2020 NNLA Virtual field day a success!
The Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association
held the 2020 Fall Field Day virtually this year in
mid-October.
The week of October 5th, NNLA shared three
videos providing virtual tours of behind the scenes
operations of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple
Orchard.
NDA Announces New EAB Finds, Rescinds State EAB Quarantine
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) recently confirmed that emerald ash borer
(EAB) had been found infesting ash trees in Hall County, Nebraska. EAB was first found in
Nebraska in June 2016, in Douglas county, and most recently was discovered in Buffalo and
Washington counties.
Due to the confirmations of EAB i
Japanese Beetle Update
Nebraska has numerous counties infested with Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica). As
this pest becomes more common across the state, the prevalence of Japanese beetle has
implications for nurseries that ship out of state.
NDA continues to monitor for the presence of Japanese beetle in our state. Based on
trapping surveys, nearly half of Nebraska counties are considered infested as of 2020.
NCN Continuing Education Hours Update for 2021 Renewal
The NNLA Board of Directors approved at their last meeting to allow online courses attended by Nebraska Certified Nurseryman (NCNs) in 2020 to
count towards the 5.0 CE hour requirement for maintaining certification. Online courses, outside of those hosted by NNLA, will need to be reviewed
by the NCN Committee or NNLA Board of Directors.
NNLA Policy on Certification, Maintaining Certification
It’s Bulb-planting Time
Bulbs are a balm to the frozen soul after a long Nebraska winter. Those first snowdrops and crocus peeking
through last year’s old leaves—or through the snow—can’t help but put a smile on your face and allow an
exhalation of breath: we made it. Cool, fleshy, green-growing leaves coming out of the drab March soil…
bulbs would be wonderful even if they didn’t bloom. And what a variety. There’s a wide array of colors,
shapes, sizes, forms and bloom times—from a dainty, early squill (Scilla bifolia) to a bold red ‘Kingsblood’
Late Flowering Tulip. Bulbs can range in height from 2-30 inches and give you bloom from February to late
May. You can plant straight species or any of the hundreds of named cultivars.
The Pleasures of Gardening
It’s fall. Some of us are tired of weeding, watering, managing. The growth we impatiently
waited for in spring has by now gone rampant. As one gardener put it, “the autumn garden
is a machete garden.”
National Green Industry Survey
The Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors is pleased to announce the release of a New Southern Region Cooperative
Series bulletin, SCSB#421: “National Green Industry Survey - Summary Report.”
This electronic bulletin is available as a link through the list of Southern Cooperative Series Bulletins on the SAAESD homepage (https://saaesd.
org/bulletins/), or directly at the following URL: https://saaesd.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/08/National-Green-Industry-Survey-SummaryReport-2019-final-08.30.2020-1.pdf
This report summarizes information on production and marketing practices and trade flows for U.S. ornamental plant grower and dealer firms, based
on a national mail and Internet survey.
Marti Neely Design and Associates wins Silver at the APLD Landscape Awards Competition
The opportunity to reimagine a large homesite does not come along very often. When it does and
with it a long-term relationship built upon trust it really is an opportunity to treasure.
Morgan Ridge is located on the crest of a hill, centered in the property, almost eleven acres in size.
With significant slopes on both the front and back it was afforded lovely views of the sunrise and
sunset, but not as much usable space as you would think. With a tightly fenced pool landscaped
with river rock, fewer plants than would be pleasing and an awkwardly designed patio space, it
was not anything my clients wanted to keep. When in this entertaining area one had no idea of the
wonderful expanse of nature outside the fenced boundary as those views were blocked.
Spotted Lanternfly
Fall is the perfect time to scout for Spotted Lanternfly (SLF). This exotic invasive insect has not been
found in Nebraska. But the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) encourages everyone to keep
an eye out for this pest.
In the fall, adults will aggregate on tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). So an easy way to scout for
this pest is to check the trunks of tree-of-heaven for these large, colorful insects.
Plant Native: Butterfly Milkweed
This showy native wildflower grows naturally in some tough conditions—upland sandy prairies, open rocky
woodlands and roadside embankments. To be successful in the garden, it is best to try to imitate the brutal
natural habitat where this milkweed grows. It is a long-lived, trouble-free perennial when planted in dry, welldrained soils on sunny slopes or at the top of a retaining wall. It loves the heat, so it’s slow to emerge in spring.
