The Buckeye, May 2015 Volume 26, Issue 4

May 2015

Vol. 26, Issue 4

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THE SPARKLEOF FAIRYGARDENS

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THE FINE PRINTThe statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the associa-tion, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as members of the ONLA does not constitute an endorsement of the prod-ucts or featured services.

STAFFDick Posey, Interim Executive DirectorRoni Petersen, Membership & CertificationAmanda Domsitz, Communications DirectorAmy Eldridge, CENTS ManagerKaren Lykins, Accountant Lisa Larson, Education Director

OFFICERS

Mike Dues, PresidentDues Nursery & Landscaping, Ltd.

David Richards, Immediate Past PresidentSouth Ridge Farm

Steve Maddox, President ElectMichell’s

DIRECTORS

Hillary Henry, Board MemberThe Pattie Group

Annette Howard, Board Member Gilson Gardens, Inc.

Adam McClanahan, Board MemberCarlton Plants

Josh Posey, Board Member Buckeye Resources, Inc.

Ellen Gallucci Purcell, Board MemberRiepenhoff Landscape, Ltd.

Mark Reiner, Board MemberOakland Nursery, Inc.

The Buckeye is published10 times per year by The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc.72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081p 614.899.1195f [email protected]

In the spirit of land stewardship, please consider recycling this publication.

a l s o i n t h i s i s s u e 14 New Members • 33 Industry Calendar • 34 About The Buckeye • 34 Classified Ads • 34 Ad Index

i n d u s t r y n e w s

4 President’s Perspective

Giving Your Business the

Personal Touch

6 ONLA Office Update

CENTS 2016 Updated Dates

6 Legislative Hotline

House Makes Major Changes To

Budget Bill

front cover:

Fairy Garden at Baker’s Village Garden Center in

Powell, Ohio

b u s i n e s s i s s u e

10 Why Tree Matter

Fungus Interruptus

15 Safety First

Emergency Exits & Exit Routes

17 Retail Roundtable

The Sparkle of Fairy Gardens

20 Precision Horticulture

Precision Technology Is Not Just for

Farm Production

22 Educational Update

Floricultural Crops Seed Quality and

Seed Handling

26 Look to the Future

FFA: The Future of Our Industry

f e a t u r e s

27 Let’s Talk Silicon

29 Exit Planning & the 5 K’s

31 Excerpt from the PEST

Newsletter

CONTENTSMay 2015 Vol. 26, Issue 4

May 2015

Vol. 26, Issue 4

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B P r e s i d e n t ’ s P e r s p e c t i v e

Mike DuesDues Nursery & Landscaping, Ltd.

ONLA [email protected]

Giving Your Business

the Personal Touch

A business cannot succeed without clients. To build a client base, you must create a plan to gain clients, keep the clients you have and continuously market to grow the base.

To build up a customer base takes time and dedication and most importantly a PERSONAL touch. Business and sales are not impersonal they are quite the opposite. Your relationship with a customer is only as good as your last interaction. Just one negative experience may be all it takes to alienate a client and send them running for a competitor. Always be courteous and try to give each interaction a personal touch. Sending a thank you e-mail after a completed deal or transaction will leave the customer with a positive impression of your company.

Most companies think of themselves as customer-focused. Or at least they want to. But what does it really mean to be customer-focused? To many, it means asking customers what they want in a product or service. They’ve heard reports of organizations developing products in a vacuum and they strive to be sure their firm doesn’t make the same mistake. These organizations seek out current and prospective customers and ask them what they need. ‘What plants would you like in a new landscape?’ ‘What would you like your back patio to look like?’ What kind of tree do you want?

With the best of intentions, most landscape managers and designers ask these questions and open-mindedly listen to the responses. This approach is fundamentally flawed for two reasons. First, customers don’t always know what they want. They don’t spend much time thinking about what they want or need. There may be some colors they wish their landscape had. Some of these things may be easy for some to articulate, while others may take more thought and reflection before they can clearly articulate them. When was the last time you thought about how commonly used items (microwave, washing machine, lawn mower, etc.) could be improved?

Customers rarely know our products as well as we do. This limits their thinking, and therefore their ideas. Most importantly, the customer makes a number of assumptions when they articulate what their needs are.

Ask qualifying questions. When a client states a need, repeat it back to them and qualify it with what you think they want. By breaking down a single need into multiple steps, you can further understand the scope of what they are trying to say.

Offer different solutions that may serve the client’s needs better. The client may think he wants plant/service “X,” but try to delve into whether that is really going to solve his current need. If you have a better plant/service that will help him over the long term, bring this up. It

4 The Buckeye onla.org

shows you are listening to him and thinking about how you can better serve him. Avoid dismissing a need or a statement. A client may have what appears to you to be a fanciful need that cannot be fulfilled. In his/her mind however, it may be a real and important need. Find a way to incorporate what he/she wants with what you can provide.

Make the decision together. By involving the client in every step, you make them a part of the decision instead of just giving them a one-size-fits-all approach. Ask them if he/she agrees several times, ask if they have any ideas that will make it better and then repeat back what you hear to confirm it.

Treating each and every client individually, for their wants, needs, expectations will help build and keep your client base.

This season ahead, may we all have “Godspeed” which is used to wish someone success or good fortune, as on a journey. B

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JANUARY 11-13, 2016

MONDAY. TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY.

NEW SHOW DATES

CENTS is giving you the tools to get 2016 started

on the right path!


SAVE THE DATE!JANUARY 11-13, 2016



ENGAGE. EQUIP. EMPOWER.

We have some exciting and VERY important news to share about CENTS 2016! We listened to you, our members, attendees and exhibitors, when you suggested we move the show back later in the month.

The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce that CENTS 2016 will take place, January 11-13 (Monday – Wednesday) with Pre-Convention workshops on Sunday, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio.

ONLA plans to maintain our Monday – Wednesday pattern for future years! For your convenience, the dates are as follows:

• 2016 – January 11-13 • 2017 – January 16-18 • 2018 – January 15-17

For more details, and future updates, please see www.centsmarketplace.com. B

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ONLA_Pink Mink_HalfPg.indd 1 4/7/15 3:28 PMonla.org May 2015 7

House Makes Major Changes To Budget Bill

House Republicans put a final stamp on Governor John Kasich’s $72.3 billion biennial budget deleting nearly all of the governor’s tax proposals from the bill and diverting that package and other initiatives to individualized study committees. This new measure, adopted in the House Fi-nance and Appropriations Committee, also includes $179 million in additional funding for schools over the 2016-2017 fiscal years (FY). This new version (HB 64) guaran-tees that school districts won’t receive less than they did in FY 2015 under a plan that House leaders say otherwise maintains the “footprint” of the governor’s existing K-12 funding formula. Other key changes in the bill include: requiring the administration to seek a Medicaid waiver for health savings accounts; returning Medicaid eligibility determinations to the General Assembly; and increased funding for food banks, drug courts, indigent defense, drug addiction treatment programs and College Opportu-nity Grants.

The House’s tax-related revisions had been telegraphed for some time by a reluctant majority caucus that has witnessed a lengthy parade of mostly opponent witnesses during committee deliberations over the last several weeks. Key business groups, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, have also been vocal in their opposition to many facets of Governor Kasich’s plan. Deleted are increases in sales, commercial activity, tobacco and oil and gas severance taxes. One of the few components of the governor’s plan to survive is means-testing for income tax credits and deductions. Instead of a major overhaul to the tax code that continues a shift away from income to consumption-based taxes, the House GOP plan would provide for $1.2 billion income tax cuts using the project-ed growth in tax revenue to offset the expense.

These cuts include a 6.3% across-the-board reduction in rates, bringing the top rate below 5%. Moreover, this new plan makes permanent a 75% small business tax cut

for the first $250,000 of income.Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) said his

caucus wasn’t completely at odds with the governor’s approach, but the far-reaching plans need more study. To that end, the bill creates a “2020 Tax Commission” to gather input and more buy-in from business groups. It’s one of a handful of new study panels in the revised bill, which also creates a new school finance review panel patterned after the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee. Finance Chairman Rep. Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) said the bill also eliminates Ohio’s political contribution tax credit and redirects that estimated $8 million two-year revenue pickup toward co-ops and internships. The overall plan spends $775 million less in general revenue funds than the governor, but $520 million more in “all funds” as a re-sult of increasing the proposed hospital franchise fee from 3% to 4%. That change would draw down more Medicaid matching funds from the federal government.

The GRF total of the two-year plan now stands at about $71.5 billion and the all-funds total at about $131.5 billion. Among the budget amendments adopted in the substitute bill that may be of interest to the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association are changes that:

• Provide $500,000 more for the Healthy Lake Erie program.

