point. When time pressures are heightened and each function is siloed, design integrity is diminished, and client satisfaction is reduced.
Planting designs are not just drawings; they are living systems that rely on correct sourcing, seasonal availability,
Design Professionals
and realistic installation conditions. Late-stage plant substitutions, misaligned expectations, and unavailable material can erode both the beauty and function of the intended landscape design. When the grower is present during the early stages of the design process, their ability to safeguard and support the original design vision is dramatically increased.
Design Intent Under Pressure: Where It Breaks Down
When time is short, the weakest link in the overall project execution is often the planting design. Without early communication between grower and designer/specifier, several things can happen:
• Unrealistic selections: Designers may specify species that are out of season, difficult to establish, difficult to grow or commercially unavailable in quantity or size.
• Late substitutions: Contractors are forced to make last-minute swaps, often with little guidance from the original design team.
• Compromised execution: Rushed sourcing can lead to smaller sizes, mismatched plant selections, inappropriate substitutions, or plants otherwise not suited to the site conditions which ultimately fail to thrive.
The result? The garden—or public space—fails to meet the expectations of the client, the impact is compromised, plants fail to thrive, and ultimately ---- the design intent is lost. The landscape contractor is left scrambling to make it work, with limited options and pressure from clients and specifiers alike, not to mention the likely future need for rework and unnecessary or unplanned for added costs.
A New Model: Early Grower Involvement, Shared Success
“Trees lower surface and air temperatures by providing shade. Shaded surfaces may be 20–45°F cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded areas.” - U.S. EPA
The solution isn’t complex. It’s collaborative. If the grower is looped in during the material selection phase with the landscape architect/specifier — even informally — it can radically improve project outcomes. (continued on page 28)
(continued from page 27)
Early grower involvement can offer:
• Real-time knowledge of availability and lead times
• Recommendations for resilient species and cultivars
• Support in selecting plants to fulfill and best meet the design vision
• Guidance as to which species will thrive under the site conditions, assuring more reliable survival success
• Support with administrative needs like substitutions and compliance
• Consideration of possibility of contract grow opportunities if necessary and where budgets will allow
Better yet, it can reduce time pressure on contractors and increase design fidelity for architects. Think of the project as a triangle with three equally critical players:
When all three share in shaping the final palette and sequence, the landscape is more likely to reflect the original goals, perform better and last longer.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Growers & Distributors of Quality Nursery Stock
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop -shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
We are the premier shade tree grower in the Chicagoland area with of 400 acres of quality field-grown nursery stock .
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries has two conveniently located sales yards, Lockport and Barrington, to better serve our clients.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Cedar Path Nurseries carries a full line of B&B trees and shrubs, container shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Not only are we your onestop-shop, but we are sourcing experts. We look forward to assisting on your next project.
Lockport, Illinois
15235 W. Bruce Road, Lockport, IL 60491 Office 815.838
Barrington, Illinois
Barrington, Illinois
190 W. Penny Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Office 847.551.3700 | Fax 847.551.3707
190 W. Penny Road, Barrington, IL 60010 Office 847.551.3700 | Fax 847.551.3707
Aligning Around Intent: Beauty, Function, and Ecology We recognize three distinct types of design approaches when selecting plants:
1. Aesthetic: Prioritizing color, texture, form and seasonality.
2. Functional: Supporting specific uses or activities such as food production, gathering spaces or healing gardens.
3. Generative: Enhancing ecosystem services, biodiversity or green infrastructure.
When we understand which area drives the decision making in a planting plan, growers can offer a more targeted support approach—whether it’s identifying a native grass with a combination of the right design aesthetic and availability or suggesting drought-tolerant alternatives that still reflect the intended color palette.
This doesn’t require contracts or complicated systems. It simply requires conversation – preferably early in the design planning process.
Questions Worth Asking – Together
If you’re a landscape architect or designer:
• How often do you share design intent directly with your plant supplier?
• Could plant availability or lead time information influence your decisions in trying to more realistically achieve your project’s design concept?
• Are you open to collaborating with a grower to help co-author part of your plant list?
To contractors:
• What delays or substitutions could be avoided with earlier grower engagement?
• If the specifier and grower are informed and aligned, would it save you time and money?
• Would a shared understanding of plant palette reduce time on site? Make your entire production process easier and smoother?
To all:
• What would it take to start each project as a team, rather than a linear chain of activities?
From Project to Partnership
Not every project allows for early collaboration. But many do—and more should. When growers are seen as partners, not just suppliers, the entire process becomes smoother, smarter and more successful.
Let’s move toward a design culture where the grower’s voice and knowledge are welcomed early, where the contractor’s pressures are understood and where the landscape architect has allies at every step. Our mutual goal is simple: build better, greener, more enduring and impactfully designed places.
And it all starts with a conversation.
About the Authors
The authors are Horticulturist & Midwest Groundcovers’ Sales Representative with special focus on the Landscape Architecture market, Matt Dingeldein and Landscape Architect and Owner of Midwest Groundcovers, Christa Orum-Keller. Combined they have over 50 years’ experience in the nursery and landscape industry.
September 10, 2025
THE STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION FOR LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS
Registration 7:15 AM - 8:15 AM
Check-In & Badge Pick-Up
WELCOME
8:15 AM
Welcome remarks — Auditorium
Brandon Burns, Turf Committee Co-Chair
Kim Hartmann, President Landscape Illinois
ILCA ADVOCACY UPDATE
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
In the Weeds — Auditorium
Scott Grams, Landscape Illinois
MORNING KEYNOTE SESSION
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM
Impact of Climate Change on Turf Management for LCOs – A Peek into the Future — Auditorium
Fred Yelverton, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
This presentation will cover basic concepts of a warming climate including the role of CO2 and nitrous oxides. Climate trends including 100 year averages of temperatures and rainfall. Impacts of a changing climate will be discussed in relation to turfgrass management and in particular, turfgrass pest management. Changing trends include management of pest incidence as well as pesticide use.
