NorthCoastJournal_October_2010

October Dinner Meeting

Tuesday October 19, 2010 Rooster Run Golf Club

6:00 PM - $30 with RSVP ($35 at the door)

North Coast Journal CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

See bio & RSVP Flier inside

CLCA North Coast Chapter www.clcanorthcoastchapter.org OCTOBER 2010

Ben Stone Director of Sonoma County

Economic Development

The State of Local Economy “Looking Forward”

Upcoming North Coast Chapter Events

October 19th - Ben Stone on the Future of Local Economy – Rooster Run in Petaluma November 16th - New Member and Student – Meet and Greet - Rooster Run in Petaluma December 3rd - Holiday Party & Casino Night (LEAF Fundraiser) – Rooster Run

CLCA North Coast Chapter P.O. Box 1621 Sebastopol, CA 95473

RESPECT THE EARTH… RECYCLE

OCTOBER 2010

In this Issue

PAGE 2 ………….…President’s Message PAGE 4……………..CLCA Convention @ Disneyland in Anaheim PAGE 6….................Spotlight on FX Luminaire PAGE 8……………..Best Plants for Fall Garden Colors PAGE 10……………Employee Retention in Difficult Times PAGE 16……………Commercial Industrial Sector Reports Growth (3rd Consecutive Month)

PAGE 17……………Homeowner’s Guide to Stormwater Management PAGE 19…………....Banned Pesticides Used in Marin

This Publication is Printed on Recycled Paper r

North Coast Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association

PRESORTED STANDARD

MAIL U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT #105

NORTHBAY, CA

President’s message by Charlie Thompson So this is what happens when a chapter president runs out of time and inspiration for a decent message….bear with me….I’m a busy guy this time of year. I have been asked before which books I have found to be the most helpful in my leadership journey. There are many that I have read and found value in. One of the best begins….

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

Sound like something written by the by the incomparable Dr. Seuss? That’s because it was. “Oh! The Places You’ll Go!” has been a practical guide to personal mastery for me.

Here are some of my learning’s from this great book: • I’m on a journey; I might as well enjoy the trip instead of

longing for the destination. • What I know can get me where I need to go…provided I

make the personal choice to do something. • I need to stay true to my values when making choices and

if I find no options within my values find a new place to play.

• When I focus on the journey, things will happen for me that I wanted to happen….but would not have been able to achieve if I had set out with those things as my destination.

• No matter how successful I am or how much I achieve, there will also be failures for me to deal with….always. I might as well enjoy them.

• The only way to survive my failures is to stay positive, learn from them and move on with my newly earned knowledge.

• I will encounter new, unfamiliar situations that I am not comfortable with. I need to embrace the anxiety of the uncertain.

• I need to appreciate that the things that matter are rarely simple • Have fun….no one said this had to miserable….that’s a choice. • Having a chance to play the game and to learning is good….winning the game on top of that is

awesome. • Sometimes making decisions and standing true to my values means that I will stand alone. • Sometimes the path to what I want to achieve is through balancing my needs with the needs of

others and is not a direct, efficient route. • I need to always remain open, flexible and willing to see other ideas and perspectives

Just goes to show that you can find inspiration and value in the most unusual places.

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North Coast Chapter Board Members

Chairman of the Board – Past President Brigid Flagerman

Bertotti Landscaping (415) 720-0065

[email protected]

President Charlie Thompson Cagwin & Dorward

(415) 892-7710 [email protected]

Secretary Ben Kopshever

Sonoma Mountain Landscape (707) 695-2429

[email protected]

Treasurer Lisa Stratton

Cagwin & Dorward (415) 798-1753

[email protected]

Web Guru Michael O’Connell

O’Connell Landscape (707) 462-9729 [email protected]

Associate Member Chair

Russ Clarke Park Ave Turf

(707) 217-9669 [email protected]

Resource Chair Susie Dowd Markarian

Susie Dowd Markarian Design (707) 546-6221

[email protected]

CLT State Committee Liaison Dave Iribarne

City of Petaluma (707) 778-4591

[email protected]

Programs Co-Chairs Owen Mitchell

Mitchell Landscapes (415) 717-6214 [email protected]

Tyler Doherty

Cal West Rentals (707) 694-9108

[email protected]

Legislative Chair Chris Zaim

Akita Landscape (707) 486-2548 [email protected]