• Exempt slag from the definition of industrial waste.• Increase OARDC (Ohio Agricultural Research and

Development Center), Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant funds by 5%.

• Remove violation language changes for pipeline safety requirements.

• Exclude clay and shale products from solid and industrial waste definitions.

• Add $5.5 million for food banks.• Add $10 million to Ohio College Opportunity

Grant program.• Prohibit a state agency from requiring a contractor

to enter into a PLA.

Belinda JonesONLA Legislative Consultant

[email protected]

House Makes Major Changes To Budget Bill

B L e g i s l a t i v e H o t l i n e


• Revise GED test eligibility.• Create an Expenditure Committee to review all

state spending.• Limit Controlling Board authority to increase ap-

propriations by 10% or $10 million, whichever is less.

It is noteworthy that the increase to OARDC and Ohio State University Extension were part of our Green Indus-try Advocacy Day talking points! While we cannot take total credit for the amendment on this subject, we should pause and consider that our conversations during advoca-cy day DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Thank you to all of you who participated in Green Industry Advocacy Day!

HB 64 will soon be voted out of the House and deliber-ations will take place in the Ohio Senate during the month of May before it is sent to conference committee to hash out the differences. According to the Ohio Constitution, the budget bill must be BALANCED and signed by the Governor by June 30. We will keep you posted!

House Commerce And Labor Committee Holds Hearings On Home Improvement Contractor Registration Bill

Your legislative committee has been busy reviewing and commenting on several issues, including the latest iteration of the “home improvement contractor” bill.

Sound familiar? It should! A version of this bill has been introduced multiple times over the last decade and a half. After not passing in the last General Assembly (GA), the current version, HB 77, was reintroduced in the 131st GA by Rep. Pattmon (D; Cleveland). (see: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA131-HB-77). As was the case in similar/prior bills, HB 77, was introduced at the urging of home-owners who have been “taken to the cleaners” by their contractors. The emotions expressed in testimony and the severity of the loss is compelling. Further, the current proponents have been successful in getting media atten-tion for their plight. When you listen to their stories, you can’t help but want to do something to protect others from similar abuse and suffering. However, at this writing, the ONLA legislative committee does not believe HB 77 is the answer to the problem.

As introduced, HB 77 would create a “home improve-ment contractor” REGISTRATION within the Board of Building Standards and would make changes to the spe-cialty contractor licensing provisions of current law.

While the bill does not at first blush appear to ap-ply to landscape construction, the language is ambigu-ous enough to cause us pause. Further, ONLA experts believe that the bill, as drafted, will simply add additional requirements to the law abiding contractors while not having enough teeth to bring enforcement against the “shysters.”

At deadline for this article, the ONLA is working on a draft letter to the sponsor and the chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, Rep. Ron Young (R; Painesville) expressing our thoughts and concerns.

But we would love your opinion! What do you think of this bill? What do you think of the problem that the proponents espouse? Do you have your own solution? Let us know!

Agritourism BillsWhile most of the attention in the General Assembly is

on the budget bill, we are also following companion bills on “agritourism.” SB 75 (Shannon Jones; R- Springboro) and HB 80 (Burkley; R-Payne) are bills moving simulta-neously that if passed would limit the authority of a board of county commissioners or board of township trustees to prohibit agritourism through zoning, to apply current agricultural use valuation to land used for agritourism for property tax purposes, and to establish immunity in a civil action for agritourism providers.

For more information on this topic, see: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legisla-

tion-summary?id=GA131-HB-80. B

onla.org May 2015 9

B W h y T r e e s M a t t e rImage 1: Fungi as food. Ethereally beautiful and edible (for some) oyster mushrooms (Photo by Curtis Young)


Let us take a break from our “Why Trees Matter” series to digress into our occasional series on the Wild World of the Kingdom Fungi. For now “let rot proclaim its revolution,” let’s surround ourselves with “Chaos fungorum.”

Fungi are many things, from saprophytes living on dead organic matter to parasites feeding enzymatically on living plant and animal cells. Usually, in horticulture we tend to focus on plant parasitic fungi, plant pathogens, since fungi are the most common pathogens we deal with, from the rose black spot fungus, Diplocarpon rosae, to the Dutch elm disease fungus, Ophiostoma ulmi. These fungal pathogens include Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen of potatoes that causes late blight of potato, de-fueling large areas of Ireland and Europe and a key factor in the Irish potato famine and mass death and emigration, to the United States, and Phytophthora cinnamomi, a common species that causes root and crown rots on many woody nursery and landscape plants. Oh, but wait, Phytophthora is water mold organism, and is no longer considered a fungus by scientists. Whazzup

with that? Is this another example of scientists changing their paradigm? Scandalous? Not. Science is all about describing nature better and better over time. But more on that later.

Many fungi are soloists, but many others are symbionts, making their living in intimate connection with other living things, many in a win-win sort of way as mutualistic symbionts where both partners benefit. A common example is a lichen, when certain fungal species partner with cyanobacteria or algae, with the fungus absorbing minerals and water for the partnership and adhering to the substrate, be it tree bark or cemetery stones. The algae in turn, photosynthesizes, doing what plants do, taking energy from the sun to combine with carbon dioxide and water and converting these into carbohydrate food, the energy that drives the food chain for us all – and what algae do for their partner fungi of the lichen. Another example of a mutualistic symbiosis is mycorrhizae (literally “fungus-root”) in which certain soil-borne mycorrhizal fungi link up with the roots of most plants, enhancing mineral uptake for the plants with

Fungus Interruptus

please see page 12

onla.org May 2015 11

the plant of course benefitting the fungus by providing it food produced by photosynthesis.

Fungi, of course, are also often good food for us humans. Fungi are useful for processing foods because they are heterotrophs (organisms that get their nutrition from other organisms) that feed by absorption- that is, they secrete powerful enzymes into their environment that break down complex organic molecules into smaller molecules, which they then absorb. Thusly, we can alter the chemical makeup (and therefore the nutrition, taste, and texture) of foods by allowing fungi to grow into them. Fungi also produce chemicals - which are waste products as far as the fungi are concerned - that can impart desirable flavors and aromas.

For example, consider that most heavenly of foods, those derived from Theobroma cacao (which literally means “food of the gods”), the cocoa plant. Cacoa beans are naturally extremely bitter, but, with the help of the

fungi Candida krusei and species of the Geotrichum fungus, cacao seeds decompose, produce acetic acid, kill the seed embryo, destroy the bitter compounds and help create – heavenly aromas and flavors. Gods-like, indeed. And, as an extra benefit, Theobroma cacao, in tropical soils, often relies heavily on mycorrhizal fungi to survive and thrive.

And that is only the beginning of our mycological

meal (mycos= fungus). With our chocolate, how about some cheese? Say some Roquefort or gorgonzola or stilton or North American blues? Fungal spores and threadlike mycelium in Roquefort cheese come from the fungus, Penicillium roquefortii. Instead of a blue, how about camembert, you say? Well then, that comes from Penicillium camembertii, I kid you not. Of course we also obtain milk from cows and sheep and goats. One of the reasons Roquefort cheese costs so much is that it is made from sheep’s milk, and sheep produce relatively less milk.

Captions (Clockwise from Top Left) Image 2: Fungi as architecture. Hexagonal-polypore fungus; Image 3: The wrinkled peach fungus; Image 4: Hear ye! Hear ye! The tree ear fungus; Image 5: Black knot fungus on cherry plus lichen. Many fungia mongi.

continued from page 11


Returning to our picnic, how about a crusty French baguette and some beer or wine – well yeasts are fungi! Maybe add some truffles or morels or edible mushrooms – fungi! Eastern picnic rather than Western picnic? Fill your bento box with textured tempeh which ferments soy due to the fungus Rhizopus oligosporus or with miso paste, made possible, along with rice, due to the fungus Aspergillus oryzae. We are the fungus we eat!

Of course, not all is so lovely for us in our interactions with the fungal world. Aflatoxins, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, if at too high a level in agricultural products from corn to peanuts are carcinogens and can cause liver damage, and levels are carefully monitored with the principle that “the dose is the poison”. There are of course poisonous mushrooms. There are alkaloids produced by the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea) which, when the fungus growing along with rye seedlings produced ergoted grains that were then harvested with healthy grains in too high a percentage, resulted in gangrenous (from ergotamine) and hallucinogenic (from lysergic acid) ergotism (St. Anthony’s Fire). This was mostly a medieval phenomenon, but when grain quality controls were lax in Europe during the hunger years after World War I, ergotism was still a gangrene-maker and killer. And that hallucinogen-inducing alkaloid and its trip through the 20th and 21st century? That ergotistical lysergic acid is the biological precursor of none other than - LSD.

