Arizona State University (ASU) - PGMS

Spend October in the Possibility CityThe PGMS School of Grounds Management is back and better than ever! As always this event will provide attendees with a dynamicmultidisciplinary education schedule that is a must for the grounds management profession as well as outstanding networkingprograms and invaluable insider looks at local grounds operations. Mark your calendars now for Oct. 24-27 to be in Louisville!EducationalPGMS has been working hard to get the best educational program lineup scheduled. So far, we have the following tentative groundsprofessionals scheduled to serve as guest speakers:• A Bartlett Tree Representative - “What’s New in Arboriculture Management: Decay analysis on large specimen trees”• Steve Foltz - Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens - “Planting with Bio-diversity in Mind”• Phil Glasgo - Xavier University - “Deferred Maintenance”• George Gordon - Xavier University - “Situation Management”• Dr. A.J. Powell - University of Kentucky - “Turf in a Sustainable Environment”• A Proven Winners Representative - Topic TBD• Margaret Shea - Drop Seed Nursery - “Benefits of Gardening with Native Species, Concerns and Myths”• Steve Singlak - Cutting Edge Seed - Topic TBD• Brad Smith - Texas State University - “Water Management”• Guy Sternberg - Starhill Forest Arboretum - “A World Tour of Oak Genus” and “Starhill Forest: The Making of an Arboretum”• Doug Tallamy - University of Delaware - “Bringing Nature Home” and “Maintaining Curb Appeal with Native Plants”• Steve Wharton, CGM - Minot Park District - “Dealing with the Aftermath of Natural Disasters”EntertainingField trips, speaker breakfasts, free concerts, networking receptions, awards dinner...these are just a few of the entertaining events thatare set to take place in Louisville. And you could be a part of each one of them! These events allow you to meet and mingle with otherprofessionals in your field, catch up with old friends and make new ones. You never know who you will meet!EnrichingThe possibilities are endless on what you can learn, who you can network with, and what you will see. PGMS is setting the stage, it’sup to you to make it happen!Mark your calendars now! Details available at www.pgms.org/2012school.htm.3

Look Who’s Talking About PGMSThis year, ask yourself one question...Do I have what it takesto be a 2012 Green Star?PGMS is now accepting submissions for the 40th annualmaintenance awards program that brings national recognitionto grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. Theprogram complements other national landscape award programsthat recognize outstanding landscape design and construction.This program will salute the grounds superintendent responsiblefor maintaining a well-manicured landscape year round.It’s time to start getting your photos taken,putting your presentation together andfilling out the application form. Thedeadline for entries is Aug. 3 sodon’t wait, start today and make2012 the year you become a GreenStar Award Winner!PGMS has been featured in the press recently and we wanted toshare the good news with you! Take a look at the recent PGMSpress clippings and visit www.pgms.org/pressclippings forwebsite links to view them...Turf magazine - Jan. 26, 2012Stihl Website - Feb. 2012American Nurseryman “Sprout” - Feb. 3Southern Methodist University “The Daily Campus” - Feb. 5Irrigation & Green Industry website - Feb. 6Land and Water E-magazine “the Dirt” - Feb. 7Lawn & Landscape Weekly New Update - Feb. 7Lawn and Landscape - Feb. 10Hortsources.com e-newsletter - Feb. 27Compact Equipment magazine’s Machine Works Blog - Feb. 27topix.com - Feb. 27Lawn & Landscape website - March 1American Nurseryman e-newsletter “Sprout” - March 1Turf Magazine - March 1Public Works website - March 1TurfMagazine.com - March 1Lawn and Landscape Weekly - March 6Inside APPA e-newsletter - March 7Land and Water E-magazine “the Dirt” - March 7Grand, Honor and Merit Awards areoffered in 15 categories, covering alltypes of private, public commercial andindustrial landscapes. To qualify for entry,a landscape must be at least two years oldand under your continuous maintenance forat least two years.The awards will be presented duringthe 2012 PGMS School of GroundsManagement held in conjunction withthe GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky. fromOctober 24-27, 2012. Grand Awardwinners will be featured in severalindustry publications. Award winnerswill also appear in the PGMS Forum. Allentries must be submitted to the GroundsManagement Green Star Awards, c/oProfessional Grounds Management Society,720 Light Street, Baltimore MD, 21230,410-223-2861.7