Education Co-Chairs Luis Lua

Cagwin & Dorward (415) 720-6624

Will Jenkel Lampson Tractor

(707) 206-2294 [email protected]

Membership Co-Chairs Kevin Kohl

Ewing Irrigation (707) 457-9530 [email protected]

Jeff Hausman

Gardenworks, Inc. (707) 974-5799 jeff@gardenworks-

inc.com

Salvador Ledezma Jr. Gardenworks, Inc

(707) 974-5800 [email protected]

Chapter General Board Members

Jeff Jones

John Deere Landscapes (925) 595-6115

[email protected]

Jason North

North Coast CLCA Executive Director

Journal Editor

Connie Salinas

P.O. Box 1621 Sebastopol, CA 95473

Phone 707-829-5487 Fax 707-829-5487 [email protected]

CLCA 2010 State Officers

PRESIDENT

William Schnetz, CLP Schnetz Landscape, Inc Phone: (760) 591-3453

[email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECT Robert Wade, CLP,CLIA

Wade Landscape Phone: (949) 494-2130 [email protected]

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sharon McGuire

Phone: (800) 448-2522, ext. 13 FAX: (916) 446-7692

[email protected]

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CLCA North Coast Chapter

Thursday November 4, 2010Rooster Run Golf Club|2301 East Washington Street, Petaluma

Individual Play Tournament with Handicap - Tee-off Starts at 11:00amwww.clcanorthcoastchapter.org/golf

Tournament Registration $100Includes green fee, cart, and balls

The Top Player Wins the Green Jacket!

SponsorshipsEvent Sponsors: Sponsor this year’s Master’stournament and be a part of a North CoastTraditionCLCA Associate Members $150Contractor Members $150Non-Members Sponsors $200

Mail Registration Form & Check to: CLCA North Coast Chapter PO Box 1621 Sebastopol, CA 95473Questions? Email: Michael O’Connell at [email protected] or call 415-720-0029

Proceeds benefit theLEAF Scholarship Fund& North Coast Chapter

Total Tournament Entries @ $100 __________

Sponsorship Total __________

TOTAL ENCLOSED _________________________

Contact Info _____________________________________

_____________________________________

Phone/Email ___________________________________

___________________________________

Golfer Names:

1-

2-

3-

4-

presents:

NEW! Register Online & Pay with a Credit Cardwww.clcanorthcoastchapter.org/golf

October Dinner Meeting Tuesday October 19, 2010

Rooster Run Golf Club 6:00 PM - $30 with RSVP ($35 at the door)

Ben Stone was appointed Sonoma County Economic Development Board Director in 1986. He is responsible

to the Board of Supervisors for various economic development activities.

Previous Work History: Private and public sectors in the Pacific Northwest.

RSVP to Connie by phone or fax (707) 829-5487 Or e-mail [email protected] Name of Company___________________________________________ Name of Attendee(s)__________________________________________

Ben Stone Director of Sonoma County

Economic Development

The State of Local Economy “Looking Forward”

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Spotlight on FX Luminaire (Pun Intended) Lumineux LED Lighting The future of outdoor lighting is all about the emergence of LED (light emitting diodes) technology. And rightly so; with too many inefficient incandescent lamps, the industry needs to move toward more sustainable lighting solutions. Six years ago, FX Luminaire began experimenting

with LED technology. Unfortunately, the technology at the time did not meet their high standards of quality, so time was invested into learning more about LEDs before building marketable products. The manufacturing challenges for LED lighting fixtures are plenty. The ability to produce highly durable, energy efficient exterior fixtures that are easy to install, easy to maintain, easy to service if needed and upgradeable when the technology changes is challenging. The LEDs must also be capable of providing acceptable color temperatures, with a wide range of beam spreads, all at a reasonable price. Regardless of the challenges, the benefits of LED are numerous. They represent a highly efficient lighting source offering up to six times the lumen output as standard incandescent lamps. Better lumen output (or brightness) at a lower rate of wattage consumption equates to greater energy savings. As energy companies measure by the kilowatt, the less wattage used, the greater the savings. If the same light output is achieved from a 3 watt LED fixture as a 20 watt incandescent lamp, the path to sustainability is clear. Another advantage of LED technology is lamp life. The industry standard MR-16 lamp used in most exterior fixtures has a lamp life rating of about 4000 hours. The current version of LED chips has a L70 life rating of 50,000 hours, or 12.5 times that of the current industry standard. The benefit? LEDs minimize the maintenance aspect of exterior lighting over time and increase savings on bulb replacement costs. With all the challenges and benefits carefully taken into consideration, FX began developing its current line of LED fixtures. They are now in full production and marketing LED fixtures under the brand name Lumineux. They’re addressing the challenges and the benefits that go into making an earth-friendly lighting line that enhances the exterior environment during the evening hours.