Add to that aspergillosis, candidosis, cryptococcosis, and histoplasmosis, all of these human diseases induced by fungi, and we realize, that as with all of “nature red with tooth and claw”, fungi take us down many paths. Which reminds me of my own personal favorite – the

athlete’s foot fungi (Tinea species). And one last unusual but potentially serious problem: Rose Gardener’s Disease, caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii, so called because this soil fungus, if inoculated into your hand or arm on a rose thorn can cause serious long-term problems, even death. Sporothrix is not a plant pathogen (you do not have to worry about getting black spot or powdery mildew from your roses) but it can be a serious human pathogen, so if you have persistent problems with rose thorn injuries, consider contacting your physician.

Enough for now. Obviously, there is more: from fungi as medicines, either from the original Penicillium chrysogenum to more modern penicillin derivatives, to fungi as bio-remediators, such as white rot fungi used for digestion of coal tars and other pollutants. Fungi fascinate, and as we learn more about them we continue to revise our understanding. The great categorizer of life on earth, the Swedish botanist Linnaeus, back in the mid-1700s, was utterly frustrated by fungi, the life cycles of which were hard to determine, especially with their microscopic stages. He threw up his hands and lumped them all together in one species: Chaos fungorum!

For ages we then classified the many fungal species as being in the Plant Kingdom due to the fact that they had cell walls and did not move around like animals, but in the 20th century scientists ditched that concept, bringing in the context that all self-respecting plants produce their own food, unlike fungi that feed on already dead organic matter or living organic matter, but not producing their own food. So, the Kingdom Fungi was proposed and accepted as a good construct for describing nature. And most recently, some organisms that what were once considered fungi, like that Phytophthora cinnamomi and its water mold relatives, were kicked out of the Fungi, due

Image 6: (left) Velvet-foot fungus, with the great name of Flammulina velutipes; Image 7: (right) Young chicken of the woods fungus (it has the texture of chicken strips when eaten). Tasty for many, especially when cooked in olive oil with garlic and onions.

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to differing cell wall constituents, and differing metabolic and reproductive features, and given its own kingdom, Oomycota. A revolution in rot!

Which brings us to the great poet, John Updike, and his “Ode to Rot”

Let rotproclaim its revolution:the microscopic hyphae sinktheir fangs of enzyme into the rosy peachand turn its blush a yielding brown, a mud of melting glucose:once-staunch committees of chemicals now voteto join the invading union,the former monarch and constitution routedby the riot of rhizoids, the thalloid consensus. Finally, fungi are photogenic. Enjoy the

accompanying images. B

Jim Chatfield & Curtis YoungOhio State University [email protected]

Image 8: Velvet-foot fungus, with the great name of Flammulina velutipes

The following firms and individuals have been approved for ONLA membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants within three weeks following receipt of this issue of The Buckeye.

The following companies are applying for ACTIVE membership:

Mattingly Landscape Services, LLCP.O. Box 2081Zanesville, OH 43702John Tolley, Category 5

Ohio Green Works LLC8604 Lytle-Ferry RoadWaynesville, OH 45068Drew Parramore, Category 4

Pine Ridge Landscaping, Inc.P.O. Box 901Middletown, OH 45044Stephen Norvell, Category 4

Rannells Greenhouses39457 Mound Hill RoadAlbany, OH 45710Robert Rannells, Category 5

Techo-Bloc838 Bellflower Avenue SWCanton, OH 44710Mike Rizzo, Category 1

The following people are applying for Affiliate membership:

Tiffany Woods, Marlington Local SchoolsAndy Lamancusa, Marlington High School

The following person is applying for Professional Individual membership:

Jason Grunden, City of Westerville

The following people are applying for Student membership:

Josh Friedler, Gates MillsNatalie E Geuy, The Ohio State UniversityDakota Gray, Gates MillsJonathan Hogan, The Ohio State University

Marlington Local SchoolAudra BaizerCourtney BlakeAustin BowersPeyton BryantSabrina CarpenterSteve ClarkRaven CoffeyKayla ColapietroTaylor ColeLevi Coonjaryd CreagerClay DannerJustin DeckShawnice DunhamJacelyn HainesAustin HershbergerRachel HershbergerMichael KellyJeni KetronNate MankoBenjamin MartinMegan A. MillerSabrena RagerMadison SantucciKyle D. SmithAdam ThayerShyarn ThorntonCatherine VanceAustin Zufall B

New Members


When I conduct a plant or facility inspection, one of the areas that always seem to have a problem is Emergency Exits and the path to the Exit. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to the requirements for Exit Routes and Exit Signs. The OSHA standard 1910.36 Design and Construction requirements for Exit Routes and 1910.37, Maintenance Safeguards and Operational Features for Exit Routes outline the requirements covering this area.

I usually receive a number of questions concerning this area. The following is a list of the common questions and the OSHA requirements for each.

How Many Exits are required? 1910.36(b)(3)

A single exit route is permitted where the number of employees, the size of the building, its occupancy or the arrangement of the workplace is such that all employees would be able to evacuate safely during an emergency.

Can I Lock the Exit Door? 1910.36(d)An exit door must be unlocked. Employees must be

able to open an exit door from the inside at all times without keys, tools or special knowledge. A device such as a panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted.

What type of Exit Door is permitted? 1910.36(e)

A side hinged exit door must be used.

1910.36(e)(2)The door that connects any room to an exit route must

swing out in the direction of exit travel if the room is designed to be occupied by more than 50 people.

How wide does the Exit Route have to be? 1910.36(g)(2)

An exit access must be at least 28” wide at all points. Where there is only one access leading to an exit or exit discharge, the width of the exit and exit discharge must be at least equal to the width of the exit areas.

1910.36(g)(3) The width of an exit must be sufficient to

accommodate the maximum permitted occupant load of each floor served by the exit route.

Does the Exit Route need to be straight? 1910.37(a)(3)

Exit routes must be free and unobstructed. No materials or equipment may be placed either permanently or temporarily within the exit route.

What are the lighting requirements? 1910.37(b)

Lighting and markings must be adequate and appropriate. Each exit route must be adequately lighted so that an employee with normal vision can see along the exit route.

EMERGENCY EXITS AND EXIT ROUTES

please see page 16


SAFETY FIRST

What if there are areas in the plant/facility that block the Exit sign? 1910.37(b)(4)

If the direction of travel to an exit or exit discharge is not immediately apparent, signs must be posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit discharge.

Do all doors have to be labeled? 1910.37(b)(5)

Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked Not an Exit or similar designation or be identified by a sign indicating the actual use.

How much light is required on an Exit sign? 1910.37

Each exit sign must be illuminated to a surface value of at least five foot candles by a reliable light source and be distinctive in color. Self-luminous or electroluminescent signs that have a minimum luminance surface value of at least .06 foot lamberts are permitted.

How big does the Exit sign have to be? 1910.37(b)(7)

Each exit sign must have the word “Exit” in plainly legible letters, not less than six inches high with the principal strokes of the letters in the word “Exit” not less than three-fourths of an inch wide.

When you do your internal inspection, please note the above to ensure you are meeting the OSHA requirements outlined.

If you have any safety related questions, or need help with your safety program, please give me a call at 330-854-4577. B

By: Mr. Gary Hanson, President American Safety & Health Management Consultants, [email protected]



Hi Kids! Do you know what time it is? That’s right; it’s time for another round of “Let’s Ask the Retailers!” You know the rules, we ask the question and our retailing aficionados provide their thought provoking brain stimulating answers, sure to change your retailing ways. Aficionados, are you ready? Then grab your buzzers and let’s play! Here is your question. Good luck.

“Fairy Gardens seem to be all we read about today when addressing what’s hot and what’s not in the retail garden centers. So, we ask you this: “Fairy Gardens – are you into it? Why? How deep and what do you sell? Are sales even on the rise or showing a decrease? What do you do to set yourself apart from others promoting Fairy Gardens? And, if you’re not into them, why not?”

Tom Hilgeman / White Oak Garden Center –

“Yes, we are into Fairy Gardening. We have a nice selection of plants and accessories to go with the plants. The interest is strong and we are seeing growth each year. The last few years we have tried to concentrate more on the plants that go along with a miniature planting, and even promoting more miniature gardening than Fairy gardens. Although we have a big (maybe too big) display of the non-plant items I think that continuing to work on having a great selection of the mini or small plants to go along them is important. The Fairy Garden Make & Take classes that we have are popular and well attended. There have been classes for kids as well as adults and both fill up quickly.”

Jodi Dawson / Oakland Nursery – “Fairy Gardens have been very good to us at Oakland

Nurseries; sales have been on the increase for 4 years. We thought it would be a trend that would pass within a year or so. Fairy Gardens seem to be a hobby that will stick around. They can be touching memories for many.