Networking with your Constituents - Some Much Needed AdviceBy Gerald Landby, director of grounds, Carroll College, PGMS Northwest region directorRecently, I had a situation regarding Parking RV’s and camperson campus that I needed sound advice on. Where I work, thereare situations that arise from time to time that I need to questionor make decisions that may affect the operations and safety ofthe campus. Some of these situations involve several managersin various capacities discussing what is best. Each of us viewthese situations differently than the other. When the request forpermission to camp on campus grounds came to me, I asked,“Is this right in a campus setting?” So, I thought, what betterplace to go to than social media! I thought my situation probablywasn’t so unique that I couldn’t ask my professional colleaguesfor a response. So, I asked my question on PGMS’s LinkedIngroup page. I got responses but also researched for solutions onmy own and learned as I went. Here is the discussion I posted:“From time to time, there is a discussion that seems to pop uphere where I work. That is the desire ofpeople wanting to park their RV’s andcampers on our college campus for aduration of time. Often this is duringevents such as graduation, orientation,summer events, athletic events, or ifthere is a group going across country toraise funds and needing a place to stay atno cost. I am curious if other campus’shave this situation? Do you allow? Ifso, do you have a plan in place? Is this aconcern for risk management, safety,or insurance?”I received a reply from Walter Bonvell, CGM, of XavierUniversity in Cincinnati, Ohio. He said, “We have never hadthat problem. Some parents may come in for graduation, buthave never had anyone ask to park their RV of an extended time.It certainly would be an issue for risk management.” Anotherreply came from Monica Higgins, CGM of Bonita Bay EastGolf Club in Naples, Fla. She stated “One golf course I workedat in Kansas City would allow a member to park his RV on ourlot for about a month at a time. I don’t think risk was discussed.However, maintenance practices were an issue. Our practicewas to blow off the parking lot in the early morning before carsarrived. This meant working at or before sunrise. There werecomplaints by the RV occupants about the noise.”I didn’t stop at getting feedback from my colleagues. I continuedto research online. I spent an hour reading through various bitsof information and I found more information and perceptions. Itseems campus’s are considering policies on camping on campusdue to the Occupancy Movement being removed from protestlocations. Some are moving to college campus’s. I also found quitea few campuses that don’t allow camping but some do with quitea few restrictions due to safety, health, city ordinance, sanitation.It also seems in the South some students are taking up the idea ofstaying in a camper to cut living costs of campus living.various policies for campus and non-campus users such assmoking, alcohol use, banners, demonstrations, camping, chalkon sidewalks, etc.A couple of examples regarding camping on campus I found infacilities use policy manuals include the following: GustavusAdolphus University in St. Peter, Minn. stated “Due to concernsfor both personal safety and the preservation of campuslandscaping, unauthorized outdoor camping on Gustavus propertyis not permitted. ‘Camping’ is defined to include use of tents,sleeping bags, or other outdoor sleeping arrangements (includingovernight occupancy of a vehicle parked on College property),as well as the building of open campfires or the use of any typeof barbecue grill. Requests for bonfires, cookouts, and otherlarge-group outdoor activities on College grounds should bedirected to the appropriate officials forprior approval.”University of Colorado in Boulder,Colo. stated “University facilitiesshall not be used for overnightcamping which is defined as follows:The use of University facilities forliving accommodation purposes suchas overnight sleeping or makingpreparations for overnight sleeping(including the laying down of beddingfor the purpose of sleeping) or makingany fire for cooking or using tents,motor vehicles, or other structures for sleeping or cooking. Theactivities described above constitute camping when it reasonablyappears, in light of all the circumstances, that the participants inconducting these activities are, in fact, using the area as a livingaccommodation.”I don’t know how the discussion will continue where I work but Iwas able to offer a solution and encourage dialogue on what is thebest policy for Carroll College. In a more respectful view, I wasable to learn from you and our colleagues on policies developedthrough facilities use policy manuals. It would be interestingto know what brought out those discussions and policies forthe campus compelled to develop policy manuals. Often times,facilities use policies are discussed and determined as a reactionto an event. Through networking at conferences or through socialnetwork sites such as LinkedIn, we can share our experiences andutilize information to make better management decisions.If you have any comments, suggestions or advice to add pleasedo so on the PGMS LinkedIn group page atwww.linkedin.com/groups/Professional-Grounds-Management-Society-4173565 or post it to the PGMS Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/ProfessionalGroundsManagementSociety.The most interesting thing I read was many campus’s have aFacilities Use Policy Manual. A facilities use manual includes13