9:30 AM — 10:00 AM
Morning Break & Exhibitor Visits
Irrigation 101 — Room 111
Brett Gold, American National Sprinkler & Lighting
Kevin Battistoni, Hunter Industries
This presentation covers the core principles of efficient irrigation tailored specifically for turf care. We’ll explore system components, proper scheduling, and water-saving strategies that enhance turf health while reducing waste. Learn how to identify common issues, understand the role of soil and weather in irrigation decisions, and optimize coverage for different turf types. Whether you’re new to irrigation or looking to refresh your knowledge, this session provides practical insights to improve system performance and client satisfaction. Equip your team with the tools to deliver greener, healthier turf with smarter water management..
Sports Turf Management — Room 105
Ben Baumer, Assistant Groundskeeper, Chicago Bears Football Club
This talk will focus on the sports side of the turf industry and how it differs from golf, lawn care, etc. There will be stories shared along with what Ben has learned over the years working in many different levels and sectors of the Sports Turf industry. This talk will also include a dive into how the Chicago Bears run their Sports Turf Operation, including their switch from Bluegrass to Bermudagrass. In addition to tips and tricks of what they have learned along the way, and any additional questions attendees may have.
Identification and Management of Winter Injury on Turfgrass Lawns Auditorium
Paul Koch, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison
Winter injury is a general term that describes all the various types of injury that can occur on turfgrass over the winter. Certain turfgrass species are more susceptible to certain types of winter injury, and accurately identifying what winter factor has injured your turf can help you prevent it from occurring again. In this presentation, we will cover the primary types of winter injury on turfgrass lawns in the Midwest, provide strategies for preventing winter injury, and offer recommendations for recovery from winter injury.
10:45 AM 11:15 AM
Morning Break & Exhibitor Visits
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 — 11:15 AM-12:00 PM
Automated Mowers — Room 111
Joe Langton, Langton Group and Automated Outdoor Solutions
Following a successful tenure in snow removal, Joe established Automated Outdoor Solutions (AOS) in 2016, driven by the recognition of undervalued landscaping services. Utilizing his electrical expertise, Joe’s company assists professionals in optimizing “cost per acre” through robotic solutions. He will present insights derived from Langton Group’s deployment of over 400 robots, demonstrating how automation enhances service quality, alleviates staff burdens, and promotes superior turf health. Furthermore, Joe will elaborate on his industry mentorship and the expansion of AOS into golf course operations, forged through partnerships with prominent brands such as Echo, Nexmow, Kress, and Husqvarna. AOS additionally provides an exclusive ball wash and management system tailored for golf driving ranges.
Turf Health Impacts of Mulching Tree
Leaves on Turf & Soil — Auditorium
Paul Koch, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin – Madison
Tree leaf collection is one of the most common fall landscape practices. Piling leaves at the curb contributes significant amounts of phosphorus to urban waterways and requires significant municipal resources to collect and dispose of them in a timely manner. Mulching tree leaves into lawns can be an efficient way to dispose of tree leaves that may also contribute nutrients and organic matter to home lawns, but concerns exist over the impacts of tree leaf mulching on turfgrass health. This presentation will summarize a 3-year study at the University of Wisconsin – Madison detailing the impacts of tree leaf mulching on turf and soil health.
IDOA Regulatory Update — Room 105
Brad Beaver, Illinois Department of Agriculture
In this annual session, Brad Beaver will present the latest updates from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, with a focus on pesticide regulation, licensing, and certification developments. He’ll walk attendees through new policy changes affecting pesticide programs, and demonstrate any shifts in access to online training and testing platforms. The discussion will also cover emerging concerns regarding pesticide misuse, including recent updates to posting and notification requirements—ensuring turf professionals remain compliant and informed.
Lunch — 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE SESSION
1:00 PM
A Review of CDGA Turfgrass Research Impactful to Lawns — Auditorium
Dr. Derek Settle, Chicago District Golf Association
The CDGA Turfgrass Program began in 1985 with the hiring of Dr. Randy Kane. For 20 years, Randy provided extension-based turfgrass plant pathology in Chicago. Randy was one of the first plant pathologists trained to identify fungal root rots of turfgrass, such as summer patch of Kentucky bluegrass. Therefore, early research efforts at the CDGA focused on maladies associated with turfgrass roots caused by fungi and nematodes. After the CDGA relocated to Midwest Golf House and built the Sunshine Course in Lemont (c. 2005), its turf research efforts were able to expand. Today, under the direction of Dr. Derek Settle and Shehbaz Singh, CDGA Turf Program research areas now include: turfgrass variety trials, control of broadleaf and grassy weeds, as well as investigations of newer fungicides and nematicides. A historical review of research relevant to lawn care will be discussed.
1:50 PM — 2:00 PM
Afternoon Break
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 — 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM
Management of Troublesome Turfgrass Weeds in CoolSeason Lawns — Auditorium
Fred Yelverton, Ph.D., North Carolina State University
Cool-season lawns face persistent challenges from weeds like annual bluegrass, nutsedge, and dallisgrass, which resist control and threaten turf quality. In this session, Dr. Fred Yelverton will share research-based strategies for managing these troublesome species through a combination of cultural practices and herbicide programs. Attendees will learn how weed biology, timing, and site conditions influence control success, and gain practical, science-driven tools to improve turf health and reduce weed pressure.