Customers can create beach, camping, playground, fantasy and holiday scenes taking them back to their childhood. Seasonal gardens give an excuse to design a new garden! We have dedicated a 10x10 space in our gift area full of ridiculously charming figures, books and accessories. In the nursery and our greenhouse you will find many varieties of miniature plants to choose from. And many of those introduce new plants to our clientele that may have been overlooked before. Creating a Fairy Garden is a wonderful family project. It is a fabulous way to get children acquainted with plants! We have had workshops that have been very successful. The customer usually buys more than they anticipated for their new garden! We also notice that Fairy Gardens have sparked ideas for further container gardening and water features. There are unlimited items that can be purchased for fairy gardens. It is one more way to bring old and new customers into your store.”

Steve Maddox / Michell’s – “I am fortunate in my position that I can travel and

see all the wonderful garden centers throughout southern Ohio, Kentucky and Eastern Indiana. I would have to guess that nearly 90% of those garden centers carry something in the Fairy Gardening category. There has definitely been an increase in the depth of product carried from what I saw last year. From what I have encountered, most start with a few “hard-goods” grouped together on a shelf in the store. The plants are usually carried in a separate area outside in one of the greenhouses. The most successful stores put all of it together near a display garden or perhaps along with small, creative containers. The best displays are those that really bring out the creativity of the staff. I have seen toolboxes, shoes, purses, old charcoal grills, old desks just to name a few things that have been transformed into a Fairy Garden. The key to success as most things are (in retail), is to be different. That doesn’t always mean you have to

please see page 18


The ofFairy Gardens

SparkleBR e t a i l R o u n d t a b l e

carry different things, it just means you have to be more creative in display work and containers from your nearest competitor. Also - do workshops on Fairy Gardening and post on Facebook! So, what is my recommendation? Get into it while it’s still pretty hot! There is certainly money to be made and there are plenty of places to buy both hard-goods and plants. The initial investment is low but the rewards are very good. It’s a great way to build repeat customers during the slow months.

Tim Clark / H.J. Benken Florist and Greenhouses –

“At H.J. Benken, we are starting to get more into the Fairy Gardening. We already sell quite a few small green plants which are perfect for Fairy Gardening. We have recently started to carry more of a selection of the actual accessories. One area that we struggle with is how to display such small and ornate figures and accessories in a greenhouse atmosphere. Another area that we are trying to work through is how much inventory to carry of these accessories. If it looks like you don’t have any inventory, chances are the customer is going to get the same feel and decide that your store isn’t committed to selling the product. Get back to me next year and I’ll talk about how it went.”

Darlene Cooper / Sharon Nursery – “Fairy Gardening is (and has been for the last few

years) HOT!! I really don’t know that it’s come close to peaking yet and I think that if you remain inventive and proactive in your sales approach it will continue to trend up. One aspect of Fairy Gardening that has been a bit overlooked by many is that many of us forget to add Miniature or Mini Gardening to our marketing strategy when we display our product. Mini Gardening (which overlaps with Rock Gardening) is not new and is far from dead. The good news is that now we can combine all of these fun, creative garden visions together and with any luck at all, MAKE MORE MONEY! Fairy and Mini Gardening is of special appeal to such a large

demographic. Grandmothers, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, retirees, condo and landominium owners are all future customers when it comes to Fairy and Mini Gardening. When young children work with their favorite relative or friend on these types of project, the benefits are almost impossible to measure or list. Kids learn design, creativity, responsibility, and connectivity to living things. So it would be no surprise to learn that we are building future relationships with the next generation of homeowners and/or parents! Where I come from we call this a win, win. While I wish we were better about scheduling events relating to this topic, I feel strongly that offering such things is so important. It gets the customer to your location, it begins the bonding process of building a garden together and it forms an impression in the customer’s mind about the support that we, as Independent Garden Centers offer our customers. The coolest thing about all of this is that the sky’s the limit as far as our potential to grow this as a category. While customers are probably not spending thousands of dollars on this product it goes without saying that if your sales staff is engaged and enthusiastic we can build on these new consumers and sell them some items for the big world they live in.”

Tony Sciambi / Buckeye Resources – “Obviously, as a Salesperson, I am not involved in

Fairy Gardens. However, calling on Garden Centers throughout the State, one thing stands out. The stores that set up displays that attract attention are the ones who are selling Fairy Garden accessories. I can think of two right off the top of my head because of the attention to details. Customers need ideas and these two present just great displays that show what can be done in their own garden. Both Gales in Westlake Ohio and DeMonye’s in Columbus have attracted my attention. Their displays are outstanding. If you have any pictures of your display maybe this fall we could have an issue where we can set aside a whole section just for Fairy Gardens.”



Photo Credit: Baker’s Village Garden Center, Powell, Ohio

Mike Ennemoser/Greenleaf Landscapes – “Fairy Gardening is a strong category for us, here at

Greenleaf Landscapes. We got started into the category about 10 years ago and the category has grown leaps and bounds ever since. Why you ask... I say why not! As a retailer, we look for unique items that will complement our plants and sell. Our Fairy Gardening category sells through very well and is an extremely profitable one. How deep are we into it? I would say deeply vested. How do we do it? We do a fairy garden display bed at the entrance of our store. This bed sets the tone or interest of the category as customers walk in. In most cases, it stops them in their tracks. The display bed highlights miniature plants, accessories, houses, and any new items for the category. Miniature plants are available and usually close by on a separate table for retail purchase.

Inside the entrance to our store: “Fairy Gardening” merchandise is the first visual sight line seen as you walk in (front and center). The merchandise is displayed and priced fairly well on rustic shelving attached to the wall. This area is a fairly tight space that also must be passed by in order to further enter our store. It is an awkward retail space near our check out area, but really sells the entire Fairy Gardening category. I find Fairy Garden items are usually an impulse item. People just stand there and start dropping merchandise onto the counter as they shop. This “fun” category is for all ages, and all gardener levels.

What sets us apart? We do a Fairy Gardening “How to” clinic in the spring (mid -April) and then again in the fall (late September). We discuss miniature gardening, design elements, scale, plant selection and accessory options. During the clinic we offer for free a plastic terracotta low container, potting soil, pea gravel, mulch, and accent stone/pebbles for them to create their own “fairy” container garden. My staff assists in plant and accessory selections and potting up the container (if needed) or the customer’s help themselves. All miniature plants and fairy gardening accessories used are then sold at full retail. Pre- event, we usually encourage customers to bring in their friends and to do a pre-register sign up. Customers wanting to attend and who have pre-registered are notified by phone and email as a reminder just before the event (this really improves and solidifies turnout for the event).

We also encourage all attendees to enter and participate in a “Best of Show” contest. Entries can either bring in pictures of landscapes/beds or actual containers (already done) featuring a Fairy Garden theme. Attendees (during the event) vote and 3 winners are awarded gift

certificates. We charge a nominal fee and give it back to all attendees as a bounce back coupon during the event. Turnout is strong and always leads to customers making multiple visits to our store to shop, or referrals for family and friends that want to replicate or create their very own Fairy Garden. The Fairy Garden category is still very strong for our store. Many say that the category has peaked or even declined. I somewhat agree with this comment. There may be some truth to this depending upon your market, competition and your efforts put forth in the miniature category. Displays are the key to retailing this miniature category. We still try to put “plants” first in what we sell. If you have not tried this category, try it, you may be as surprised as I was.”

Ron Wilson / Natorp’s Nursery Outlet –

“Well, I’ll keep my response short and sweet. We do not sell the Fairy Garden accessories, as we have decided it does not fit the plant/product profile of our outlet. But we do have a wonderful display of the small/miniature plants for creating mixed planters, planter bowls, and yes, if you have the need, to landscape that Fairy Garden, as well as pre-made customer planters; all minus the fairy garden goodies. So we’ll stick with just the plants, which sell quite nicely!

That’s it for another round of “Let’s Ask the Retailers!” Hope you enjoyed this month’s edition. We leave you with these fairy tale thoughts: Roni Petersen once told me, “If you see the magic in a fairy tale, you can face the future.” Wm. P. Stalter recently told me that, “Someday you’ll be as old as me and you will start reading fairy tales again.” But it is the ever lovely Amanda Domsitz who reminds us that “Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.” Hey Retailers, can we talk? B

Ron Wilson / Personal Yardboy and ONLA Retail Committee Ghost Writer in the SkyW. A. [email protected]


Photo Credit: Baker’s Village Garden Center, Powell, Ohio

By now you have heard a lot about drones, UAV’s (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), and precision agriculture related to farm production. However, the concepts and the technology are not just for production agriculture. What does “precision agriculture” really mean? Can the trend be applied to horticultural operations?