The lance-shaped, shiny leaves are crowded along upright stems, growing into a mound of bright green foliage by
early summer. In summer, bright orange flower clusters top the plant, made up of many small star-shaped florets.
The showy flowers attract a variety of butterflies, moths and bees. In fall, narrow, gray-green seed pods develop,
covered in silky hairs. The pods eventually split open to release the brown seeds, each with silken parachutes to
drift away in the wind.
Beneficial Landscapes: Plants for Sandy Soil
If you’re sitting on sandy soil and don’t have a flower garden, it’s well worth starting one. The rest of us—who sigh with disappointment every time we
read “must have well-drained soil” in a nursery catalog—can’t let you waste this opportunity that’s lying at your feet.
Sand, the largest of soil particles (and the only one visible to the naked eye), is no stranger to the state. It can be found along the Platte River lands
and all over the Sandhills. Characterized by excellent drainage, low fertility and resistance to compaction, sandy soil creates a truly unique setting for
landscaping in Nebraska. If you are willing to leave behind the nutrient- and water-loving plants often featured in magazines (astilbe, bleeding heart,
hellebore, hardy hibiscus, viburnum, hydrangea, daylily), you will find a whole new palette of plants worth their salt in color, texture and toughness.
Fold in compost for a boost in nutrient and moisture retention, and the possibilities are striking.
NNLA SCHOLARSHIP
The Nebraska Nursery and Landscape
Association is pleased to announce they will
be providing a scholarship again this year to
full-time horticulture students in Nebraska
colleges. The NNLA believes in investing in
students pursuing degrees in horticulture.
EAB Update
Several new finds of emerald ash borer
(EAB) have already been made this summer,
resulting in three new Nebraska counties
being confirmed for EAB infestations. In June,
EAB-infested trees were found in Kearney
(Buffalo County). Staff with the City of
Kearney Parks Department noticed declining
ash trees and reported those concerns to the
Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA). A
site visit confirmed D-shaped exit holes and
serpentine galleries present on the trees,
and adult EAB specimens were collected and
ultimately confirmed by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture identifier as EAB.
2020 NNLA Events Moved to Virtual Platform
The NNLA Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to not hold in-person events in 2020. The Eastern Field Day and the Winter Conference/
Annual Meeting have been moved to virtual platforms. Planning for both events is currently underway. Watch for emails and the next newsletter
issue for specific details.
Below are some national events which have shared they have been canceled or postponed.
• Oklahoma Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) has made the decision to postpone
Oklahoma Grows, originally scheduled for October 29-30, 2020 until 2021.
• MANTS will not be hosting an in-person tradeshow as planned, January 6-8, 2021, at the
Baltimore Convention Center. Instead they will launch of an online platform on which exhibitors
and registered buyers can connect to network and conduct business.
• The GIE+EXPO has postponed until October 20-22, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky.
• The National Association of Landscape Professionals has moved their LANDSCAPES 2020 to a
virtual experience in October 2020.
• The TCI EXPO 2020 will not hold their event in Baltimore, Maryland. They are planning for a
virtual event in early 2021.
Unsolicited Seed from China
Thousands of Americans have reported receiving unsolicited packages of seed from online sellers, which appear to have originated in China. These
packages of seed are often labeled as other items, such as earrings or jewelry, and have no labeling to indicate the type of seed.
USDA believes this is part of a “brushing” scam, where companies falsify orders and reviews in an attempt to increase their online profile. In addition
to seeds, bulbs and small plants have been received, along with a number of non-agricultural commodities.
State Departments of Agriculture are working with USDA to collect these unsolicited seeds, and submit them for testing to identify them, and
determine whether they carry any plant pests. The seeds potentially pose a threat to U.S. agriculture and the environment, as they could contain
noxious weeds or carry diseases or plant pests.