The Ins and Outs of Grub Control — Room 111
Nikki Hendrickson, Advanced Turf Solutions
Many factors can affect how well your grub application works. This session will cover basic life cycle and ID, along with things to consider when making the application, so you get the best control you can.
Conclusion — 2:50 PM - 3:00 PM
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Problem Solving Natives: Fantastic Fall-Blooming Flowers
By Heather Prince
Mums sell, right? But what if you could offer clients long-blooming perennial color that delights the eye and feeds some wildlife along the way?
The Midwest is lucky in that we have several fall-blooming native perennials that give us big flower power into October, and some can bloom past Thanksgiving. Let’s dive into some hardy species that will dress up the autumn garden and add gorgeous layers of beauty as trees, shrubs, and grasses change into their fall finery.
Crazy for Daisies
Many of the fall heavy hitters are found in Asteraceae or the daisy family. We’re all deeply familiar with purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, but this huge plant family houses more than those favorites. Asters and goldenrods muscle their way to the foreground in the fall. We are blessed with a plethora of species of each, but I like these for their easygoing nature, well-behaved stature and durability. Plus, asters and goldenrods are key pollinator plants as last pit stops for many insect species before hibernation and migration.
Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
An edge-of-the-border plant, reaching only 12 to 16 inches. Weave it along driveways, patios and around mailboxes where its full sun, drought-tolerant nature will thrive. It then rewards you with a tightly packed cloud of tiny white flowers often through October. Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, or aromatic aster, is a knee-high rounded perennial that will be dense with lavender-purple flowers. Plant it in full sun where you can brush against its spicy fragrant foliage. For shade gardens, Eurybia macrophylla, or large-leaved aster, prefers part to full shade. Tuck it in where its aptly named coarse leaves can form tidy mounds. In September, 18-inch flower stems are decked with showy delicate daisy flowers in pale blue to violet.
Goldenrods reflect the low hazy light of late September in their starry yellow flowers. Oligoneuron rigidum, or stiff goldenrod, is an easy-going, full sun upright species with broader leaves. Its large head of densely packed florets will be buzzing with bees. For a sunny wet site, try Oligoneuron ohioense, or Ohio goldenrod, which is slightly smaller and quite happy in moist clay soils. In the shade garden, Solidago flexicaulis, or zigzag goldenrod, thrives in part to full shade and isn’t fussy about soils. In dry shade it will be shorter, but usually it’s knee-high with large, toothed deep-green leaves and dark stems. In September into November, its upright racemes will be dotted with small clusters of sulfur yellow blossoms.
Authorized Distributor:
Although it tends to fly under the radar, nothing beats Helenium autumnale, or sneezeweed, for cheerful free-flowering bright yellow daisies at about waist height. This charmer loves wet soils but is quite adaptable as long as it has a bit of moisture. Blooming well into October, try it with switch grass and obedient plant for a dazzling fall combination.
Autumn Blues
While we gravitate towards yellow, orange and red in the fall, several of our native wildflowers tempt us with shades of blue and purple. Interplanted with sunny colors, cool shades play up the sunset tones and cool off the combination.
Nothing is quite like the true-blue flowers of Gentiana andrewsii, or closed gentian. Clusters of closed flowers bloom brilliant azure in October on 18-inch upright stems that turn purple as temperatures cool. Easy-going in average to wet soils, the last bumblebees will force their way in for its rich nectar.
Conoclinum coelestinum, or blue mistflower, resembles an ageratum on steroids. At 18 to 36 inches, it features clouds of poofy lavender blue flowers from July through October. In wet soils, it may reseed, but try it in average clay to limit its spreading tendencies. Or plant it in the bottom of the rain garden and let it be swarming with pollinators.
Looking for romantic lavender in part shade? Look no further than Eutrochium purpureum, or Joe Pye weed. This tall edge-of-the-woodland native blooms July through September and is usually covered in bees and butterflies. While happy in average soils, it will also cheerfully tolerate a wet spot.
For a more intense purple, consider Vernonia fasciculata, or prairie ironweed. With stiff stems reaching up to 5 feet, this tough native is adaptable to any soil. Its vivid clusters of flowers easily weave through perennial beds for a final flourish in fall.
Bee-loved for Pollinators
Do your clients deserve more bee butts? Of course they do. With a diversity of flower types in the garden, you’ll experience bees galore as well as a bevy of other important pollinators. Take advantage of the soaring concern and interest in these insects by providing a wealth of floral resources.
Chelone glabra, or turtlehead, features dark-green coarselytoothed leaves on stiff stems reaching knee height. Happy in full sun to part shade, chelone does best in moist to wet soils. In late July, tall white flower spikes with showy tubular flowers arrive and bloom their heads off through September. See bee butts galore as bumbles shoulder their way in for rich nectar rewards.
If tubular flowers are lacking in your plant palette, another choice might be Physostegia virginiana, or obedient plant. Large spikes of clear pink tubular flowers bloom on 3 to 4-foot stems in late July through September. Easy going and tolerant of a wide range of light and moisture, obedient plant is named for its distinctive flowers. Each floret may be moved individually and will obediently stay once placed. This charming habit makes it fun to play with, and hummingbirds will flock to it.
Chill down your hot summer perennial combinations with the icy silver bracts of Pycnanthemum muticum, or blunt mountain mint. While rabbits and deer avoid it, it will be buzzing with a wide range of small pollinators well into October. Leave the dried stems up for a silvery addition to the late fall garden as snow catches in the dried seedheads. Happiest in full sun, it pairs beautifully with pastels and cools hot colors. Don’t let your designs languish in fall when there are so many wonderful native plants that add weeks and weeks of flower power. Layer them with grasses, shrubs, and evergreens for a rich autumnal experience. Consider leaving stems and dried foliage in place for late fall and winter interest as well as dried bouquets.