Precision agriculture is using technology to be more precise, efficient and productive in producing agricultural commodities. In farm production this can include:

• Soil sampling and mapping using GPS coordinates• Variable rate application of fertilizers and

chemicals to specific and exact locations within a field

• Field irrigation systems with moisture sensors that automatically turn on and off based on moisture levels

• Auto steer, that steers equipment with maximum precision

• Variable rate planting, allowing a producer to plant specific varieties in specific locations based on soil and field conditions

• Infrared imagery collected by UAV’s to detect moisture and nutrient levels as well as crop damage due to pests, disease and hail damage

• UAV’s to monitor cattle in remote locations even to the point of detecting when they are in heat.

These are just to name a few examples.

What are the benefits of precision agri-culture?

Using the precision technology allows the producer to minimize the use of inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals, and water thus reducing costs and pollution problems; maximize the efficiency of equipment, reducing fuel, maintenance, and labor costs; reducing soil compaction; and increasing crop yields. All of these benefits make for a more sustainable environment. The technology also allows the producer to have a more immediate response time to crop issues, such as using a UAV to collect data on the damage of a crop after a hailstorm.

Can these same applications be applied to horticulture?

Yes, of course so, and many growers have been

using the new technology to do so. Examples include, a golf course or sports field using soil moisture maps to develop a precision water management plan, or using precision boom sprayers to apply fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides on exact locations, or a greenhouse using temperature and humidity sensors to open and close the vents or roof of a greenhouse. Using robots to move plants in a nursery is also another application.

Last fall, Clark State Community College hosted a focus group of representatives from the horticultural industries. 13 businesses attended the session, including lawn care companies, nurseries, cemeteries, metro parks, golf courses and tree care services. The size of the companies ranged from three workers to over 8,000 employees. Some of the outcomes from our meeting included:

• Two-thirds of the companies were currently using some type of precision equipment in their daily functions, with the most common being water management, GPS mapping, and sprayer applications.

• All companies reported that precision agriculture could be applied to their regular operations.

• All companies expressed an interest in developing internships for students.

• With the many advances to technical equipment, many companies expressed a need for more technical-savvy mechanics who will be able to repair and maintain the new technological equipment that they are using.

Many of the horticultural publications, such as Greenhouse Grower and Growing Produce have excellent articles on “precision horticulture.” Greenhouse Grower has actually had a series of articles on Precision Horticulture, including articles on further defining the concept, robots in the nursery industry and the precision aspects of greenhouses. Of course there is also a publication titled Precision Ag Magazine. These publications as well as many others would be helpful to review to get a better grasp on the many ways that precision agriculture has and is transforming horticulture.

Clark State is the only two-year college in Ohio to offer a degree in Precision Agriculture. Courses in Soil

B P r e c i s i o n H o r t i c u l t u r e


Precision Technology Is Not Just for Farm Production

Science, Soil Fertility, Plant Pest Identification and IPM along with precision courses such as, Introduction to GIS and Cartography, Introduction to UAS, Remote Sensing, Applied GIS for Agriculture and Data Analytics are included in the degree requirements. The content of the required classes is definitely applicable to horticulture. This is the first year for the degree to be offered. The job market for students majoring in Precision Agriculture is very bright. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment opportunities to increase more that 14 percent and create more than 31,600 new jobs by 2022. They also report the median wage for precision agriculture technicians in Ohio as $47,000.

As technology changes at a very rapidly pace, I might add, so does the skill set needed by those entering the work force. Clark State is responding to those changing needs but will also need to rely on industry for direction and support in the way of valuable internships. B

Susan Everett, Ph.D.Clark State Community CollegeCoordinator and Professor, Agribusiness/Horticulture/Precision [email protected]


Nowadays, floriculture growers start their crops using either plugs from seeds or rooted cuttings (also called liners). Growers that use plugs either grow the plugs themselves or buy them from other growers who specialize in plug production. Regardless of who produces the plugs, the objective is to have a healthy seedling in each cell of the plug tray. In order to achieve that, plug producers have to buy seeds of the highest quality possible and then follow appropriate germination procedures (right temperature, light, water, fertility at each plug production phase). Doing otherwise, represents a loss of money. The extent of such loss depends on the number of non-usable plugs per tray and the wholesale price of each plug (Table 1).

Take home message No. 1: Use high quality seeds and follow appropriate germination procedures.

Every floriculture grower starting crops from seed should be aware of some important seed properties:

Seed viability indicates to which degree the seeds are

alive. Sometimes, seeds are alive but do not germinate even when placed under ideal germination conditions. In such case, it said that seeds are dormant. Germination will occur only when what it is inhibiting germination disappears. Hence, seed viability ≠ seed germination.

Seed germination is the emergence and development of the essential structures (root, hypocotyl, cotyledons) that will produce a normal plant under favorable conditions. Reporting the germination potential (expressed as percent germination) of a seed lot is a legal requirement (by law, seed producers must provide this information on packets) and it is measured under ideal germination conditions (in the laboratory) that should be easily replicated. In other words, the germination percentage of a seed lot measured by two different laboratories should be the same.

Having a seed lot with a low germination percentage is a sure indication of germination problems. But having seeds of high germination percentage is no guarantee of

Table 1. Potential losses for a 512 plug tray (after Paul Karlovich, Raker’s Acres). Although prices change over time, this table clearly indicates that even the loss of a few plugs per tray represents a loss in revenue.

Non-usable

plugs (%)

Wholesale price per plug ($)

0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07

5 0.77 1.02 1.28 1.54 1.79

10 1.54 2.05 2.56 3.07 3.58

15 2.30 3.07 3.84 4.61 5.38

20 3.07 4.10 5.12 6.14 7.17

25 3.84 5.12 6.40 7.68 8.96

30 4.61 6.14 7.68 9.22 10.75

B E d u c a t i o n a l U p d a t e


Floricultural Crops Seed Quality and Seed Handling

a good crop of seedlings. How is this possible? Because growers are more interested in seed vigor than percentage germination.

Seed Vigor can be defined as the seed properties which determine the capacity to produce a rapid and uniform emergence of normal seedlings under a wide range of greenhouse (as opposed to laboratory) conditions. It is not a legal requirement and each company can develop its own system to measure seed vigor.

Take home message No. 2: Viability does not equal Germination and Germination does not equal Vigor.

If a grower objective is to produce plug trays with 100% of the cells having a seedling, seed vigor is paramount. Seed vigor depends on the genetic characteristics of the seeds, storage conditions, and age of the seeds.

Seed laboratories can use different tests to determine seed vigor: 1) Cold Test, 2) Accelerated Aging, 3) Electrical Conductivity, 4) Seedling Vigor Classification, and 5) Seedling Growth Rate. Some seed companies have developed their own methods like the Ball Vigor Index.

Why should growers pay attention to seed vigor? As shown in Figure 2, during storage, seed vigor decreases faster than seed viability (or germination). In other

words, the ability of a seed to produce a quality seedling (plug) decreases faster than the ability to germinate.

Seed Deterioration: It is inevitable, irreversible, and variable. Depending on how seeds are managed after harvest and stored, the best we can do is slowdown seed deterioration.

Seed Storage: Growers have to take into consideration two factors in relation to seed storage: Temperature and Moisture Content (in turn, a function of air relative humidity).

Seed Moisture Content: In general, if the air relative humidity is between 20% and 40%, seed moisture content is around 5% to 8%. If seed moisture content is above 5%, seed vigor may decline; above 8%, seed deterioration increases; above 12%, the seed may be attacked by fungus and insects; above 25%, the germination process starts.

Temperature: In general, temperature for storage should be between 4 °F and 70 °F; the most common is around 42 °F. At lower temperatures, seeds may not be respiring as much as they do at warmer temperatures.

It is important to remember that air temperature influences air relative humidity. A reduction in air temperature produces an increase in air relative humidity. The air relative humidity of working areas such as

Figure 2. Packets containing silica gel desiccant (top left), clear silica gel (top right), and cobalt chloride doped silica gel (bottom). Cobalt chloride is pink when wet (bottom left) and blue when dry (bottom right). (Photo by XtremXpert)

Figure 1. Relationship among seed vigor, viability (germinability) and deterioration, and the area of application of vigor tests. Note how vigor decreases faster than viability. (From Delouche and Caldwell, 1960.)

Figure 1. Relationship among seed vigor, viability (germinability) and deterioration, and the area of application of vigor tests. Note how vigor decreases faster than viability. (From Delouche and Caldwell, 1960.)

