IGIA Members in the Media

SiteOne expands commitment to support bilingual customers

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Roswell, Georgia, released a series of new bilingual initiatives to support the green industry. The newest offering includes four Spanish-taught courses during the upcoming virtual SiteOne University, beginning July 20, 2021. Courses that will be taught in Spanish include basics of irrigation installation and proper water management, introduction to low voltage lighting in the landscape, certified drainage contractor and labeling and safety during application. Read More

Nufarm launches Summer Ornamental Program

Nufarm announces the launch of its 2021 Summer Ornamental Program, an opportunity for turf and ornamental professionals to save on in-season solutions, including new Engulf GHN Greenhouse and Ornamental Miticide. Qualifying orders will receive distributor rebate credits on Nufarm solutions purchased from June 1, 2021 to July 16, 2021. Read More

SiteOne Launches Portfolio Nursery Collection

SiteOne Landscape Supply is introducing the Portfolio Nursery Collection, an exclusive line of plants and products designed to help landscape professionals. The Portfolio Nursery Collection initial offering includes Arbor Vitae, Green Giant, Magnolia, Nellie Holly, White Wedding, Painted Sky, Oakleaf Holly and Podocarpus. “As a landscaping professional, focusing on even the smallest of details...Read More

SiteOne Launches Irrigation Controller Recycling Program

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Roswell, Georgia, is launching a program designed to save money and the environment during Smart Irrigation Month. With the new “Upgrade. Save. Recycle,” program, contractors who bring in an old controller will receive an immediate 15% discount on a smart, Wi-Fi-enabled irrigation controller. The program helps the environment by making it easy to upgrade less efficient units...Read More

SiteOne Rallies With Other Green Industry Companies for Champions Place Project

SiteOne Landscape Supply, alongside customers and suppliers, invested time, talent and materials at Champions Place to create a special outdoor living space for its residents. Champions Place is made possible by Champions Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving physically challenged young adults who have aged...Read More

Davey Tree Expands in Tennessee and Wisconsin

The Davey Tree Expert Company has expanded within two U.S. residential tree care market areas. In Tennessee, Davey has acquired certain assets of AJ’s Tree Service. The firm provides residential and commercial tree care services to the region southeast of Nashville. The firm has six employees, all of whom will continue employment at Davey’s new southeast Nashville office. AJ’s owner Matthew Bratton will stay...Read More

7 Growers Achieve EAGL Certifications

Dr. Charlie Hall (Ellison Chair for International Floriculture) has announced the graduation of the eighth cohort (Iota) of the elite Executive Academy for Growth & Leadership (EAGL) program for nursery and greenhouse growers. Seven industry leaders received their Certificate in Applied Horticultural Business Management from Texas A&M University on February 4, 2021. Read More

Bailey Announces Series of Internal Promotions

Following the announcement of Bailey’s executive team promotions in January, additional roles within the organization have been filled with internal candidates. Jason Bizon now serves as West Coast general manager, Ryan McEnaney as marketing and communications manager, Tiffany Nohl as inside sales manager, and Lisa Swast as brand and licensing sales representative. Read More

Davey Tree Expert Co Releases New Podcast, Talking Trees with Davey Tree

In the podcast, Davey arborists from around the U.S. discuss topics of seasonal importance with topics ranging from seasonal tree care, introduced pests, professional tree care advice, deer damage and more. Episodes are published every Thursday at 5 a.m. EST. The podcast is available on a variety of platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher, iHeart Radio...Read More

Unilock Founder Dies

Ed Bryant, 85, founder of Unilock, passed away at his home in Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, Canada on Jan. 28, 2021. Born on Nov. 30, 1935, in Edmonton, Bryant spent his early years in Alberta. After two years at the University of British Columbia, he enlisted in the military and was eventually stationed overseas. Upon returning, he worked in B.C. and Alberta on the pipelines with Mannix, a career path that ultimately...Read More

