The Colin O'Neill Scholarship

In the 42-years since Colin founded Prescription Landscape Inc, we have been dedicated to elevating horticultural careers especially in the landscape management industry. That’s why it is important to support our beloved University of Minnesota Department of Horticulture Science as they invest their time, energy, and heart into educating the next generation of plant professionals.

It’s been six years since Colin’s passing, and our commitment to education is stronger than ever in the form of company-led courses, to landscape/irrigation association seminars, all the way to this legacy scholarship!

Every year on Give to the Max Day, we ask our community to make a gift in Colin’s name and help us to make amazing careers in landscape management more accessible! Can we count on you this year?

Donate today!

It’s July. You're a Facility Manager. Obviously, You Are Thinking about Winter.

July is the Month to Plan

It may be the dog days of summer but as a property or facility manager, you are issuing RFPs and preparing for Winter 2020-21. As a commercial snow company, we are in it right alongside you. Equipment, hiring, logistics, training and supplies are on our minds but as members of IFMA, IREM, BOMA and MSCA for many years, we understand the frustration of needing safe properties while also dealing with budgets. The balancing act is particularly daunting as we consider the upcoming season secondary to the economic and staff impacts of COVID-19. Here are 3 considerations we are reviewing with our clients right now and helping find solutions.

Safety First

Every facility and property manager tracks slip/trip/fall (STF) incidents as part of OSHA 300 logs. Consider this quote from CDC NIOSH Safety Plan 2019 – 2023. “STFs collectively lead in costs to businesses with over $15 billion dollars in direct costs. In the Wholesale-Retail Trade sector, STFs are the third most common cause for lost-workday injuries. STFs are also responsible for 15% of all work-related fatal injuries, the second leading cause of fatalities behind motor vehicles and the third leading cause for this industry. STFs disproportionately affect certain demographic groups. Generally, STFs are the second leading cause of death among Hispanic workers and the third leading cause for Asian workers. In addition, 47% of fatal occupational fall victims are age 55 and above.” The average injury claim for a pedestrian slip and fall injury on ice in a parking lot is $18,000 to $30,000; and workers’ compensation claims are higher at $25,000 to $45,000 per claim according to numerous Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) publications. Less frequently than STF, snow and ice are the direct cause of pedestrian-vehicle and vehicle-vehicle conflicts in parking lots. Parking lot accidents can be more expensive, and the building owner is typically named as a third-party. Our Certified Snow Providers at Prescription Landscape can mitigate this risk. We provide an audit of snow and ice management “hot spots” like loading dock stairs, walkways to exterior  trash and recycling corrals, the corrals themselves, employee side entrances/exits, delivery entrances, shortcut paths from parking to building, areas prone to snow drifting, areas prone to thaw and overnight refreeze, snow burden on awnings and overhangs. In Minnesota, there is generally a six-year statute of limitations for slip-and-fall accidents which occur due to someone else’s negligence such as failure to shovel, failure to clean a spill, or failure to put down salt and sand (Minn. Stat. § 541.05, Subd. 1(5)). There is a two-year statute of limitations for accidents which occur due to a defect to the property, such as bad drainage or broken steps (Minn. Stat. § 541.051, Subd. 1(c)). As part of best-practice service for our clients, Prescription Landscape maintains the following property records: documented verification process of snow-ice management; electronic reporting and location verification; post-service inspections to verify and document service completion; and, event communications to clients related to weather and services rendered.

Level of Service vs Scope of Work

This is a key differentiator for Prescription Landscape when it comes to responding to RFPs. We find that Snow-Ice procurement processes and forms  are frequently a source of confusion. Our company recommends to its clients Purchasing Snow & Ice Management: Quality RFP Creation and Best Practices created by a team of insurance companies, retail clients and snow-ice providers under the leadership of SIMA. When we lose a bid to another company by a substantial percent, it can certainly mean that the company underbid and will lose money on the work. More frequently however, it is due to unaligned expectations in Level of Service (Start Times, Triggers, Completion Times, Extreme Weather Conditions, Expectation of Condition of Paved Surface) and/ or in Scope of Work (Site Size, Site Complexity, Itemized Services). As a Facility Manager, the last things you need in the middle of a blizzard is to find out that your Snow-Ice vendor points to a clause in their contract that states that an extreme event is a release from the trigger expectations; or, to have daily calls from building tenants complaining about pavement conditions but your contract specifies a 3” trigger, no pre-treatment and no ice checks.