To Mask Up or Not?
by Nina A. Koziol
Many years ago, I walked into the woodland near our home and talked with a young man who was working a prescribed burn. Although it was early in the year and nothing had leafed out, there were vines galore — poison ivy — covering the ground and climbing mature trees. The smoke blew in every direction. “Are you concerned about inhaling poison ivy particles?” I asked him. “Nah, that’s not a problem,” he said, shaking his head.
Randy Nyboer, a retired Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologist, conducted many prescribed burns with apparently no respiratory effects. “Occasionally I would wear a wet handkerchief over my nose and mouth,” he recalls. It’s understandable that if you’re standing away from the smoke, you may not inhale it, unless the wind shifts.
Urushiol (u-ROO-she-ol) is an oily resin found in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. It remains in the tissues even if the plant is dead.
When bare skin is exposed to the plant’s oils, it triggers a response from the immune system to determine whether something in the body is harmful or not. Contact dermatitis is usually the result of getting the oils on the skin, even by brushing up against the plants. But what about if you inhale poison ivy-laden smoke?
In December 2022, the American Journal of Forensic Medical Pathology published “Death After Poison Ivy Smoke Inhalation.” The paper examined two unrelated cases of urushiol respiratory exposure after burning poison ivy that resulted in cardiopulmonary arrest and ultimately death. In both cases, the history, circumstances, and autopsy findings were consistent with urushiol smoke inhalation having either caused or contributed to death. The cases were unique in that they represented the first cases of death related to poison ivy smoke exposure.
Personal Protective Equipment
In Illinois, there are no regulations for masks or respirators when working on a prescribed burn according to Benjamin Snyder, Illinois Forestry-Fire Program Manager in Benton. “There are companies that offer basic cloth masks, masks with a charcoal filter, or N95 masks. I have observed people that wear these on burns. Using a mask seems to be a personal preference. I typically have staff take breaks and find places where they can get fresh air outside of the smoke when working on a burn.”
Ditto for Cook County. “There are no requirements to wear a respirator or mask, and it is rare for anyone to wear these on either a prescribed burn or while burning brush piles,” says Kristin Pink, regional ecologist at the Department of Resource Management, Forest Preserves of Cook County. “Generally, we stay out of the smoke and position ourselves where we can breathe fresh air.”
For personal protective equipment on brush pile burns, Pink says the County requires workers to wear natural fiber clothing, including long pants, eye protection, leather gloves and closed-toe shoes. “On prescribed burns, we require shirt and pants made of flame-resistant fabric (Nomex, Tecasafe), helmet, eye protection, leather gloves, wildland fire boots (8-inch-tall leather boots with heat-resistant outsole) and natural fiber underclothing.”
Smoke Exposure
Last October, uncontrolled wildfires burned more than one million acres in California. The air pollutants included not only flora, but structures and vehicles, which released many toxins into the air. The American Lung Association (ALA) notes that catastrophic wildfires are harming lung health. Wildfire smoke exposure is a far greater hazard than smoke from a typical prescribed burn used in conservation efforts. The ALA is a proponent of prescribed burns to reduce the chances of uncontrolled wildfires, stating: “One of the main pollutants found in wildfire smoke is particulate matter, or ‘soot,’ which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream. Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with a number of health harms—ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular harm to adverse birth outcomes and even early death.”
What the Feds Say
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal institute responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
(continued on page 46)
(continued from page 44)
Here’s an excerpt from NIOSH “Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants:”
Poisonous plants can cause allergic reactions if their oils come in contact with skin. These plants can also be dangerous if burned and their toxins are inhaled. When exposure to burning poisonous plants is unavoidable, employers should provide workers with:
• A NIOSH-certified half-face piece particulate respirator rated R–95, P–95, or better.
• These respirators should protect against exposure to burning poisonous plants, but will not protect against all possible combustion products in smoke, such as carbon monoxide.
• Respirators must be worn correctly and consistently throughout the time they are used.
• For respirators to be effective there must be a tight seal between the user’s face and the respirator.
• Respirators must be used in the context of a written comprehensive respiratory protection program (see OSHA Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR 1910.134).
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA defines Hazards and Solutions for the Landscape and Horticultural Services sector. See: https://www.osha.gov/landscaping/hazards It states: (continued on page 48)
(continued from page 46) exposure level is over the permissible limit. But how do you know what the actual exposure is if you’re outdoors and the wind is blowing every which way? A badge or air quality monitor can help identify airborne hazards at the particular time of exposure. They’re available from 3M and other safety equipment manufacturers.
Best Practice Approach
If your employees are exposed to smoke that may contain poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, you may wish to revisit your safe work practices. Companies can enlist the services of an industrial hygiene or workplace safety consultant to identify specific exposures your employees may be exposed to. Have a workplace safety or health question for OSHA? Here’s a link to offices in Illinois: https://www.osha.gov/contactus/bystate/ IL/areaoffice
¿Usar o no mascarilla?
Por Nina A. Koziol
Hace muchos años, caminé por el bosque cerca de nuestra casa y hablé con un joven que estaba realizando una quema controlada. Aunque era temprano en el año y nada había brotado todavía, había enredaderas por todas partes —hiedra venenosa— que cubrían el suelo y trepaban por los árboles maduros. El humo soplaba en todas direcciones. “¿Te preocupa inhalar partículas de hiedra venenosa?”, le pregunté. “No, eso no es un problema”, respondió, sacudiendo la cabeza.