For more information or to schedule an interactive design and technical presentation please contact: Jeff Calhoun, FX Luminaire [email protected] 888-711-7124

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MANY THANKS TO JEFF CALHOUN AND FX LUMINAIRE FOR THEIR

CONTINUED SPONSORSHIP OF NORTH COAST CHAPTER EVENTS

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Best Plants For Fall Garden Colors Fall landscapes explode with color if planted with the right trees and shrubs. Choosing carefully can extend the seasonal joy into October, November and December. Now is the time to get these plants and trees into the ground. YELLOW TREES "Obviously, maples are a great choice," said Cheryl Lajoie, an advanced certified horticulturalist. The Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) has the most vivid yellow fall glow, Lajoie said. The River Birch (Betula nigra) is another tree with golden fall color, is easy to find, yields nice shade and has beautiful bark. The Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum 'Orange-ola') is a small, slow-growing laceleaf that becomes flame-colored with yellow/orange and red fall foliage. Lajoie also recommended Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), which usually grows about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, has creamy, off-white spring blooms and golden yellow fall foliage. She also likes Ginkgo Autumn Gold (Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold'). The Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) lives up to its name. Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), also called Black Tupelo, grows 30 to 50 feet tall, 20 to 30 feet wide and changes to red/orange foliage in autumn. Another Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica 'Forum') gets red foliage streaked with yellow. This gum reaches 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide, making it a cultivar for a smaller space. Another colorful tree is the Chinese Pistache, which starts off yellow/green, then brilliant orange, then turns red. A nice dark red, a russet red to true red, can be found in gardens with a White Oak (Quercus alba). The Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) gradually goes from yellow-brown to occasionally russet red. And the Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) is an excellent street tree that also turns russet red in fall. So does the Red Oak (Quercus rubra). SHRUBS Yellows 'Hartlage Wine’ Sweetshrub (Calycanthus raulstonii “Hartlage Wine’) has bold foliage, showy, wine red flowers and good yellow fall color. Serviceberry (Amelanchier) has fall color that ranges from yellow to orange to red. Cultivated varieties are often more brilliant. Reds: Red hues can be found in Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima’). This deciduous, sun-loving native shrub grows slowly, 6 to 10 feet tall and 3 by 4 feet wide. It develops spectacular autumn color and red berry clusters. Oranges French suggests Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). The cultivar 'Admiration’ is particularly lovely. “It has lovely orange red leaves with a yellow edge,” she said. “And nice orange autumn color.” Purples The royal hue is found in the Snowcap Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis umbellata Minor 'Snow Cap’) , whose leaves darken to burgundy as the months cool. “Shang-hi’ Purple Diamond Compact Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'Shang-Hi’) has the most intense purple foliage. Red Chokeberry it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

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Employee Retention in Difficult Times

By far, the most appealing of the four is freezing salaries. The problem is, no hard working employee wants to hear the words “Times are tough . . . no raises this year.” The question is, how do you keep employees happy and productive during tough times? In addition, key employees may have the opportunity to move to another company. How do you retain, challenge and motivate these key people to stay with you during the hard times? Pay and benefits are not the number-one motivational factor for employees. While important, most rank the need for praise and appreciation the highest, closely followed by the need to belong to a close-knit team. Team members also need to have responsibility and feel like their voice matters in an organization. Use the following tips to keep employees happy, employee turnover down and productivity up, despite “No raises this year.”

Look toward the future Ask your employees what skills or training you can give them to better do their jobs and help them set short-term personal goals that are business-oriented. Work with your employees to outline the steps necessary to accomplish the goal and provide encouragement and guidance throughout the process. This gives employees a sense of pride and responsibility for the future success of the company and will motivate them to help the company get through these tough economic times. Have efficient systems in place for accomplishing tasks. If team members don’t fully understand how to get things done, morale will go down. Work on systems like team training, follow-up calls with clients, collections, stocking and ordering, and letters to clients. Focus on improving communication and customer service. Train your employees on the behind-the scenes duties that are critical to a well run business.