Ball Seed Releases 2021 Landscape Solutions Resource

The landscape service of Ball Seed has announced the 2021 edition of its THRIVE Landscape Solutions brochures. These annual resources continue to put expert, regional plant advice in the hands of greenhouse growers to help their landscape customers build top-performing designs. Five regions were selected by Jeff Gibson, Ball Seed’s landscape...Read More

Nufarm Announces EPA Registration for Engulf GHN

Nufarm Americas announced the EPA registration of Engulf GHN Greenhouse and Ornamental Miticide, a new miticide labeled for greenhouse and shadehouse ornamental crops, greenhouse tomatoes, and Christmas tree and conifer plantations and nurseries. Engulf GHN is pending state registrations. Read More

Hunter Industries to Donate up to $5,000 to Youth Golf programs for GIS Virtual 2021

Hunter Industries, San Marcos, California, is donating up to $5,000 to youth golf programs. Golf course professionals who visit the new Hunter Virtual Engagement Center between Feb. 2 and March 6, 2021, can earn $25 each, which Hunter will donate on their behalf to GCBAA – Sticks for Kids or the Golf Foundation, depending on their location. Read More

Home Nursery Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Home Nursery Inc., a family-owned grower of nursery stock and supplier to garden centers, landscapers and distribution centers, is has announced that it is celebrating 100 years in business in 2021. The company plans to celebrate this significant milestone throughout the year with “100 Ways,” which are activities planned to commemorate its 100-year anniversary. Some of the actions will include recognizing...Read More

Davey Tree Announces Slew of Promotions

The Davey Tree Expert Company has announced several promotions since the start of the new year, including two new regional vice presidents, two operations managers and a technical adviser. Here are the company's recent moves: They promoted two regional vice presidents...Read More

Unilock Offers Online Educational Series

Unilock will host its Unilock Boots Online, an online hardscaping educational series designed to provide contractors with tips, techniques and know-how. The one-hour sessions run from Feb. 2 through March 4 and are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. EST. With a variety of concise programs presented over a period of weeks, Unilock experts from across North America will offer attendees best practices...Read More

Oldcastle APG Acquires CST

Oldcastle APG has broadened its manufacturing footprint with the acquisition of CST, a regional manufacturer of lawn and garden products, including bagged and bulk mulches and soils. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Elk River, Minnesota, CST supplies lawn and garden products to retail and independent customers throughout the midwestern United States. As a co-packing partner, CST’s product offerings...Read More

Bailey Announces Promotions, Additions to Leadership Team

In a press release, Bailey announces the promotion of Shane Brockshus and Alec Charais to the newly-created positions of Chief Operations Officer and Chief Marketing & Product Development Officer, respectively. Marc McCormack will continue leading company-wide sales direction and sales leadership development, now as Chief Sales Officer. Read More

Al Davidson

The new president of the Ball Horticultural Company looks back on 2020, what the company’s acquisition of Gloeckner means and how the industry has changed over time. Read More

SiteOne Brings SiteOne University Events Online

SiteOne Landscape Supply is moving its SiteOne University events online to serve green industry workers seeking to expand their knowledge and business offerings in 2021. SiteOne Universities will feature focused tracks on business, erosion control/drainage, green symposium, golf, hardscaping, irrigation, lawn care, lighting, nursery, pest control and tree care. Read More

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. Shares Virtual Tour in Anticipation of Diamond Anniversary

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. invites industry members to explore its virtual via the JFS YouTube channel, which visitors can access here. Sales Manager Rich Bailey notes that 2021 will mark the Diamond Anniversary of the nursery that was established in 1946 by Evelyn and J. Frank Schmidt, Jr. While it was tough to compress 75 years of “growing New Ideas” into 23 minutes...Read More

Massey Services Partners with Hunter Industries on Irrigation Controller Recycling Program

Massey Services, Orlando, Florida, teamed up with Hunter Industries, San Marcos, California, to recycle replaced irrigation controllers to prevent electronic waste. The program focuses on improving landscape water efficiency by identifying various maintenance issues, system design enhancements and equipment upgrades, including new controllers. The goal of the recycling program is to prevent...Read More