Randy Nyboer, un biólogo jubilado del Departamento de Recursos Naturales de Illinois, realizó muchas quemas controladas aparentemente sin experimentar problemas respiratorios. “Ocasionalmente me ponía un pañuelo húmedo sobre la nariz y la boca”, recuerda. Es comprensible que, si te mantienes alejado del humo, puede que no lo inhales, a menos que cambie el viento.
El urushiol es una resina aceitosa que se encuentra en las
hojas, tallos y raíces de la hiedra venenosa, el roble venenoso y el zumaque venenoso. Permanece en los tejidos incluso si la planta está muerta. Cuando la piel descubierta tiene contacto con aceites de plantas, se desencadena una respuesta del sistema inmunitario para determinar si algo en el cuerpo es dañino o no. La dermatitis de contacto es una reacción cutánea que se desencadena por el contacto de aceites irritantes con la piel, incluso con solo rozar las plantas. Pero, ¿qué ocurre si inhalas humo cargado de hiedra venenosa?
En diciembre de 2022, la Revista estadounidense de patología médico-forense publicó “Muerte por inhalación de humo de la hiedra venenosa”. El artículo examinó dos casos no relacionados entre sí de exposición respiratoria al urushiol tras la quema de hiedra venenosa que provocaron paro cardiaco y, finalmente, la muerte. En ambos casos, la historia clínica, las circunstancias y los resultados de la autopsia confirmaron que la inhalación de humo con urushiol fue la causa o factor contributivo de la muerte. Los casos fueron únicos en tanto que representaron las primeras
muertes relacionadas con la exposición al humo de hiedra venenosa.
Equipo de protección personal
En Illinois, no existen regulaciones para mascarillas o respiradores al trabajar en una quema controlada, según Benjamin Snyder, gerente del Programa de Incendios Forestales de Illinois en Benton. “Hay empresas que ofrecen mascarillas de tela básicas, mascarillas con filtro de carbón o mascarillas N95. He visto personas que las usan en quemas. El uso de mascarilla parece ser una preferencia personal. Yo, por lo general, pido a los miembros del personal que se tomen un descanso y busquen lugares donde puedan respirar aire fresco, fuera del humo, cuando trabajamos en una quema”.
Lo mismo ocurre en el Condado de Cook. “No hay requisitos para usar un respirador o mascarilla y es raro que alguien los use en una quema controlada o al quemar pilas de ramas”, dice Kristin Pink, ecóloga regional del Departamento de Gestión de Recursos, Reservas Forestales del Condado de Cook. “En general, nos mantenemos fuera del humo y nos colocamos donde podamos respirar aire fresco”.
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Para el equipo de protección personal en quemas de pilas de ramas, Pink dice que el Condado exige que los trabajadores usen ropa de fibras naturales, así como pantalones largos, protección ocular, guantes de cuero y zapatos cerrados. “En quemas controladas, exigimos camisa y pantalón hechos de tela resistente a las llamas (Nomex, Tecasafe), casco, protección ocular, guantes de cuero, botas para incendios forestales (botas de cuero de 8 pulgadas con suela resistente al calor) y ropa interior de fibras naturales”.
Exposición al humo
El pasado octubre, incendios forestales fuera de control quemaron más de un millón de acres en California. Los contaminantes del aire incluyeron no solo flora, sino también estructuras y vehículos que liberaron muchas toxinas al aire. La Asociación Estadounidense del Pulmón (ALA) señala que los incendios forestales catastróficos están dañando la salud pulmonar. La exposición al humo de incendios forestales es un peligro mucho mayor que el humo de una quema controlada típica utilizada en esfuerzos de conservación.
La ALA apoya las quemas controladas para reducir las posibilidades de incendios forestales descontrolados, señalando que: “Uno de los principales contaminantes que se encuentran en el humo de los incendios forestales es la materia particulada u ‘hollín’, que pueden penetrar profundamente en los pulmones e incluso en el torrente sanguíneo. La exposición al humo de incendios forestales se relaciona con numerosos daños a la salud: desde daños respiratorios y cardiovasculares hasta resultados adversos en los nacimientos e incluso muerte prematura”.
Lo que dicen las autoridades federales
El Instituto Nacional para la Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (NIOSH) es el instituto federal responsable de realizar investigaciones y hacer recomendaciones para la prevención de lesiones y enfermedades relacionadas con el trabajo. NIOSH forma parte de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), en el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (DHHS).
Aquí un extracto de los “Datos básicos: Cómo protegerse de las plantas venenosas” de NIOSH:
• Las plantas venenosas pueden causar reacciones alérgicas si sus aceites entran en contacto con la piel. Estas plantas también pueden ser peligrosas si se queman y se inhalan sus toxinas.
• Cuando la exposición a plantas venenosas en combustión sea inevitable, los empleadores deben proporcionar a los trabajadores:
o Un respirador de partículas de media cara certificado por NIOSH, clasificado como R-95, P-95 o mejor.
o Estos respiradores protegen contra la exposición a la quema de plantas venenosas, pero no contra todos los posibles productos de la combustión en el humo, como el monóxido de carbono.
o Los respiradores deben usarse correctamente y de manera constante durante todo el tiempo que se necesiten.
o Para que los respiradores sean efectivos, debe existir un sello hermético entre la cara del usuario y el respirador.
o Los respiradores deben usarse en el contexto de un programa integral escrito de protección respiratoria (ver la norma de protección respiratoria 29 CFR 1910.134 de OSHA).
La Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (OSHA) OSHA define Peligros y Soluciones para el sector de Servicios de Paisajismo y Horticultura. Véase: https://www.osha.gov/ landscaping/hazards. Ahí se establece que:
“Los trabajadores de servicios de paisajismo y horticultura están en riesgo de lesiones debido a una amplia variedad de posibles peligros en esta industria, incluidos la exposición a sustancias químicas, ruido, maquinarias, carga, construcción y riesgos relacionados con el clima. Esta página ayuda a identificar posibles peligros y soluciones a actividades específicas dentro del sector”.