Figure 2. Packets containing silica gel desiccant (top left), clear silica gel (top right), and cobalt chloride doped silica gel (bottom). Cobalt chloride is pink when wet (bottom left) and blue when dry (bottom right). (Photo by XtremXpert)

please see page 24


Figure 3. A glass jar containing a desiccant made of particles granules of calcium sulfate (97%) and cobalt chloride (3%).

seeding rooms is usually between 70% and 80%. A seed exposed at this relative humidity for two hours can increase its moisture content up to 2%.

Take home message No. 3: Keep seeds cool and dry!

“Rules of thumb” regarding seed storage for seeds between 5% and 14% moisture content:

1. For every 1% reduction in seed water content, the seed life doubles.

2. For every 10° F decrease in storage temperature, seed storage life doubles.

3. Practical seed storage equation: % RH + °F ≤ 100.

Examples:

• Seed stored at 75% RH and 45 °F = 120 (75 + 45 = 120). These conditions are unacceptable and will favor seed deterioration.

• Seed stored at 40% RH and 45 °F = 85 (40 + 45 = 85). These conditions are acceptable for seed storage.

Seed Storage: Seeds should be stored in a water proof container having a desiccant. This container should then

be stored in a refrigerator.

Growers’ best practices regarding seed handling and conservation

In general, growers should avoid storing seeds from one year to another. Determining seed needs one year in advance (as much as it is possible) assures the availability of the desired seeds, and provides seed companies time to test seed lots.

As much as possible, order seed quantities to fit each sowing. Receive seeds in small containers/packages so that, when a container is opened, all its seeds are used instead of having to store the leftover seed.

Follow the “Rules of Thumb”:

Refrigerate seeds until the container is opened; allow seeds to reach room temperature before opening the package;

Use seed quickly after opening package;

Re-store seeds from already opened containers in containers that are air-tight and with desiccant.

Table 2. Relative storage life of flower seeds. Note that only fewer crops have a long storage life.

Short Medium Long

Anemone Ageratum Centaurea

Aster Alyssum Chrysanthemum

Begonia Cyclamen Morning Glory

Coneflower Dusty Miller Shasta Daisy

Coreopsis Gaillardia Sweet pea

Impatiens Lisianthus Zinnia

Pansy Marigold

Phlox Nicotiana

Salvia Petunia

Vinca Snapdragon

Viola Verbena

Figure 3. A glass jar containing a desiccant made of particles granules of calcium sulfate (97%) and cobalt chloride (3%).

Table 2. Relative storage life of flower seeds. Note that only fewer crops have a long storage life.

Short Medium Long

Anemone Ageratum Centaurea

Aster Alyssum Chrysanthemum

Begonia Cyclamen Morning Glory

Coneflower Dusty Miller Shasta Daisy

Coreopsis Gaillardia Sweet pea

Impatiens Lisianthus Zinnia

Pansy Marigold

Phlox Nicotiana

Salvia Petunia

Vinca Snapdragon

Viola Verbena



800-342-0571 greenvelvet.com

Take home message No. 4: Follow seed handling best practices!

Finally, keep in mind that the majority of seeds of floricultural crops have short to medium storage lives. Only a few can be stored for long periods (Table 2). B

Dr. Claudio PasianAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Horticulture and Crop ScienceThe Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH [email protected]

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box E Fairview PA 16415

800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819e-mail: [email protected]

FairviewEvergreen.com


I recently spoke with someone who said “I am for all things gold and corduroy.” That may not make sense to some, however, if you were in or affiliated with the FFA organization, that Statement makes perfect sense because of the official FFA jacket being blue corduroy with gold lettering.

The National FFA Organization is a premier youth leadership organization with more than 550,000 members in 7,490+ chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin islands. Students that are enrolled in Horticulture programs in Ohio’s Career Tech centers as well as stu-dents studying horticulture in Vo-Ag programs in com-prehensive high schools are members of the FFA, It’s not just “Corn and Crops.”

Members in FFA are encouraged to participate in all 3 components of the program

• Classroom and lab work• Membership in FFA• Hands on workOpportunities for students in FFA to learn and grow

are abundant. Students can participate in Career Develop-ment Events (CDE) such as, soil judging, Ag Mechanics, Ag Sales, Ag Communication, Floriculture, Forestry, Job Interviews, Outdoor Power Equipment, Public Speaking, and Nursery & Landscape. These are just the CDEs that relate to our industry.

FFA students are also encouraged to work on a Super-vised Agricultural Experience (SAE). This can either be a home project, entrepreneurship, or working for some-one else. Students keep track of what they have learned, how they have grown in the project and what they have earned.

The ONLA helps out with the Nursery and Landscape CDE here in Ohio. The test is set up in 3 phases. Phase 1 is a safety test which is online. Phase 2 is a written test given at the CENTS show. Here students are tested on

plant, insect and disease identification, plan reading, and manual interpretation. Phase 3 is a hands-on test given at Tolles Career Tech Center in Plain City, Ohio. The top 10 teams compete in this phase with their top 4 students. This year the FFA students were tested on estimat-ing, irrigation, Zero Turn Radius (ZTR) & walk behind operation; and sod & tree installation. This hands-on test is much like the Landscape Industry Certified tests, in preparing students for the future. 26 industry profession-als along with the ONLA worked together to administer and sponsor this hands-on test.

This youth organization used to be called the Future Farmers of America. In 1988, it was changed to the Na-tional FFA Organization. I think it is safe to say that the FFA is the Future of our Green Industry.

Take some time to learn more about the FFA programs in your area. Is there a horticulture program at your local career tech center? Is horticulture taught at your local high school in the Vo-Ag class? The school may appreci-ate your help and involvement. Share your experience with the class and help students prepare for CDEs. Offer to be on an advisory committee to share your ideas. You never know when your professional stance is needed to help secure these educational opportunities that our stu-dents have. Get involved!

The National FFA Organization is training the future of our industry! And yes, I am for all things Gold and corduroy. It’s a top notch organization and I proud to be a part of it again! B

Michael Lynch CLTEnvironmental Mgmt. Inc. Account Rep1982 Vice President, Central Ohio JVS FFA [email protected]

FFAThe Future of Our

Green Industry

B L o o k t o t h e F u t u r e


The old adage ‘April showers bring May flowers’ brings thoughts of the welcomed spring rains dissolving and transporting vital nutrients, essential for plant life, and responsible for the flourishing varieties of floriculture and agronomic crops we all enjoy and depend upon. One abundant, but often overlooked nutrient carried within those droplets of water is silicon (Si). Even though silicon has been a known plant nutrient for centuries, our knowledge of how plants use this element is lacking.

Setting the argument of essentiality aside, grow-ers should be aware of the abundant element (Si) and how it can be used to their advantage during stressful times (for the plant, not the grower). The plant nutri-ent silicon is taken up by the roots from the growth media as silicic acid and distributed throughout all the different types of plant tis-sue, including roots, stems, petioles, leaves and flowers. Plants have been classified into high and low silicon accumulators based on the concentration of it in their leaves. However, we are now learning that silicon is unevenly distributed between the roots and shoots, with some species having higher sili-con concentration in roots. Regardless of their accumula-tion status, plants have the ability to take-up and transport silicon through their tissue using specific proteins. While these proteins have been identified and characterized in high accumulators (rice, corn and squash), similar pro-teins are present in most plant species, regardless of their shoot (Si) concentration. This means that all plants have the machinery to selectively accumulate (Si) from their

environment.

With all plants likely possessing the ability to acquire (Si), what effect does this element have on their growth? Some articles have touted (Si) to significantly increase root mass, stem diameter and flower size. While (Si) may play a role in optimizing these growth characteristics, in a real-world situation, unless the plants are under some

type of stress, slight, if any, differences in plant growth might be observed. This is simply a result of the abundance of (Si) in our environment. After all, in most natural soil environ-ments, (Si) is the second most abundant element, only surpassed by oxygen. The studies that show dif-ferences in growth charac-teristics are usually con-ducted between plants with extremely low background (Si), compared to plants supplied with high (Si) concentrations (70 ppm or 2.5 mM). In soil-less me-dia cultural practices, trace amounts of (Si), or higher, may already be applied through the growth media, fertilizers, pesticides, and

irrigation water. Because of this, some growers may see little difference when adding (Si) to their nutrient regime. Does this mean there is no need to worry about (Si) and assume there is plenty being applied to the plants through non-intended avenues? Absolutely not! Silicon concen-trations used by many plants is at or above the levels of macronutrients and even though some of the element may be supplied through traditional cultural practices to sup-port optimal plant growth, additional material could lead to better stress responses.