Gloeckner & Co. to Transfer Open Orders to Ball Seed

In November, owner, Joseph A. Simone, president and CEO of Fred C. Gloeckner & Co. Inc., announced his plans to retire from the distribution industry and announced an agreement with Ball Horticultural Co. to transfer its open orders to Ball Seed. Effective Dec. 1, 2020, Gloeckner will no longer accept new orders. Gloeckner will ship and service all orders in their system through the Dec. 18, 2020, ship date...Read More

Looking Back & Thinking Ahead

Anna Ball likes to say that 2020 was “the year of two viruses and a bacterium.” It’s a simple statement for a stressful, complicated year of challenges for Ball Horticultural Company. It all started with a ransomware attack that hobbled Ball’s internal ordering and inventory system, followed by a Ralstonia outbreak on a crop of Ball FloraPlant geraniums. Then came COVID-19 that added an extra layer of chaos during the peak of spring while the entire Ball headquarters in West Chicago was also under construction. Read More

Creation of the Largest Production Platform of Beneficial Insects in North America

Sinthya Penn acquired Beneficial Insectary in 1986 when it was still a small fly parasite producer. The company first built a leading position in fly biocontrol with various applications in animal husbandry. In recent years, it grew exponentially in biological crop protection to become the largest local producer in the USA. Sinthya comments: “I am grateful to Beneficial Insectary’s production and business teams...Read More

Hunter Industries Awards Sustainable Practices

Hunter Industries believes it’s the company’s responsibility to find a balance between the people it impacts, the planet they affect and the profit earned. The company discovered over the course of its movement that they cannot achieve their goals alone. The Ann Hunter-Welborn Circle of Excellence Award recognizes sustainable practices within the industry with the goal of inspiring others to join in the efforts. Read More

Ball Creates New Leadership Position, Makes Senior Personnel Moves

On Nov. 12, Ball Horticultural Co. announced several senior personnel appointments to strengthen its leadership in anticipation of industry and company progress. Anna Ball, CEO and chairman of the board for Ball, has created the new position of president within Ball Horticultural Co. and has appointed Al Davidson to this post. Davidson will conduct the day-to-day management of the company...Read More

SiteOne Sponsors HNA Awards

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Roswell, Georgia, is passionate about assisting hardscape contractors grow their business and is proud to sponsor ICPI’s 2020 Hardscape North America Awards. The early bird deadline for award registration is Oct. 30, 2020, and the final day to submit entries is Dec. 4, 2020. “The demand for dynamic outdoor living and workspaces is high for contractors...Read More

Rosborough Partners Merges Commercial Business with LandCare

Rosborough Partners (RPI), a leading landscape design, build, and maintenance firm in the Chicagoland area, has narrowed its focus to residential services and selected LandCare to assume its commercial business. For the past 30 years, RPI has provided full-service landscaping solutions to commercial and residential clients. RPI partner Blaine Owens will now lead the integration with...Read More

Davey Tree Ranks as Ninth-Largest ESOP Company in U.S.

The Davey Tree Expert Company is the 9th largest employee-owned company in the U.S., according to a report from the National Center for Employee Ownership. The NCEO 2020 Employee Ownership 100 list shows Davey has maintained its position among the top 10 largest employee-owned firms since first being ranked at No. 9 in 2019. Davey ranked No. 3 on Lawn & Landscape's Top 100 list in 2020. Read More

Davey Tree Tabs T.J. Mascia to Director Role

The Davey Tree Expert Company has appointed T.J. Mascia to director of Davey Mitigation for Davey Resource Group. The director role for Davey Mitigation represents a new position within DRG, and Mascia will be responsible for developing mitigation clients and working with Davey offices that provide environmental consulting and mitigation services. Read More

Burnco Landscape Centres Joins SiteOne Landscape Supply

SiteOne Landscape Supply Inc., Roswell, Georgia, acquired Burnco Landscape Centres Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Burnco Rock Products Ltd. Burnco Landscape Centres serves the three western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan from 12 locations focused on the distribution of hardscapes and landscape supplies to landscape professionals. Read More