Individuals who receive unsolicited seed should mail the unopened seed packets to: USDA APHIS PPQ, Attn: Cindy Stuefer-Powell, 5940 S. 58th Street,
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68516
For more information on unsolicited seeds, visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sa-07/seedschina
Eastern Redcedar on the Great Plains: Great Plains Society of American Foresters Position Statement
The Great Plains Society of American Foresters recently released a paper regarding eastern redcedar’s (Juniperus virginiana L.) presence on the Great
Plains. The issue of encroachment has led to some contention surrounding the appropriate place for eastern redcedar in the Great Plains, between
well-intentioned natural resource professionals, public and private landowners, public agencies, and private NGOs. To view the position paper, go to
https://www.gpsaf.org/2017/position-statements/.
NCN Continuing Education Hours Update for 2021 Renewal
At their last meeting, the NNLA Board of Directors approved allowing online courses attended by Nebraska Certified Nurseryman (NCNs) in 2020 to
count towards the 5.0 CE hour requirement for maintaining certification. Online courses, outside of those hosted by NNLA, will need to be reviewed
by the NCN Committee or NNLA Board of Directors.
NNLA Policy on Certification, Maintaining Certification
Certification lasts for one year. Continuing education (CE) must be completed each year. The current requirement is the certified individual must attend
five (5) hours of continuing education in the horticulture field at a state, regional or national event(s) each year. The Certification Committee reviews
the list of events and evaluates potential events for inclusion on a case to case basis.
To request a review of a course, NCNs should send an email to the NNLA office (jennifer@youraam.com) with any supporting documentation (agenda,
session descriptions, etc.) to be reviewed. Courses will be posted on the NCN webpage at http://nnla.org/certification/ as they are approved. If your
course is already listed, you do not have to submit for approval.
NCNs are responsible for tracking their continuing education hours and submitting documentation of those hours to the NNLA office with their
renewal.
Beneficial Landscapes: Lonely Trees how to help, and how not to
In our modern landscapes, trees often get planted as lone individuals surrounded by a sea of lawn. This
is less than ideal for trees—and vice-versa. Trees typically grow in forests where little grass is present.
When trees are placed in lawns and those lawns are excessively fussed over (and we Americans love to
fuss over our lawns) trees can be sitting ducks for such things as mower and trimmer damage as well
as herbicide injury. Another issue is underground as tree roots and lawn roots don’t always mix well.
Lawn soils are often wet and compacted which favors grasses while tree roots prefer loose soils rich in
microbial and fungal life.
National Garden Bureau announces five plant classes for the 2021 “Year of the” Program
The National Garden Bureau has announced the five plant classes that will be featured in the 2021 “Year of the” program.
• For the bulb crop, 2021 will be the Year of the Hyacinth.
• For annuals, 2021 will be the Year of the Sunflower.
• For edibles, 2021 will be the Year of the Garden Bean.
• For perennials, 2021 will be the Year of the Monarda.
• For flowering shrubs, 2021 will be the Year of the Hardy Hibiscus.
The “Year of the” program chooses crops specifically for the North American market that are easy to grow, genetically diverse, and with a lot of new
breeding to showcase. Breeders, brokers, seed companies, growers and garden centers throughout the U.S. and Canada are urged to highlight these
flowers and plants when planning their marketing for the 2021 season as the publicity generated from this program is substantial.
How popular is this program? The five “Year of” pages on the NGB website are consistently in the top 10 visited pages by thousands of site visitors
every month.
Nursey Management - Posted by Julianne Mobilian - NurseryMag.com
Plant Native: Sweet Coneflower
This tough, dependable prairie plant deserves a space in any sun-loving garden. It grows naturally in high quality
prairies and sometimes in disturbed areas and clearings. It is an upright, clump-forming perennial with graygreen leaves and long, sturdy stems. It blooms over a long period, often during the hottest time of year, from midsummer to early fall. The plants are crowned by glowing yellow, daisy-like flowers to 3” across, with a pleasant
sweet smell, similar to sweetgrass. Each flower has a central brownish-purple cone packed with over 200 little
nectar tubes. The persistent, deep brown cones remain attractive all fall and winter. It is easy to grow in average,
well-drained garden soils and tolerates heavy clay, summer heat and humidity. This is a low maintenance plant,
but it may flop and topple if coddled with too much irrigation, fertilizer or shade. The flowers attract butterflies,
beneficial wasps, pollinating flies and beetles. The silvery checkerspot butterfly larvae and several species of
moths feed on the foliage.