Aunque los Peligros Potenciales de OSHA para el sector incluyen resbalones, tropiezos, caídas, electrocución, cortes, amputaciones, ruido excesivo, quemaduras, estrés por calor, estrés por frío, exposición a sustancias químicas, accidentes con vehículos y equipos y otros tipos de lesiones, en ningún lugar recomienda mascarillas o respiradores para quemas controladas. Según la oficina de OSHA en Naperville, IL, corresponde al empleador determinar si se debe usar un respirador (en base a las condiciones de trabajo). Bajo OSHA, los respiradores son necesarios cuando el trabajador está en un entorno donde el nivel de exposición supera el límite permitido. Pero ¿cómo saber cuál es la exposición real si se está al aire libre y el viento sopla en todas direcciones? Una placa o monitor de calidad del aire pueden ayudar a identificar los riesgos aerotransportados en el momento específico de la exposición. Están disponibles en 3M y otros fabricantes de equipos de seguridad.
Enfoque de mejores prácticas
Si sus empleados están expuestos al humo de la quema de hiedra venenosa, roble venenoso o zumaque venenoso, es recomendable revisar sus prácticas de trabajo seguro. Las empresas pueden contratar los servicios de un higienista industrial o consultor de seguridad laboral para identificar las exposiciones específicas a las que sus empleados puedan estar expuestos.
¿Tiene una pregunta de seguridad o salud laboral para OSHA? Aquí tiene un enlace a las oficinas en Illinois: https://www.osha. gov/contactus/bystate/IL/areaoffice
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Bringing Shaded
by Dr. Aaron Patton
Some estimate that as much as 25% of turf in the United States grows in shade, presenting unique challenges for lawn and landscape professionals. While new lawns may initially receive shade only from buildings, the problem intensifies as landscapes mature and trees expand their canopies. Most homeowners don’t understand why dense, highquality turfgrass can’t flourish under heavy tree cover, yet they expect professionals to deliver exactly that result.
Success begins with client education. Homeowners need to understand that shaded lawns face a double burden: reduced light quantity and compromised light quality. While the reduced light is obvious, many don’t realize that tree leaves filter out the blue and red wavelengths essential for grass photosynthesis. This poor-quality light creates the telltale signs of shade stress—thin, elongated leaves, reduced shoot and root growth, decreased density, and limited tillering. The shade is starving the grass plants of the energy they make via photosynthesis and preventing the lush lawn your clients desire. Further, stress is also occurring belowground where the tree roots compete with the lawn for moisture.
app helps identify which trees and branches contribute most to shade problems.
3. Adjust Fertilization Practices. Reduce nitrogen applications by half in shaded areas. Since these zones grow more slowly and conduct less photosynthesis, they require proportionally less nitrogen fertilization.
4. Raise Mowing Heights. Increase the cutting height by 0.5 to 1.0 inches in shaded areas to maximize leaf surface area for photosynthesis. Since shaded grass grows more slowly and tolerates traffic poorly, also reduce mowing frequency to support plant health in shaded areas.
What can you do about this and how can you work with the client on their shaded lawn to better meet their expectations? Here are my Twelve Strategies for Shade Success.
1. Choose the Right Grass Species. Establish shade-tolerant grass varieties in problematic areas. Fine fescues—including strong creeping red fescue, slender creeping red fescue, and Chewings fescue—perform exceptionally well in shade. Tall fescue, despite its different appearance, also performs well in shady conditions. Avoid planting perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass in the shade.
2. Strategic Tree Management. Work with clients to selectively prune lower branches, allowing morning and evening sunlight to reach the turf. In severe cases, consider removing select trees. The “Sun Seeker - Sunlight Tracker” smartphone
5. Monitor Irrigation Carefully. Shaded areas typically retain moisture longer and need less irrigation. However, during dry periods, shaded sites may actually be drier as tree roots often outcompete grass for available soil moisture, requiring careful monitoring and irrigation adjustments.
6. Seed Often. Frequently overseeding thin shaded areas. This is best done in late summer or early fall. This timing provides maximum exposure to direct light during fall months before deciduous trees leaf out again in spring. Use fine fescue species in northern Illinois and tall fescue in southern Illinois.
7. Remove Tree Leaves Promptly. Ensure clients understand the importance of quick leaf removal in autumn. Fallen leaves create additional shade stress that struggling turf cannot afford.
8. Minimize Traffic. Shaded turf has reduced traffic tolerance. Limit equipment and foot traffic to prevent soil compaction and protect both grass and tree health. Install walkways or stepping stones in high-traffic areas.
9. Manage Weed Pressure. Weakened turf in shade creates opportunities for shade-tolerant weeds like annual bluegrass, common chickweed, ground ivy, nimblewill, and wild violets. Check herbicide labels for seeding restrictions and their
Thinned turf under this tree due to heavy shade.
Turf to Life
safety on newly planted turfgrasses as well as any label precautions about treating exposed tree roots under shade trees.
10. Address Disease Issues. Reduced air circulation and increased surface moisture in shaded areas promote diseases like powdery mildew, particularly in Kentucky bluegrass. Plant shade tolerant species like fine fescue, prune branches, or use fungicide applications here needed to reduce this disease.
11. Consider Plant Growth Regulators. Plant growth regulators like Primo MAXX (trinexapac-ethyl) can improve shade tolerance by slowing leaf elongation and redirecting energy toward root development and carbohydrate storage. While few lawn care professionals currently use these products, they may help on high value properties. The rate is important so check the label and ensure your application equipment is properly calibrated.