Let’s Talk Silicon

please see page 28


BF e a t u r e

But it is not as simple as going to a store and purchas-ing a product containing 23% total (Si) on its label, as (Si) application is based on the quantity and form of (Si) add-ed. Let’s delve into this idea of ‘plant-available silicon and discuss how (Si) fertilizers are currently labeled. The Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) has defined plant-available (Si), or as they use the term ‘soluble silicon’, as silicic acid. As mentioned before, plants absorb silicic acid into their roots. This small, neutral molecule is easily transported within the plants. It is important to note that not all silicon is in this form and not all forms of (Si) can be absorbed by plants. Sand, which is comprised mainly of quartz, has its (Si) in the form of silica (SiO2), a crystalline structure that is difficult to break down to release silicic acid. Currently, silicon supplements report the percent total (Si). This provides no information as to the form provided by the material, and a higher percent does not indicate a better (Si) supplement. AAPFCO is working to approve the labeling of silicon-containing amendments with percent soluble silicon, in order to provide more information to the consumer. By knowing the concentration of plant-soluble (Si) in the material, one can better determine the needed application rate.

So how does one test for (Si) and what are the recom-mended concentrations for fertilization? Most commer-cial labs use a nitric acid digestion procedure to report levels of micro and macro nutrients in soils or plant tissue. Silicon values from this type of digestion can be misleading, as the reaction does not break-down all the (Si) within the plant tissue or media and the value re-ported is often much lower than the total amount of (Si) contained within either material. If you want to know the concentration of available (Si) in your water or media, the nitric digest will give you a reasonable indication. How-ever, to test the amount of silicon acquired by plant tissue, you want to know the total (Si) concentration. This will tell you how much your plant has accumulated and can be compared to the same species grown under optimal nutri-ent and environmental conditions. For this, a potassium hydroxide or hydrofluoric acid digestion is recommended, as it will dissolve all the silicon in the plant tissue. By knowing the level of (Si) in your plants, you will have a better idea of how much you need to add into your fer-tilization plan. Check with the commercial lab that you work with to see if they can accommodate this alternative digestion step in analyzing your plant tissue samples.

Now that you can determine the amount of background silicon applied to the plants, how does that compare to an acceptable application rate? Again, the research has not yet provided us with an optimum application rate. What we do know is that levels above 70 ppm (2.5 mM) are reaching the solubility limit of silicic acid, and you begin to decrease the amount of available (Si) as the levels

exceed 75 ppm (2.7 mM). In one example, we have found that 30 ppm (1.0 mM) was enough to reduce viral symptoms in tobacco infected with Tobacco ringspot virus (Fig. 1). So even though we currently do not have recommended application rates, concentrations between 30 and 70 ppm (1.0 and 2.5 mM) have worked at alleviat-ing stress in experiments. It is important to note that the application rate is likely to vary with respect to the plant species and environmental conditions.

This stress relief is the hallmark of silicon, as it is an important nutrient for plant health. Silicon enhances plant tolerance to a wide range of adverse environmental conditions, including temperature, salinity, heavy metal pollution, and disease. More importantly, this stress al-leviation is seen across all plant species, meaning that all plants can benefit from silicon. We are currently com-pleting studies that show silicon is needed at the time of a stress event in order to increase plant tolerance. In a practical sense, if plants are about to undergo a predicted stress event (i.e. shipping), prior application of (Si) may provide an added benefit. However, many environmental stresses are not predictable, especially disease. In these instances, a continual fertilization application, even at the lower 30 ppm rate, would likely improve stress tolerance of those plants.

Research is beginning to focus on how plants use silicon internally, in order to understand how to exploit this remarkable element to its fullest potential. While there are a number of available (Si) supplements mak-ing their way into the market place, understanding what products are available in addition to what (Si) concentra-tions are already being applied will benefit growers. With the beginning of spring and the growing season, I hope to revive the concept of (Si) nutrition in plants and express the importance of growing our knowledge of this natural and abundant, anti-stress element. B

Wendy L. ZellnerResearch Plant Physiologist: USDA-ARSToledo, [email protected]



Landscaping business owners have put blood, sweat and tears into building their businesses. Most have cre-ated a detailed plan, a vision of what they hope to accom-plish while owning a business. All good things must come to an end and at some point it’s time for the next chapter of life to begin. Have you thought about your exit plan? In order to maximize the value of your business in a sale it is important to understand what I call the “5K’s”.

Know What Your Business is Worth in the Marketplace

Typically the largest asset owned by a business owner is their business. Many people ask me “How much is my business worth? What multiple should I sell my business at?” There is no simple formula or quick answer. Each business is unique and back of the envelope math is rarely accurate. The only way to know what your business is worth is to invest the resources into a comprehensive business valuation that will analyze your business inter-nally as well as compare it to other comparable business-es that have recently been sold.

Know What Motivates Buyers There are three primary types of buyers: large compa-

nies, private equity groups, and private individuals. Each buyer has their own strategic objectives and a unique per-ception of value. It is extremely important to know how to present your business in a way that will align with a buyer’s motivations. Understanding the buyer’s perspec-tives can help you negotiate a better deal.

Know When to Sell I find it funny that when a professional athlete is in a

contract year they typically end up having the best year of their career. They go into free agency and find a team

willing to overpay on their next contract. Using the same analogy, if your business is thriving then now is the time to sell it in order to maximize value. There are three factors to consider when selling your business: personal timing, company timing and market timing. The natural tendency is to base your decision on personal timing – e.g. when you want to retire or when you are forced to sell due to illness, divorce, etc. I cannot stress enough – personal timing is the least important factor. Buyers do not care that you want to retire, but they do care if your business is growing; likewise, the market won’t be hot just because you want to sell, but you can choose to sell when the market timing is right. John Elway and Ray Lewis each retired the year following Super Bowl vic-tories. They could have played another season, but each knew they had the opportunity to go out on top and did just that.

Know the Difference Between Price vs. Terms

The obvious goal of every business owner is to sell their company for maximum value. Unfortunately, too many owners only focus on the price without giving prop-er consideration to the terms of the deal. This can lead to disappointing and even disastrous results. Consider two offers for the same business, one for $1M, paid all in cash at closing, and the second for $1.5M, paid out over 10 years. Without understanding the terms, there appears to be a significant gap between the two; however, depend-ing on how the $1.5M deal is structured, the seller may not collect the full $1.5M and may end up worse than if they had accepted the “lower” offer. At the end of the day there are many ways to structure a deal for both parties. The more flexible you are as a seller, the more likely you will reach a positive outcome.

Exit Planning& the 5 K’s Exit Planning& the 5 K’s

please see page 30


BF e a t u r e

Know How to Manage the Deal Process It is imperative to know and understand the steps in

the deal process. Every deal is different, but on average it takes roughly 6 to 12 months to sell a business. There are four keys to the deal process: preparation, marketing, deal structuring, and closing. We all know that practice and preparation are the key ingredients to win in sports, the same applies to a successful sale of your business. If the preparation is done correctly all other portions of the deal process will flow smoothly.

Having a third party to help you prepare your business for sale and represent YOU with no emotional connection to your business can boost your retirement income. Let’s face it; if you’re like most people you are counting on your business to fund your retirement. At the end of the day, selling a business is a lot like lawn care. Everybody knows how to do it to a certain degree, but only a select few truly excel and produce astonishing results. B

Caber Hill Advisors Peter Holton Managing Director 312-618-0715 [email protected] caberhill.com/landscaping

Peter J. Holton joined Caber Hill Advisors in 2014 as a Managing Director. He manages the firm’s practice in the landscaping and lawn maintenance management sectors. Prior to joining Caber Hill, Mr. Holton worked with Craig Castelli at Bridge Ventures in Chicago. He began his career working in the construction industry, spending nearly a decade at a large construction and facilities management company where he held both regional and national positions in a variety of roles including business devel-opment, operations, and sales. He has extensive expe-rience in business development, operations, and sales management, and is an expert at negotiating complex contracts and developing successful business strate-gies. He received a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University and Bachelor of Arts in Communication from University of Dayton. He is also a licensed Illinois Business Broker.

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What an original idea. To have these two trusted actives found in Barricade® and Gallery®* appear together in one jug. Gemini™ is a convenient, liquid-pre-emergent herbicide specially formulated for nursery use and gives you:• A consistent and prolonged herbicide barrier• Control or suppression of more than 125 broadleaf and grassy weeds• A cost in use per acre that’s competitive with tank mixing Control times two.

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Excerpt from the PEST Newsletter

About the P.E.S.T. NewsletterOver 22 years ago, Dr. David Shetlar joined The

Ohio State University as an Extension Entomologist He opted to continue printing Dr. Dick Miller’s BugDoc in partnership with the ONLA. It’s new name is the PEST (Pest Evaluation & Suppression Techniques) Newsletter, and it’s printed biweekly from mid-March to mid-October.