Hortica Introduces New Online Customer Resource

Hortica, the horticultural insurance specialist brand of Sentry Insurance, has introduced its customers to a new website experience at hortica.com. The new site is designed to emphasize the benefits and services Hortica provides its customers. “We’re dedicated to providing leadership for horticultural businesses,” said Tim Noble, president, Hortica. “Today, it’s important to find new ways to lead our partners. Read More

The Davey Tree Expert Co. is Taking 'Talking Trees' YouTube video Series to Facebook for Talking Trees Live

Davey arborists from across the U.S. will discuss topics of seasonal importance with viewers during bi-monthly, live events hosted on Davey’s Facebook page. Tree care topics will range from damaging insects and diseases, professional tree care advice to prepare for autumn and commonly asked fall-related questions. Each session will be held on a Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST and will be hosted on the Davey Facebook page. Read More

Lawn Care Professionals Invited to SiteOne Lawn Care Industry Virtual Forum

SiteOne Landscape Supply, Roswell, Georgia, will host its Lawn Care Industry Virtual Forum on Sept. 29, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. Current and new customers can register for the complementary event. “We are proud to partner with Marty Grunder, CEO of The Grow Group, for this one of a kind exciting event,” says Brian Rowan, vice president, category management at SiteOne Landscape...Read More

Hunter Industries Selects Augmentir to Digitally Transform its Manufacturing Operations

Augmentir Inc., Horsham, Pennsylvania, a provider of artificial intelligence-based connected worker software for industrial companies, announced that Hunter Industries, San Marcos, California, a global manufacturer of products for the irrigation, outdoor lighting, dispensing technology, and custom manufacturing sectors, has selected Augmentir as its next-generation Connected Worker platform for its manufacturing operations. Read More

Nufarm Continues Commitment to GreenCare for Troops

Nufarm and Project EverGreen have announced the company’s continued commitment to bolster the reach of the GreenCare for Troops initiative. The program, now in its 14th year, provides active duty military families with complimentary basic lawn care and landscape maintenance services while a family member is deployed defending the country. Counting this year’s commitment, Nufarm has invested...Read More

Bailey Launches Quarterly e-Learning Series

Following the success of the Virtual Expo last month, Bailey is launching a quarterly e-learning series for its customers with specific content focused on market channel. The series begins in September with a focus on grower customers and led by some of Bailey’s foremost experts in their fields. Upcoming sessions in the fourth quarter will be focused on retail topics. For more information or to register, please contact your Bailey Sales Representative.  

SiteOne Adds Two Distributors

Alliance Stone and Modern Builders Supply have joined SiteOne Landscape Supply. Alliance Stone serves the greater Atlanta, Ga., market from a single location. Modern Builders serves the San Diego, Southern Orange County and Inland Empire markets in California with two locations. “Alliance Stone is a terrific addition to SiteOne with a dedicated stone center and strong hardscapes and natural stone expertise...Read More

DeVroomen Celebrating 95th Anniversary and Still Growing

DeVroomen Garden Products is a family-oriented company that has taken great pride in being a leader in the Flower Bulb and Perennial industry for 95 years. In 1925, Jac Th DeVroomen started with very little and developed a successful bulb growing and exporting company. The business grew with the emphasis on quality, on-time delivery, true to name varieties and a willingness to invest in innovation. Read More

NALP Announces New 2020-2021 Board of Directors

The National Association of Landscape Professionals, Fairfax, Virginia, announced its 2020-2021 board of directors, their terms beginning at the October board of directors meeting. The board of directors will be led by President Shayne Newman, LIC, of YardApes, New Milford, Connecticut. New board members include Pam Dooley of Plants Creative Landscapes in Decatur, Georgia; Maurice Dowell, LIC, of Dowco...Read More

Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery Celebrates Employee's 40 Years of Service

Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery in Crystal Lake celebrated employee Barb Swain Kindinger for 40 years of service as the garden center's landscape designer and landscape department manager. Kindinger came to owners' Richard Harms and Jim Riedl for a landscape design position 40 years ago after graduating from Kansas State with a bachelor of science degree in horticulture. Harms and Riedl recognized...Read More

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc. Unveils Bouteloua Gracilis ‘Honeycomb’ PPAF

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, Inc. has recently announced the launch of its new Blue grama grass Bouteloua gracilis ‘Honeycomb’ PPAF. This variety is an adaptable and showy form of native grass with a wide distribution. Its honey gold inflorescence has yellow pollen hanging down on the eyelash, and flowers begin in July and hold on into winter. The thin, upright wire-like stems hold thin grey green foliage...Read More

Planting Peace Growing Hope

iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery have partnered together to form Planting Peace – Growing Hope 2020.  During April, we asked members of our community to send in nominations for our community healthcare professionals. Our healthcare professionals have been on the frontlines of stressful uncertain situations daily, and have been working extra hard to keep us all safe and healthy. To show our appreciation...Read More

Home Nursery Promotes Metzger as New Sales Manager

With 100-year anniversary planning beginning to develop, family-owned and operated, Home Nursery, Inc., today announced Hilliary Metzger would be transitioning from sales representative to sales manager beginning July 1, 2020. Her educational background and industry experience continue to play an integral role in the nursery’s strategic plan.  As a senior management team member, Metzger will be...Read More 

Meet the Leader: Chris Robinson

My dream ever since I was little was to manage the nursery. When I was 8, I started pruning trees to earn a pair of rollerblades. Throughout high school, I worked in propagation on my family’s nursery … in 6 feet of snow, uphill both ways, of course! After high school graduation, I spent two years working every job in the nursery. Following a two-year internship, my parents approached me to let me know...Read More

Take a 'Key West' Staycation This July at Retail Garden Center in Crest Hill

The Fields on Caton Farm in Crest Hill really just want customers to have fun. That's why, for the month of the July, The Fields retail garden center is transforming its site into a Key West beach. During "Key West at the Fields," customers can browse in the relaxing atmosphere and participate in the weekly raffles and giveaways, according to Daniel Ward, garden center manager. Read More

Lytx Launches Solutions for Fleet Tracking

Lytx, a provider of machine vision and artificial intelligence-powered video telematics, analytics, productivity and safety solutions, released two new map-based search features that allow users to quickly locate video clips. Video Browse in Fleet Tracking and Map Search in Lytx Video Platform each enable fleets to self-service and immediately retrieve video footage. “These video-search features are significant advancements...Read More

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. Welcomes Ben Rough as CEO

J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. has named Ben E. Rough to serve as chief executive officer of the shade, flowering and specialty ornamental tree nursery headquartered in Boring, Oregon. Rough’s appointment to the leadership role of the family-owned nursery, founded in 1946 by Evelyn and J. Frank Schmidt, Jr., marks a new chapter for the nursery as its leadership transitions from second to third-generation...Read More

Belgard Launches Free Online Training Platform

Belgard, a manufacturer of outdoor living products, has debuted Belgard Training Center, an online resource for landscape and hardscape trade professionals, including contractors, dealers, architects, designers and more. The resource center, found here, will house live and recorded Belgard University events, product installation guides, certification courses, third-party expert panels...Read More

Arborgold Joins Forces With LandscapeHub

LandscapeHub, an online marketplace for the green industry, will integrate with Arborgold Software, a national provider of business management software for the green and field service industries. The integration will give Arborgold customers a seamless way to send bids and estimates directly to LandscapeHub for accurate pricing and inventory availability. “Integrating with Arborgold aligns with our mission...Read More

What's a Business Worth?