Budgeting in 2020-21

As a Facility Manager or Property Manager, if you believe that budget cuts will impact your contracts, and your ability to work with your own clients, then we want to have an open discussion with you. As you consider your 2020-21 Snow-Ice Management needs, we will discuss and possibly, adjust the level of service expectations and corresponding scope of work. If you typically use Per Event or Per Occurrence Contracts, you may not want to gamble on the frequency of Extreme Weather events. You may want to move to a budget-friendly Seasonal Contract. You may find that you can change your level of service by changing access to pedestrians and/or vehicles. As seasoned snow providers, we are expert property auditors and can recommend ways to save money while not comprising safety. We will review a detailed Scope of Work list with you and determine what can be a source of savings.

As always, thank you for making us your preferred expert snow and safety service provider since 1980!

June and the Beautiful Linden Tree

“June Bride” is a thing in Minnesota because of the explosion of green. We can think of no single better standard bearer of that explosion than the European Littleleaf (Tilia cordata) and the American Linden (Tilia americana) - also known as a Basswood. These are easy trees to recognize in late June as they come into prolific and fragrant bloom. The trees are loaded with clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers that perfume the air and attract honeybees and other pollinators. The blooms are an excellent source of honey for about two weeks. The American Linden has large, heart-shaped leaves, 4 to 6 inches, while Littleleaf leaves, are 2 to 4 inches. The American Linden is a symmetrical tree while Littleleaf is compact and pyramidal. Landscape architects favor Littleleaf for its medium-fast annual growth of up to 2 feet so it has become ubiquitous in urban landscapes and is heavily planted on golf courses and corporate campuses. Like all trees, they need pruning and routine health care but are generally robust.

Littleleaf buds emerge in the first two weeks of June.

All this beauty may come with a price. Japanese beetles also love Littleleaf. The life-cycle of the Japanese beetle requires control through a seasonal plan that includes summer and fall control. Interestingly, good turf management practices will help to control the beetle during its larval stage. The damage caused by the adult Japanese beetle once it emerges from the ground to feast on leaves is rarely lethal but it is disfiguring. With a little bit of planning, Linden tree foliage will remain intact and provide abundant shade and beauty throughout the season.

Contact Prescription Landscape today and we will start the protection program your Linden trees need to keep them safe from Japanese Beetle damage!

The Japanese beetle adult form is shown on the right. It emerges from the ground and flies up into trees, grapevines and rose bushes to feast on leaves.

Spring Checklists: A Thing So Normal and Nice in Minnesota!

In these unsettled times, today’s photograph of a typical spring occurrence is cause for giddy and grateful happiness. The plant staging areas in each of our branches are full of spring color. Bees hungry from winter dormancy, are emerging and finding these concentrations of flowers as well as native spring flowers, fall planted bulbs and yes, dandelions, as their first sources of nectar after a nasty mid-April snow and cold snap. Get a lawn chair out in the driveway this week, pour a cuppa hot coffee and read more about Minnesota bees at https://www.beelab.umn.edu/ and Minnesota native plants at https://extension.umn.edu/find-plants/native-plants

It’s time to dig so we thought we would show you what is on the spring checklist for our wonderful customers.

Spring Color | Parking Lot Sweeping and Striping | Clean-up and Portering Service | Pre-Emergent Weed Control (organic options available) | Spring Turf Aeration and Fertilization (organic options available) | Mulch Refresh | Tree/Shrub Pruning | Irrigation Start-Up and Repair | Sod-Seed Repair of Winter Damage | General Exterior Maintenance and Repair (Re-lamp, Cleaning, and Other) | Rooftop Garden and Amenity Deck Clean-up and Open-up | Curb, Sidewalk, Parking Lot Repair | Urban Dog Run | Construction | Design

The week ahead will be dry and warm so we will be getting out into our own gardens to clean up debris, put in fresh soil, mix in compost and refresh mulch paths to permit easy access for planting, weeding and harvesting.

Please patronize your neighborhood garden, feed and equipment supply stores. They need your support and are ready to serve! #Inthistogether

COVID-19 Update Executive Order 20-33 April 8, 2020

COVID-19 Policies and Safety Instructions: English and Spanish

Today’s briefing by Minnesota’s Governor Walz provided an update to Critical Sector operation and CISA guidelines. The update is available at this link https://mn.gov/deed/assets/critical-worker-definitions-ACC_tcm1045-425195.pdf.