Hold regular staff meetings Staff meetings improve communication, goal setting and accountability. Through team meetings, you can keep your staff informed, motivated and involved. This forum gives staff members the opportunity to discuss the problems they are having or any concerns they have about the company, allowing leadership to solve small issues before they turn into bigger ones. When employees feel their contributions are valued, they will have a higher tendency to stay with an organization, even if times are tough.

Be a good leader What employees want from leadership is that you’re fair, consistent and apply the same office policy to everyone. Make decisions and stick to them. Avoid wavering, but know that if you and your team try something and it doesn’t work, it’s okay to change it. When you make a decision and stick with it; not everyone will agree, but they’ll respect you for making a decision and moving forward with it.

Promote a positive work environment As a leader, if you consistently have a positive attitude in the office, employees will mirror that attitude. If you sense gossip or issues among team members, take steps to resolve these things before they become an issue. Acknowledging and rewarding team members for accomplishing goals can also contribute to a positive environment. When employees feel appreciated, they are happy and motivated to continue doing a great job. Continued on next page….

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Be sure each employee has a copy of the office policy manual Be sure the handbook is current and that you stick to the guidelines. If team members learn and understand the office guidelines upfront, they are less likely to break the rules, resulting in less conflict between leadership and the team member. Do things with your team outside office hours Scheduling regular outings with team members outside of the office improves morale and encourages friendship between employees. In addition, respect increases between your team members. When team members get along, they work together better and are more productive. Involve your team in the decision-making process Gather input and ask questions, but as the leader, you should make the final decisions, even if you have an “office manager” or “practice administrator” on the team. Involving your team in this process helps show that you value their opinions, giving them a sense of pride.

Most importantly, as a leader, stay positive at all times Affect the changes that are needed and be the leader that your staff needs. Speak in positive terms about the company, its leadership and the colleagues who are not in the room. Say “thank you” more often. When something does go wrong, work through the issue and encourage everyone to move on. Acknowledge people who are accomplishing their goals and encourage those who are not. Show interest and get excited about your employees, your business and the future. In this economy, encouraging employees to work harder, quicker and more efficiently can be difficult without being able to offer raises. An overworked employee can easily become resentful, negative and walk away, which will affect the rest of your staff. Following these guidelines will help you keep your staff happy, motivated and productive, ultimately helping your business come out of the recession on top! EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Rhonda Savage is an internationally acclaimed speaker and CEO for a well-known practice management and consulting business. She is a noted motivational speaker on leadership, women’s issues and communication.

Yellow Jackets Landscape professionals are stung by yellow jackets every year after unexpectedly and accidentally disturbing their nest while landscaping. By fall, the yellow jacket population is typically quite high. Combine that with less available natural food and unfavorable weather conditions and you have unhappy, hungry, yellow jackets foraging for food.

Contractors who stumble onto a nest of yellow jackets need to first determine if they are in a problem area or not. Yellow jackets are excellent predators of potential insect pests, and should not be killed unless they impact humans. To eliminate a yellow jacket nest, spray one can of a liquid insecticide labeled for yellow jacket control into the entrance hole of the nest after dark. Only do your control treatment at night when the yellow jackets are resting. Be sure not to shine a flashlight directly at the nest because you may startle them and get stung.

Use products sold in ready-to-use pressurized containers, described as wasp and hornet killer, and can spray the insecticide up to 22 feet. Some common brands are Hot Shot, Raid, Spectricide and Ortho. Keep in mind the yellow jackets will become aggressive once disturbed. For difficult or severe yellow jacket problems, call a pest control professional.

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Notes From Our Webmaster: Michael O’Connell – O’Connell Landscape A Quick Word on Gratitude

We were discussing this a bit in the office today, while reviewing and debating the latest daily events at our company and thought it was worth sharing. Sometimes you just have to step back from the hectic busyness of each day and take a moment to express gratitude for what we have and the times we live in. A few things to be grateful for:

• We live in one of the most prosperous, freest societies on the planet

• We are living in the golden age of man kind. Witness to the greatest technological innovation in history, dwarfing all previous periods in richness, scale, and complexity. All while benefiting from being the longest lived, healthiest people to ever live.

• We have unlimited information at our fingertips at an instant. Your smartphone can access information that would dwarf the Library of Alexandria.