12. Understand Moss as a Symptom. Moss is a common problem in shaded sites. It is a symptom of the declining turf and not the cause of turf decline. Using the preceding management strategies to improve turf density in shade is the best solution for reducing moss.
Setting
Realistic Expectations
Even with these strategies, creating a perfect lawn under dense tree cover remains impossible. When shade is severe, recommend alternative solutions. Many ornamental groundcovers and perennials adapt better to shade than turfgrass. Choose appropriate shade-tolerant plants for specific locations and budgets. Where plantings aren’t suitable, decorative mulch or gravel under tree drip lines provides an attractive, low-maintenance alternative.
The key to success lies in combining proper species selection, adjusted maintenance practices, and realistic client expectations. With the right approach, shaded areas can become healthy, functional parts of the landscape rather than ongoing sources of frustration.
Aaron J. Patton is a professor and turfgrass extension specialist in Indiana. He researches weed control, novel grasses, and turfgrass management practices while mentoring and teaching students at Purdue University.
A shaded, high-quality lawn planted with fine fescues.
Moss is a symptom of shade stress in a heavily shaded lawn.
Ross and Jack’s Landscaping
Michael Spatola
154 W. Park Ave. #65
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(847) 451-1591 www.rossandjacks.com
by Meta L. Levin
Italian immigrants Ross and Jack Vicari started Ross and Jack’s Landscaping 50 years ago. It is still a family owned and run business, a point of pride for the company that is celebrating its golden anniversary this year.
On July 7, 1975, the brothers set out to offer their neighbors landscape maintenance services. Natives of Alia, a small farming community in Sicily, growing up they had gained expertise they could apply to landscape contracting work: planting crops, farming, concrete work and other skills, says Michael Spatola, general manager and landscape designer for Ross and Jack’s Landscaping in Elmhurst.
Other family members, who had preceded them to the United States, already had started landscaping and lawn maintenance businesses. The brothers and their relatives relied on each other to help learn the trade. They shared what they learned and supported each other even though they were competitors. Family came first.
“They were hard workers,” says Spatola, the brothers’ nephew. They believed in offering their customers high-quality work at affordable prices. As the industry changed, “we have stuck to our guns. If we are going to do something, we are going to do it at a high level,” Spatola continues. Ninety
Mark, Mike and Alex
percent of their customers are residential.
The Vicari brothers were eager to learn. If a client asked for something, they learned how to do it and added it to their repertoire. In rural Italy, hard work and determination were rewarded. The brothers brought that attitude with them, passing it down to the younger generation. “They were young and hungry,” says Spatola. “They put in the time and effort to do things right.”
In 1992, Mark Seraphin, Rosolino Vicari’s son-in-law, quit his corporate job and joined the business. As a team, they added installation projects to their offerings, all the while taking care of their employees and building a work environment with a family feeling. Seraphin bought the company in 1995.
In the early years, the Vicari brothers did all the work themselves, with hired help here and there. Now Ross and Jack’s Landscaping has 23 to 25 employees in season, many of whom have been with the company for 20 years or more. Seraphin is proud that the company offers its employees a 401k program, good wages and overtime pay. “When you treat people well, they stay with you,” he says.
studied horticulture, design and brick paving at Triton College, working at the same time, so that he could take what he learned in the classroom and immediately apply it to the real world. “I knew I loved it,” he says. He was promoted to general manager in 2012 and currently runs the company’s design and build division. Seeing people’s reactions to the finished projects is still a motivating factor for him. “We can take a yard that looks disheveled, and we can turn it into a place where people enjoy spending time,” he explains.
Seraphin’s oldest son, Alex, joined the company in 2018, becoming the third generation to be involved with Ross and Jack’s Landscaping. He now serves as the maintenance division’s general manager, focusing on investing in new equipment and automating many processes.
Seraphin foresees the time when his son and Spatola will take over the business.
Elmhurst, where they are headquartered, has “extensive water issues,” says Spatola. Ross and Jack’s Landscaping is one of the preferred vendors when there is a need for drainage and other related work.
Spatola, Seraphin’s cousin, came on board in 2008. He
Like the Vicari brothers, the current leadership at Ross and Jack’s Landscaping is focused on learning and keeping up with the industry, says Spatola. They have taken advantage of workshops, seminars and other learning opportunities offered in a variety of places, including Landscape Illinois.
HELP WANTED HELP WANTED
Landscape Designer
We are GROWING!
Lupfer Landscaping is a family-owned company in the western suburbs that has been serving clients for 35 years. We are looking to add a creative, self-motivated individual with strong interpersonal skills to our experienced design team. This designer will work hand in hand with our clients through the entire design and installation process. Our ideal candidate will be flexible, have a positive, collaborative attitude, a passion for design, and a desire to learn. We offer a dynamic work environment with an emphasis on the importance of work/ life balance.
Job Description & Responsibilities
• Attend client meetings along with the owner
• Develop design and project proposal
• Manage job materials
• Collaborate and communicate with the client throughout the process
• Quality control Minimum Job Requirements
• 1+ years of landscape design & installation experience
• Portfolio of work (student projects are acceptable)
• Proficient with CAD
• Ability to work collaboratively with clients and all Lupfer Landscaping employees How to apply: Please email your resume to gretchen@lupferlandscaping.com
Salary Range: $55,000-$100,000 (Dependent Upon Experience)
Balanced Environments, Inc., a leading Chicago, Lake, and Milwaukee county area Landscape and snow removal contractor, seeks a motivated individual for our Branch Manager position.