Sawfly Leafminers Begin!For those of you who live where birch, elm, and

deciduous hawthorns have leaves emerging, now is the time that the sawfly leafminer adults are emerging to lay eggs in the expanding leaves!

I used to ignore the elm leafminer because so few people had susceptible elms in their landscapes. American elm and Camperdown elms are especially susceptible, but these were rarely used in our landscapes because of disease issues. Unfortunately, many of the new hybrid elms that are proven to be resistant to Dutch elm disease were obviously not tested for insect pest resistance! Most are very susceptible to the elm leafminer (as well as the elm flea weevil, lecanium and calico scales), so it’s time to consider treatment of this pest in order to keep the elms looking good.

The birch leafminer is a bit different. European white bark birch is probably the most susceptible to this pest so folks have moved over to river birch. While not as susceptible to the leafminer, river birch is notorious for getting the witch-hazel aphids on the leaves. This aphid turns leaves into thickened folds where the pinkish aphids hide. I suspect that this damage makes the leaves unsuitable for the leafminer! Sigh!

Over the last few years, the hawthorn leafminer has been on the rampage, causing the tips of deciduous hawthorn leaves to turn brown. Heavy infestations leave the plants looking like they were singed by a nearby fire.

The control for all of these sawflies is relatively easy to accomplish with a neonicotinoid spray (smaller trees) or by a soil, drench or injection (depending on the neonic you select and the label instructions). The major hitch is with the hawthorns as many of these trees bloom after the sawflies have laid eggs. This would mean that the neonic may pose a risk to pollinators visiting the blooms! Bummer!

Elms have already bloomed, so a neonic application now (imidacloprid foliar sprays or soil drenches are the cheapest to use and the product is easily available). Birch trees have also bloomed and their catkins are not overly attractive to pollinators. Neonics are also good on this pest.

For those who need quicker action than what imidacloprid provides, products containing dinotefuran should be considered. Unfortunately, the Green Light products seem to be AWOL this season. I’ve looked on the Internet, and the Orthene Tree & Shrub Systemic granules now contains dinotefuran. This really doesn’t help because it is the liquid applied formulations that are rapidly picked up and transported in the trees! In this case, remember that none of the neonics are “Restricted Use” insecticides, so anyone can purchase them! Unfortunately, this means you will likely have to purchase commercial quantities that are expensive and contain much more than the average homeowner needs! B


BF e a t u r e


Now is the time to renew to the most important newsletter you may ever receive! Green industry professionals need to remain up-to-date on the latest pest problems and solutions. The P.E.S.T. Newsletter, written by Dr. Dave Shetlar of The Ohio State University, provides timely information on the eradication and control of common pests.

The newsletter for the 2015 season will consist of sixteen issues. These issues will begin arriving in mid-March and continue through October. Subscriptions for the 2015 season are $32.00 for members of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association (ONLA), and $40.00 for non-members.

Online Newsletter:All subscribers will receive their newsletter by email. Subscribers can view the newsletter on their computer screen (attached to the email messages as an Adobe PDF file), print the newsletter, and save the newsletter to their computers.

The ONLA, in cooperation with Dr. Shetlar, is proud to continue offering this publication as a much needed resource for Ohio’s nursery & landscape professionals. Below is a subscription form.

2015 PEST SUBSCRIPTION FORMPlease Type Or Print Carefully

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ONLA Member $32.00 Non-Member $40.00Note: membership will be verified at ONLA office

*Please note that all subscriptions to The PEST News-letter will be emailed in 2015 unless circumstances prevent you from having access to an email account. Call the ONLA office if you cannot receive The PEST Newsletter via email.

DISCOUNT FOR MULTIPLE SUBSCRIP-TIONS WITHIN A COMPANY! If there are addi-tional individuals within the same company wishing to subscribe to the PEST, simply pay full price for the first subscription and an additional $2 per extra subscription thereafter. Attach additional email addresses to this renewal form.

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Send completed form with payment to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

72 Dorchester Square / Westerville, Ohio 43081-3350Ph: 614-899-1195 or Fax: 614-899-9489

The P.E.S.T. Newsletter Pest Evaluation and Suppression TechniquesEditor: David Shetlar (THE BUGDOC), Landscape Entomology Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University Extension

Industry Calendar View www.onla.org for seminars, events, trade shows and more! O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events

May 21, 2015 OCNT Testing, Westerville, Ohio

June 18, 2015 OCNT Testing, Westerville, Ohio

July 16, 2015 OCNT Testing, Westerville, Ohio

July 23, 2015 Landscape Industry Certified Hand-on Test, To become a Landscape Industry Certified Technician, candidates must pass a series of written and hands-on test problems specific to their chosen specialty.

O July 30, 2015 2015 OSU Annuals Trial, Columbus, Ohio

August 11, 2015 NGLCO 48th Annual Field Day, Celebrate the NGLCO's 48th annual Summer Field Day at the beautiful Chalet Debonne Winery, Madison, Ohio. Visit the NGLCO website for more details.

September 17, 2015 OCNT Testing, Westerville, Ohio

October 15, 2015 OCNT Testing, Westerville, Ohio

November 19, 2015 OCNT Testing, Westerville, Ohio

O January 11-13, 2016 CENTS Marketplace & University B

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"Ohio Grown PROUDLY for over 50 years!”


34 The Buckeye

Advertisers’ Index

Big Trees Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

bigtreegroup .com

Buckeye Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

buckeyeresources .com

The Buren Insurance Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

coveryourgrass .com

Cardno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

cardnonativeplantnursery .com

Ernst Seeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

ernstseed .com

Everris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

everris .us .com

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

fairviewevergreen .com

Green Velvet Sod Farms Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

greenvelvet .com

Hobby Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

hobbynursery .com

Klyn Nurseries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

klynnurseries .com

Medina Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

medinasodfarms .com

Millcreek Gardens, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

mgohio .com

Oberfield’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

oberfields .com

Scarff’s Nursery, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

scarffs .com

Smith’s Gardens, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

smithsgardensinc .com

Spring Meadow Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

colorchoiceplants .com

Unilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

unilock .com

Ad Rates & InfoContact Amanda Domsitz

614 .899 .1195

amanda@onla .org

• GOINGOUTOFBUSINESSSALE,SpringbrookGardens,Mentor,Ohio

• HorticultureExhibitionsDesigner,FranklinParkConservatoryandBotanicalGardens,Columbus,Ohio

• Laborer/BrickInstaller,Tabor’sLandscaping&GardenCenterInc.,NorthLima,Ohio

• LandscapeDesign/BuildProjectManager,HiddenCreekLandscaping,Hilliard,Ohio

• LandscapeForeman,RockyForkCompany,NewAlbany,Ohio

• LandscapeIrrigationTechnician,LandfareLtd.,Columbus,Ohio

• LandscapeMaintenanceFieldSupervisor,HiddenCreekLandscaping,Hilliard,Ohio

• Landscape&MaintenanceTeamLeaders,GrunderLandscapingCompany,Miamisburg,Ohio

• Landscape&MaintenanceTechnicians,M.J.DesignAssociates,Inc.,PlainCity,Ohio

• LandscapeProjectManager,RCFGroup,WestChester

• LandscapeTechnicians,GrafGrowers,Akron,Ohio

• SupportGreenhouseGrower,FranklinParkConservatoryandBotanicalGardens,Columbus,Ohio

ONLA Classified Advertising: onla.orgThe online classified service can be found on onla.org along with the complete postings. New ads will be added as soon as they are submitted to the ONLA. For more information, please contact the ONLA office at (614) 899-1195. The ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. As we go to press, here are the ads posted on onla.org’s online Classified Section:

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

The Buckeye is the nursery and landscape industry’s authoritative voice in Ohio.

Second to none in editorial and graphic quality, The Buckeye publishes a wide range of editorial features on the green industry’s key issues. The Buckeye is another example of how the ONLA leads, promotes, and facilitates the success and growth of green industry businesses.

The Buckeye is published 10 times each year with a circulation of over 5,000 each issue and an estimated readership of over 10,000. Advertisers benefit from an industry-specific audience, with distribution to professional nursery, landscape and independent garden center businesses and individuals, certified green industry professionals, educators/researchers, and subscribers.

Access Ohio’s $4.9 billion industry. Contact Amanda to learn how your business can benefit from becoming an advertiser in The Buckeye.

[email protected]

Landscape Plants for Ohio1-100 ........................................ $6.00 Each101-499 .................................... $4.75 Each500 or More ............................. $3.75 Each

Landscape Plants for OhioA Professional’s Guide

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The Buckeye, May 2015 Volume 26, Issue 4

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Transcript of The Buckeye, May 2015 Volume 26, Issue 4