• A too large portion of the world lives on $1-2 per day. Has limited access to clean water, lives in poverty, lacks education, and is subject to all manners of disease that most of us do not even have to consider.

It seems like at times all people have an all to great capacity to take things for granted. To use one accomplishment as stepping stone for larger, greater accomplishment. Take a step back, a deep breath, and use your perspective to express some gratitude for all that we have. The poet Derek Mahan expressed this beautifully in his poem Everything is Going to Be All Right:

Everything Is Going to Be All Right

How should I not be glad to contemplate

the clouds clearing beyond the dormer window

and a high tide reflected on the ceiling?

There will be dying, there will be dying,

but there is no need to go into that.

The poems flow from the hand unbidden

and the hidden source is the watchful heart.

The sun rises in spite of everything

and the far cities are beautiful and bright.

I lie here in a riot of sunlight

watching the day break and the clouds flying.

Everything is going to be all right.

- Derek Mahon

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Commercial/Industrial Sector Reports Growth for Third Consecutive Month

In addition, business conditions continue to improve at firms with a commercial/industrial specialization, despite persistent weakness in the general economy. Survey panelists report that the design phase for nearly half of their projects lasts for less than six months. The complexity of the project is the most important influence on the length of that design phase.

Firms with a commercial/industrial specialization reported growth for the third month in a row in July. While it remained minimal, it is still a positive sign. The highest score in nearly two years for that sector was reported at firms with an institutional specialization, amid reports that building projects funded under the stimulus program are beginning to wrap up.

The most recent issue of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book reported that, for the most part, the commercial and industrial real estate market remains weak in all regions of the country. However, while vacancy rates in many areas are flat or increasing, office/retail leasing actually has been increasing in New York City.

Construction activity continues to weaken in the Atlanta, Minneapolis, Dallas, and Cleveland, but public infrastructure construction is on the rise in Chicago. Most Federal Reserve Board districts anticipate slow growth in commercial/industrial real estate in the near future.

Employment data continues to paint a mixed picture. While overall nonfarm payroll employment declined by 131,000 positions in July, the private sector continued to add jobs, with an additional 71,000 positions. Construction employment remained relatively flat, shedding just 11,000 jobs in July.

– Courtesy of AIA

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Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold. -Leo Tolstoy People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die. -Plato

Slow it. Spread it. Sink it! A Homeowner's and Landowner's Guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management |

This exciting new guidebook will help landowners and homeowners make the most of the many potential benefits of innovative stormwater management. Once thought of as a nuisance, stormwater is now universally recognized as one our most important natural resources and proper management (simple to complex) is more important than ever.

Traditional building and landscaping practices were designed to dispose of stormwater as quickly as possible. This outdated paradigm typically results in significant damage to land, structures, and the surrounding environment. Slowing down, spreading and sinking stormwater can help protect your property & increase its value, provide a free source of water for irrigation, conserve drinking water, beautify your landscape, promote groundwater recharge and much more!

The guidebook is packed full of information including:

• Understanding and evaluating stormwater runoff around your home or property • How to protect your property and increase its value • "Do it yourself" techniques • A wide assortment of sample stormwater Best Management Practices • Technical information and advice on rainwater harvesting and infiltration techniques • Guidance on designing and implementing large-scale projects • A broad sampling of local projects implemented right here in Sonoma County • Safety and maintenance requirements • An extensive resource guide to help readers quickly locate key information and get started!

The production and distribution of Slow it. Spread it. Sink it! guidebook is made possible by The Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program and its partner organizations including: The Sonoma County Water Agency, The North Bay Watershed Association, Southern Sonoma County Resource Conservation District, City of Petaluma, The Water Institute at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center and The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County.

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Logo Patches

ORDER FORM

CLCA North Coast Chapter

COMPANY NAME____________________________ PHONE #____________________ # ordered circle color & size: _____LOGO PATCH: small $ 20 _____LOGO PATCH: large $145 _____HATS: $25 Green, Black, or Pale Burgundy _____GOLF SHIRT: $35 Green or Black /Sm, Med, Lg, XL _____FLEECE sm.Logo on front: $65 Green or Black /Sm, Med, Lg, XL _____FLEECE lg. Logo on back: $170 Green or Black /Sm, Med, Lg, XL _____FLEECE lg. & sm. Logos: $210 Green or Black /Sm, Med, Lg, XL _____VARSITY JACKET sm Logo: $180 Sm, Med, Lg, XL _____VARSITY JACKET lg Logo: $300 Sm, Med, Lg, XL _____VARSITY JACKET lg & sm Logos: $325 Sm, Med, Lg, XL (XXL Available at a slightly higher price)