“Lawncare and Landscaping Workers” were added to the list of critical workers under the Food and Agriculture sector. This is good news for the maintenance of the safe and sanitary conditions for everyone that uses landscape industry service providers. The previous limitation of services was prudent just as this update is logical. The Stay-At-Home order remains in place until May 4 and, more importantly, all the safety precautions must remain in place so that Minnesotans continue to make progress. If anything, this is a call to maintain a high state of vigilance to assure that our clients, partners, vendors and employees remain safe and healthy.

We are grateful to our staff and their continued dedication during this time. We support them in English and in Spanish. We respect their concerns since their continued health and success is the single most important inspiration in all that we do.

Prescription Landscape Inc COVID-19 Policy Update 7:30PM March 29, 2020

Allium giganteum - A more beautiful starburst global array than we are accustomed to seeing these days

BREAKING NEWS: We want to alert you that we have been given guidance that permits our Landscape and Property Maintenance Service Division to continue to provide safety, sanitation and essential operation services to our Critical Industry Sector clients. Your Prescription Landscape representative will provide more detail as it becomes available.

Understandably, the State of Minnesota Executive Order 20-20 COVID-19 (12:00AM March 27, 2020 through 12:00AM April 10, 2020) guidelines continue to evolve. We need to respect that these are unprecedented times. We continue to support Governor Walz and his team as they evaluate the situation.

As of March 29, 2020, Prescription Landscape has been advised by Minnesota Landscape Association (MNLA) that it may re-open commercial property maintenance services but that it must limit these services to its Critical Industry Sector clients, specifically: hospitals; clinics; banks; select supply chain providers (food, agriculture, specified delivery); senior and assisted living facilities; and, industrial facilities; or, to its clients outside of the Critical Industry if they have an emergency need, e.g. irrigation failures, fallen trees/limbs, and similar.

The services Prescription Landscape will provide to its Critical Industry clients during this term will be limited to those that support safety, sanitation and essential operation. These are: lot sweeping, environmental clean-up (daily property waste issues such as plastic bags, removal of animal feces, removal of leaves/tree limbs/ branches, inspection and trimming of trees with winter-damaged limbs, perishable landscape and plant materials (interior and exterior), and parking lot/sidewalk/curb damage inspection and service.

Although there are numerous other services that Prescription Landscape normally provides during this time period (Mar 27-Apr 10), these are not critical to safety of the facility and will be deferred.

The Governor’s office relayed this response to MNLA’s most recent appeal on “landscaping” during the two week “stay-at-home” order (12:00AM March 27, 2020 through 12:00AM April 10, 2020):

“Landscaping is not generally exempt, unless it is done in service to a critical industry or an emergency need. An example of a critical industry is construction.”

This statement is in direct correlation with CISA guidelines which were updated on March 28, 2020 and now lists landscapers in the following guidance:

“Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC Technicians, landscapers, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, businesses and buildings such as hospitals, senior living facilities, any temporary construction required to support COVID-19 response.”

Prescription Landscape will adhere to these guidelines.

Prescription Landscape Inc COVID-19 Policy Update March 29, 2020

All healthcare providers are heroes

Governor Tim Walz’s Executive Order 20-20 guidance regarding COVID-19 unexpectedly changed the designation of critical businesses overnight on March 27, 2020. It is now stated that “lawncare and landscaping workers are not exempted”. This has caused disruption of aspects of Prescription Landscape’s current work plans.

We are appealing this change through Minnesota Landscape Association (www.mnla.biz). Prescription Landscape serves essential businesses such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, senior living residences, banks, shelters, supply chain providers and others. We expect that there will be modifications to the Executive Order 20-20 as further refinements are made to permit the scope of services offered by commercial landscape companies when those services pertain to property and client safety.

The designation of Construction as an essential service was not changed in the updated Executive Order 20-20, therefore our construction division will continue to operate under COVID-19 CDC, MN Dept of Health and OSHA guidelines.

Please know that this situation continues to evolve so we ask that clients work with their Prescription Landscape representative regarding the latest State of Minnesota updates as well as issues, needs and concerns. We are proud of the actions taken by our state officials as they work to protect all our residents.

We encourage all to stay informed and do the right thing by practicing recommended preventative measures to help stem the spread of virus in our community and our region.

The Earth in Our Hands

Vegetable Garden by Presbyterian Homes : A Healing Sanctuary and Food Source

This blog is inspired by Jennifer Jewell’s new book “The Earth in Her Hands”, a collection of stories about 75 women working in the landscape, greenhouse and garden and floral industry; it’s a beautiful intersection of horticulture powerhouses. One of our favorite quotes is from Lorene Edwards Forkner, the editor of Pacific Horticulture, based in the U.S. corona virus ground zero of Seattle, Washington. Her quote seems prophetic of the times.