“This is the most frequently asked and hardest to answer question,” says Gene Redlin, operator of Byron Nursery and a certified appraiser at Redlin & Associates that provides Horticultural Expert Valuation Services. “We have to tell people the hard truths. There’s no guaranteed formula that works for every situation or every time period.” Here are some valuation methods...Read More

Sights and Soundbites from SiteOne University Cleveland

SiteOne Landscape Supply’s SiteOne University program is growing — the 2020 slate is the biggest so far, with 34 events in the east and 14 events in the west.  At SiteOne University Cleveland, held on Feb. 12, in Westlake, Ohio, 200 Ohio landscape professionals attended the daylong event and joined a variety of presentations from Hunter Industries, Corteva Agriscience, Kichler Lighting, Belgard...Read More

Fresh Approach

For several years, Bailey Nurseries successfully used the First Editions brand as a vehicle to introduce new plants to the marketplace. It was a utilitarian brand of sorts. The plants were thoroughly tested before their introduction, and the marketing behind the brand was something growers and garden retailers understood. But there was somewhat of a disconnect with the consumer. The brand is made up of trees and shrubs...Read More

The Top 100: Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery and Garden Center

Countryside Flower Shop Nursery and Garden Center will celebrate its 60th year in business in 2020 and Marcy Cronin has been there for 27 of those years. The Crystal Lake, Illinois, IGC typically has about 100 employees during the busiest time of year and reported sales of $6.25 million for 2018, placing them at No. 51 on our list. We asked Marketing Director Marcy Cronin about the secrets to this IGC’s success. Read More

A Man With Star-Studded Ideas

Why does someone who’s rubbed elbows with Ariana Grande, mingled with Nicki Minaj and texted with Mariah Carey want to work in our boring, old industry? Because to Ryan McEnaney, our industry is anything but boring. At least, he’s made it that way while he’s been on the marketing team at Bailey. In case you hadn’t heard, Bailey’s promotion of their products—most notably for their Endless Summer...Read More

NALP establishes Women in Landscape Network

The National Association of Landscape Professionals announced the creation of its Women in Landscape Network to establish a community within the landscape and lawn care industry for female professionals and those committed to issues impacting women in the field. With the creation of the Women in Landscape Network, NALP will connect, empower, and advocate for women in the landscape industry; recruit...Read More

DynaScape and LandscapeHub Partner to Integrate Platforms

DynaScape, Oakville, Ontario, a design and business management software for the professional landscape industry, released an integration with LandscapeHub, Chicago, an online marketplace for the landscaping industry. The partnership offers landscapers and other green industry professionals an automated sync between DynaScape’s Manage360 and LandscapeHub’s wholesale management platform. DynaScape customers...Read More

Purposeful and Persistent

Strategy has been the cornerstone of Spring Grove Nursery since Becky and Jamie Thomas planted their first tree 20 years ago. The husband-and-wife team founded the nursery in Mazon, Illinois, after carefully contemplating the size and scope of their newly fledged business. They didn’t enter the nursery industry on a whim. Read More

Home Nursery, Inc. Announces New Growing Facility

Nearing its 100-year anniversary, family-owned and operated Home Nursery, Inc. announced it is expanding its 385-acre nursery in Albers, Ill., with the purchase of a new turnkey growing facility in Tennessee. Home Nursery, Inc. currently markets to thirteen Midwestern states, providing top-quality plants to independent garden centers, landscape contractors and distribution centers in the horticulture trade. Read More

Beyond the Big Picture

John Terhesh doesn’t have a “comfort zone.” He doesn’t really need one. In fact, he would prefer not to dwell in one area, be it professional or personal. John’s willingness—actually his purpose—is to constantly try new things and devise solutions to problems, which is what’s helped him get to where he is in his career. It’s a career path with a few twists and turns, but that’s because when John...Read More

Bailey Nurseries 2019 Summer Expo Highlights New Varieties and Technology

In late July, Bailey Nurseries – currently No. 45 on the 2019 Greenhouse Grower Top 100 rankings – hosted its annual Summer Expo at the operation’s Nord Farm in Woodbury, MN. The group uses the annual event to preview its new variety offerings for the upcoming season as well as to educate its customer base on what Bailey has been working on for the previous 12 months. Read More