Seasonal AnnualsContinued from page 10Post planting considerations will be for weed control andmaintenance. Weed control best utilizes pre-emergent weed controlto be either chemical or organic. John Deere/Lesco Pre-M orCornmeal gluten as an organic alternative. Price to be based on1.00 sq, feet of planting area, chemical application based on labeldirections. Pre-emergent to be scheduled post installation per label.Rates may change by state, so follow the label.My maintenance recommendation varies for each differentapplication: flower beds and container maintenance. (This doesnot include watering or soluble fertilizer applications.) Flowerbeds should be maintained once weekly, they should be weededand cultivated. Plants routinely inspected for insect or disease,deadheaded and generally cleaned up, staking, pinching as needed.Beds need to be edged with vertical clippers three times per monthand power or manually edged once per month. Debris and liter tobe cleaned up every maintenance rotation. Baskets, containers andwindow boxes need minimal bimonthly maintenance; they needto be pinched, deadheaded and cleaned up as needed, weeded ifneeded and plants to be replaced as needed.I am often asked my opinion on gels and wetting agents addedto potting mixes. They all have their place. The products that Ihave had great success with are Roots + Fe and Eco Sential. JohnDeere/Lesco carries EcoSential and I currently use this product. Iuse it just prior to installation or delivery at a rate of two ouncesper gallon; I apply it through my injector at a 50:1 ratio. I followthis up after three months with a second application. If we areexperiencing a wetter than normal growing season, I will oftenskip the second application.I do not offer watering services but instruct my clients verballyand in writing specifics to watering their seasonal flowers. Myclients with hanging baskets are recommended to apply a watersoluble fertilizer once a week for the entire growing season.In the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, we can count onannuals to provide a great display the entire growing season. Inareas in the South and Southwest, change outs are common andyour strategy for change outs will vary by region. In the beforementioned regions annuals are usually invigorated as the daylength and cooler temperatures change in late August and earlySeptember. If I depend on these plants to finish strong right up tofrost I will supplemental feed with either a water soluble fertilizerlike a 20.20.20 or a fish emulsion blend.Hopefully this will help you as you plan your seasonal flowers orhelp you with specific details to create a RFP for your property.Feel free to e-mail me for any plant or method questions atVanetten4@msn.com.15

ClassifiedsTo place a classified ad on the PGMS website and in the PGMS Forum, please e-mail it to Meghan Brady at meghanbrady@assnhqtrs.com. Job postings are free. Forinformation on how to apply for the positions below please visit www.pgms.org/jobbank.htm.Irrigation Technician - Rice University/ Houston, TexasThe Irrigation Technician monitors the daily operation of campus irrigation systems performing maintenance and repairs to maintain university standards. He/she assists with planning, designing and installing newirrigation systems.Experienced Integrated Pest Management Technician - Springfield, Va.Bartlett Tree Experts is holding interviews for Integrated Pest Management/Pant Health Care Technician positions for their Springfield, VA location. We seek career minded, intelligent, motivated people to compliment ourexperienced and professional office. Our current staff is comprised of 13 Certified Arborists, (3) Board Certified Master Arborists and (5) Certified Treecare Safety Professionals. Opportunities for future advancementare endless.Director of Custodial and Grounds Services - St. Louis, Mo.WFF is seeking a highly-qualified individual to serve as Director of Custodial and Grounds Services at a major university in the Tulsa area. You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, and the selection, directionand training of all associates. This position has supervisory responsibility for approximately 80 hourly and salaried employees. The primary focus is to meet and exceed client expectations, and to achieve all corporategoals and objectives.Manager of Grounds/Automotive - Phillips Exeter Academy/ Exeter, N.H.Serves as the primary functional area manager for Academy grounds - including landscape, hardscape, athletic fields, and undeveloped land. The position is also responsible for natural resources operations, garageoperations including equipment and vehicle fleet, and ice rink operations.Arborist - Princeton University/ Princeton, N.J.Princeton University maintains the finest and most diverse collection of trees and plants in central New Jersey, one of the finest of any college in the United States. The arborist, working with a crew leader and occasionalhelper, and based on an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a wide range of diverse trees and plants, including specimen materials, has a primary responsibility for assuring the well being of these plantings.Ornamental Plant Care Technician - Complete Plant Health Care, Inc./ Montgomery and Howard Counties, Md. and NW D.C.Complete Plant Health Care, Inc. is seeking an Ornamental Plant Care Technician who is outgoing, physically fit and personable. The ideal candidate enjoys dealing with people, possesses good communication skills andlikes the outdoors. He/she is a team player, self-motivated and organized.Lawn Care Technician - Complete Lawn Care, Inc./ Montgomery and Howard Counties, Md. and NW D.C.Complete Lawn Care, Inc. is seeking a Lawn Care Technician who is outgoing, physically fit and personable. The ideal candidate enjoys dealing with people, possesses good communication skills and likes the outdoors. He/she is a team player, self-motivated and organized.