“Gardeners are everyday superheroes - addressing challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, exploited natural resources, and a growing remove from the natural world.”

In Minnesota, March is a time to start compost cooking again. If you have not been composting, get started. It’s a great place for coffee grounds, potato peels, apple cores and similar. You can buy a compost system on line, you can build one, or you can just cordon off an small area outside and deposit kitchen waste (no meats, fats, dog poo, etc). A good overview of online purchase options is described in this news article https://tinyurl.com/sweweqc while DIY instructions from Kris Bordessa, author of Attainable Sustainable, are available here https://tinyurl.com/y9vu3ppo.

March is also a great time to plan (not plant!) a vegetable garden. Even if you have minimal space, you can produce bountiful harvests. A great way to get an urban garden plan going is to think about what you like to eat! How about salsa? You can grow everything you need in containers (tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro) and small, manageable spaces. The Grow a Good Life website provides sound gardening practice and thoughtful tips for a salsa garden https://tinyurl.com/t9ddwwu .

Rummage around in these websites, then pull together your plan to get some earth in your hands. Remember, Minnesota-specific info is always available at U of MN Extension https://tinyurl.com/sqgnj2c

Now, get planning all you gardening superheroes!

Prescription Landscape Inc COVID-19 Policy Update March 18, 2020

All healthcare providers are heroes

While the COVID-19 situation is rapidly changing, we are committed to keeping you informed of Prescription Landscape’s current work plans.

Each of Prescription Landscape’s offices are open and operating using MN Department of Health guidelines, and will continue to be until otherwise directed by a government agency. All our clients are being served within the health precaution parameters we issued directly to them on March 16, 2020.

We primarily serve essential businesses such as hospitals, healthcare facilities, senior living residences, banks, shelters and others. We take this responsibility seriously and despite challenges, we will work to assure that our services are not disrupted, particularly those that involve property and client safety.

Importantly, we have provided accommodations for employees and those of our vendors consistent with the guidelines published by federal, state and local authorities regarding social distancing and clean and sanitary behaviors.

Our employees who are able to work from home are doing so. We have shifted all meetings to teleconferencing.

To the extent possible, we have developed mitigation plans in anticipation of potential disruption to upcoming growing and construction season projects due to labor availability or direction from federal, state or local authorities. We have plans to accommodate requests to accelerate construction projects and committed landscape projects.

As we continue to evaluate current developments, we ask that clients work with their Prescription Landscape representative regarding issues, needs and concerns.

We encourage all to stay informed and do the right thing by practicing recommended preventative measures to help stem the spread of virus in our community and our region.

Fall 2019: A Time of Preparation

Preparation and Planning

The leaves are changing and when you see our crews doing fall cleanups, you know we are at the end of a glorious Minnesota summer!

Trees and Shrubs: Fall’s milder temperatures mean that trees, shrubs, and turf will no longer have heat as a stressor. All plants can put more energy into reinforcing their root systems. This is what make fall a friendly time for tree and shrub planting as well as bulbs and tubers. We are planting deciduous trees now but cannot wait too much longer for coniferous trees since the latter need more time in the ground before soil temperatures drop off. Watering continues to be very important right up until freezing temps make that impossible.

Fall Color: Our crews are installing fall color chrysanthemums, kale, pansies, and grasses. A mix of annuals can be interspersed with perennial grasses to mark the season. Our planters have been amazing this summer - thank you urban care team! They replace a plant here and there with a blaze of orange and yellow, and the planter continues in service until it’s time to install winter color. Again, this is also a time to consider adding native trees and shrubs that are showy and can help to rejuvenate our tree canopy as Emerald Ash Borer takes its toll. River Birch (Betula nigra) is a good example for a tree that spans seasons. It has lovely color from spring through fall and then features gorgeous white, brown and tan bark all peeling from mature trunks during the winter. Redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a shrub native to Minnesota and has colorful red or yellow winter bark that provides striking winter color against a snowy backdrop.

Turf Care: There is NOTHING better or easier to do than fall aeration and overseeding to keep turf in good health. We also do a last round of fertilization in October and - between these two services - grass will be green and vigorous come spring time. Remember - healthy turf reduces the need for pesticides, insecticides and herbicides.

Irrigation: If you have an irrigation system, it’s time to do repairs and winterize it.

Lot Sweeping and Striping: After the leaves are down and clean up is underway, consider a thorough lot sweep followed by striping. Remember that our poly blades on snow plows protect this investment.

Contact us and let us help you prepare your property for winter!