The ideal candidate will be motivated, organized, and experienced in managing maintenance grounds crews.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Assemble and lead a team of highly motivated, skilled employees for the Milwaukee market.
• Manage daily operations in our Pewaukee location, including scheduling, equipment, staffing, discipline, and production.
• Supervise and manage a portfolio of landscape and snow accounts.
• Prepare and present site recommendations for client properties.
• Maintain client relationships and develop new clients through networking and sales of new services.
• Calling on prospective clients and developing the market.
• Prepare formal estimates and quotes for clients.
HELP WANTED
• Address clients’ questions and concerns, as needed.
• Assist Sales team at trade shows, marketing and networking events as needed with a concentration in Milwaukee.
• Actively pursue annual renewals on accounts sold.
• Other tasks and responsibilities outlined in the position description.
• Report to the CEO and COO to monitor and insure revenue and performance benchmarks.
• Responsible for ensuring delivery of quality services and customer satisfaction.
• Develop long-term relationships with clients to ensure open-line of communication.
• Assist with scheduling crews and conduct site inspections to evaluate services performed.
• Assist with scheduling enhancements crews and conduct site inspections to evaluate services performed.
• Schedule and monitor snow command for the branch.
• Provide estimates for supplemental work & enhancements to improve the quality of landscape.
• Responsible for monitoring operation expenses. Review financial reports and seek avenues to improve the branch’s bottom line.
• Develop and coordinate plans for the efficient use of personnel and resources.
• Participate in branch recruitment plan to fulfill staffing needs.
• Train and mentor crew personnel.
• Participate and conduct routine training sessions to maximize production and efficiency. Promote high standards for customer service.
• Develop a safety culture and create a positive team environment.
• Assist with landscape maintenance estimates, including measurements & data entry. Qualifications and Standards of Performance:
We are seeking an experienced and detailed Landscape Maintenance Supervisor to join our team. This role will oversee maintenance and enhancement field crews, schedule, manage routing, and work with our Maintenance Manager to deliver great service and quality to our clients. The ideal candidate has strong management skills, high-level experience in plant care, and the ethic to drive quality and performance. Tentinger Landscapes provides construction, maintenance, and snow to discerning residential and commercial clients in the far West suburbs of Chicagoland.
Compensation & Benefits:
-competitive salary ($60,000 - $80,000) -company vehicle provided for business use -401(k) Plan (enrollment after 6 months)
-Health Insurance (75% company contribution)
-Dental & Vision (95% company contribution)
-PTO
-cell phone & laptop
Job Type: full-time
Salary Range: -$60,000 - $80,000 per year How to Apply: Website application: https:// tentinger.co/landscape-jobs-careers/
Interested applicants should send their resume to: office@tentinger.co or call: 630.913.5100
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Summer’s Last Hurrah
By Nina A. Koziol
Joan Mazat looks at containers as changeable decor. The former Head of New Product Development for Ball Ingenuity has worked with fascinating plants for more than 25 years. When choosing summer combos for pots, “I’m looking for longevity. There’s always a transition period into fall, but you often can’t let things go.” That’s because she chooses long-lasting performers. “The Canna Cannova ‘Gold Leopard’ is the best in my opinion with repeat blooms per stem. And, Coleus is color without flowers and the Inferno is a lovely color to push to fall. All of these are very little maintenance.”
Here are some of her favorite summer-into-September creations.
The Moon Gate — A Welcoming Portal
by Mark Dwyer
Iwork in a small, 3-acre healing garden that features six, 10-foot diameter, steel moon gate arches. These have been added over the last three years, and I can’t imagine the garden without these structures. While I’m long experienced in using arbors and other more rectilinear garden structures, there is something entrancing about circular openings in both architectural applications and certainly out in the garden.
A moon gate is a traditional element in Chinese gardens and has some significant symbolism to include not only representing the moon but also promoting the concept of a new beginning. Birth, renewal and the cyclical nature of life are associated with these structures. Reminiscent of a full moon, these portals, whether installed within a wall or freestanding, signify a new lunar cycle which goes back to the acceptance of new beginnings and the sense of personal renewal. Admittedly, I became aware of this symbolism only after they were installed as I just thought they would look cool (and they do!).
I’ve seen moon gates in Chinese gardens many times and appreciate how they frame and enhance the view, become welcoming and invite passage through them. These moon gates were incorporated into structures, but I’ve also seen freestanding versions or those with a low wall. Technically, the structures in my garden are considered moon gate arches but serve that same function of inviting passage through them to a new experience in the garden. In some cultures, married couples will step through a moon gate which represents not only a new beginning but is associated with good luck. The steel moon gate arches in my healing garden setting were designed to be mounted to the edges of an 8-foot wide path (ideal for accessibility of wheelchairs, hospital beds and our maintenance vehicles). Each arch (powdercoated black) consists of two portions connected with cross pieces (3 feet apart). We then secured black, galvanized steel, vinyl-coated hardware cloth (1/2 inch grid, 3 feet wide) over each structure to
help accommodate immediate vine coverage. We’re slowly growing, guiding and securing fragrant climbing roses on these structures, but the hardware cloth allows us to support very fast-growing annual vines like moonflower (Ipomoea alba), hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus) and Spanish flag (Mina lobata). These moon gates, by the end of summer, are smothered in foliage and flowers and still offer their inviting, circular form. As donor-funded garden elements, these structures also have some inspirational quotes and other decorative elements but are dimensionally identical. They also support holiday lights and decorations for garden events!
Circular forms in the garden are powerful, and the use of a well-placed moon gate or moon gate arch can become a focal point and attractive portal that further frames a view or destination. The long history and symbolism of these structures certainly has merit as well but feedback such as, “Those sure look cool!” might be reason enough to consider a moon gate.
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