Call or Fax to Connie @ (707) 829-5487

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Banned Pesticide Used in Marin

A weed killer was used by contractors that includes a cancer-causing chemical was used in

June during construction of a bike lane project on Alameda del Prado in Ignacio in violation of

county pesticide law, officials said, adding that there is no cause for alarm. Although the

substance is approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and routinely used elsewhere, it is not allowed under county

pesticide rules.

In a written announcement, the county said workers for Bauman Landscape applied 100 pounds of "a pre-emergent weed control product, Ronstar G (EPA Reg. No 432-886)," a substance banned by the county's Integrated Pest Management program. News of the Alameda del Prado incident surfaced as county officials celebrated completion of the bike path project with a ceremony on Monday. The construction cost about $950,000, with all but $100,000 coming from the Federal Highway Administration. Paul Apffel, a pesticide watchdog who last year blew the whistle on county staff violations of pesticide rules, lauded the county for bringing the Ignacio violation to light, calling it a "failure of supervision" of contractors who apparently used a substance commonly applied to golf courses. The federally-approved substance was applied to soil in median strips, then covered with mulch, making human contact with it unlikely. County officials, who said use of the product was disclosed when they reviewed a work report, promptly posted a notice of violation on the county website but contended n the other hand, the county notice added that "Ronstar G is listed in Proposition 65 as a product that contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer; Oxadiazon 19666-30-9 and Naphthalene 91-20-3."

STONE FURNITURE

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Avoid Fall Planting Mistakes

Even seasoned landscapers can run into

issues when it comes to replanting homeowners' yards that have been devastated

by summer heat. Here are a few of the landscape mistakes and ways to avoid them for

happier clients and repeat business.

Subsoil on top - This is a major problem of landscapes and poses immense challenges. Builders carve off the topsoil from a site, leaving only the subsoil. It sometimes means landscapers are trying to grow things where it's almost impossible to do so. This is the reason so many soil amendments are needed. The landscaper is replacing what the building contractor took away. Sometimes, despite soil additives, it's hard to work around barren soil areas, thus the reason the landscaper may have to resort to raised beds.

Take care of the big issues first - Drainage problems kill more plants than anything else in mountain soils. Plants that sit in a monsoon pool will develop root rot and die. So to contour the landscape, install French drains, or simply abandon a problem site and go with raised beds should be decided up front. These are big decisions, which, if made before the landscaper begins to plant, will make the task easier and add to the landscaping success.

Too much of the same thing - If your client wants to camouflage the neighbor's chain link fence, there is a better way than planting an Arizona Cypress every 10 feet. Too many of the same type of plant sets up a monoculture, which is susceptible to an invasion of pests. Rather, choose a selection of cedar, photinia, pine, silver berry, cotoneaster, and other flowering and fruiting shrubs. That ugly view will be hidden by growth that will provide multi-season interest and feed (or house) birds.

Out of proportion - We all know of at least one house that is all but obliterated from view by one or two gigantic Colorado spruces planted in front of the home. Years ago these might have started out as cute Christmas trees but many years and 40 feet later they give only the slightest glimpse of the home they are hiding. Be aware of the expected mature size of a plant when you specify and don't plant it in an area where it won't have room to reach its potential.

Planting too deeply - A tree needs to have a ''basal flare,'' a widening of the trunk near soil level. If you have a tree that looks like a telephone pole coming out of the ground, it's planted too deeply. Plant all trees and shrubs at the same level as they grew in the nursery. If the top of the root ball at the nursery is exposed, it should be exposed when planted.

Grade changes - Grade changes around established trees can wreak havoc on a tree's health. Adding as little as six inches of soil on top of what's already there can reduce air circulation and restrict the movement of water and nutrients.

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LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED NURSERY

4330 Bodega Avenue, Petaluma, CA 94952 Phone: (707) 778-0136 Fax: (707) 778-0633

Mark Twain Quotes

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more. By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean. Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. Honesty is the best policy - when there is money in it. I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it. I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way. I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don't know. If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow. What a good thing Adam had. When he said a good thing he knew nobody had said it before.

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

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