Adhesives hold our world together - literally. Industrial products of all kinds require bonds of varying strength to perform their function, from the furniture in your living room to the parts that intricately connect and hold together the automobile in your driveway. Due to my numerous hobbies I have easily fifteen different varieties in my basement right now. Luckily in our industry, we do not need quite that many. So let's talk about the main two types of adhesive products that you can choose from to make walls and steps; solvent based or polyurethane based.

The first is solvent-based adhesive like our VOC compliant SRW. This style has been the longest in the market and is still highly used. It cures as the solvent evaporates, leaving the polymers. (Cons are toxic and flammable fumes in non-VOC compliant products.) The pros for this product are price and availability, an extremely long shelf life, and basic ease of use. There are a wide range of curing times which are affected by heat, humidity, and moisture. The product will also shrink due to the amount of evaporation during the curing process, which mostly isn't a factor in our industry.

The next type of adhesive is polyurethane-based, such as Brickstick. The curing process for this product uses air and moisture. Since there are no solvents, there is no shrinking or cracking while this product cures. It can also withstand higher temperatures like you would see in a fire pit or fireplace. Lastly, the speed at which this product cures is probably the most significant reason this type of adhesive is sought after. However, that speed can also be problematic if you need to move, shift, or rearrange something so plan accordingly. It is also harder to remove from hands or tools. The shelf life is under a year so pay attention to that when stocking up.

Both types of adhesives will perform well for most of your applications. They are both usable in rain or snow, so mother nature won't get in the way. Both are low-VOC compliant (volatile organic compound) so enclosed areas are no problem. Here at Christensen's we stock both types of adhesive, to have you covered in whichever choice you make. Ask one of our salesmen about the whats and whys so we can better help adhere to your needs and stick you with a great product.

Earlier in life I enjoyed a lack of sensitivity to our old friend, poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). The allergic reaction to this plant can wax and wane throughout one's life, but most of us start out allergic and stay allergic, with the effects growing worse with each exposure. I had a friend that even got it in the winter, but I never did. Part of it was that I quickly learned to recognize it even at a distance, especially after noticing the resemblance to Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), a safe-to-handle ornamental native shrub. Check out this website here for some examples.

However. A few years ago (OK, it was 15) I was surprised by a nasty case that required a course of steroids to get rid of. Maybe doing that woodland cleanup on a humid day wasn't such a good idea? Now I dedicate myself to avoiding poison ivy at all costs. I didn't encounter too much of it in my suburban garden but out here in my country garden holy heck it is everywhere. The tricky part is to not only look for those "leaves of three" but those tell-tale rooty vines clambering up tree trunks, with no foliage at eye-level where you stand a chance of noticing it, until popping great big leaves in the canopy, blending in with your hardwoods. Don't lean on any tree trunks!

A major issue is that poison ivy foliage is extremely variable. The three-leaf thing is definitely an ID point, but the darn leaves can be notched or smooth, matte or a bit shiny. The one thing that seems constant is it's exceptional vigor - it looks green and healthy all season until it bursts into glorious fall color. And while poision ivy is usually seen as a vine or groundcover, it can get quite woody and shrublike with age.

Another thing that confuses people is that there are OTHER vining plants found in the same habitat. Can you reliably tell wild grape and woodbine (parthenocissus) from poision ivy? Another fooler - baby boxelder seedlings. Even I sometimes glove up to pull one, just to be on the safe side. But I will tell you, if you see white berries on a vine, you are looking at poison ivy. Incidentally those berries are a valued food for plenty of wildlife which helps explain why it comes up everywhere.

In other (unwelcome) news, climate change is is making poison ivy both more virulent and allergenic. Ugh. Climate change is making poison ivy stronger and itchier

To remove it one must either pull it or use Roundup (glyphosate). Sever the vines that are climbing your shade trees, treat the fresh-cut stump, and spray any regrowth that occurs. Forget those "organic" salt and vinegar recipes, it's just going to re-sprout, and salting the soil is undesirable. And you must never, ever burn it as the smoke is toxic. Goats eat it, so you could see about renting a herd of them to clean up your acre, like the City of Ann Arbor does. Keep a bottle of Technu by the sink, and in your work truck or garden tool bag for fast treatment if you think you've been exposed and you might save yourself a trip to the doctor for a steroid pack.

If you’ve ever spent any time in the Sonoran Desert, shade is a huge commodity, and there aren't a lot of shade trees. Fortunately there is a fast growing member of the legume family that is native to that desert and does provide shade with it’s 25’ x 25’ multi stemmed canopy, and it is used extensively in the Phoenix area as a landscape and street tree. It is the Palo Verde.

This tree not only provides the important function of providing shade, it is quite beautiful.  Palo Verde roughly translates to ‘green stick’ or ‘green pole’. This is because the trunk and branches are green, and there is a fascinating reason for this.

The tree is full of small leaves that will drop during cold weather or drought. The Palo Verde’s trunk and branches are green because they contain chlorophyll and allow the tree to survive tough times by continuing to be able to photosynthesize without its leaves.

The tree has another beautiful feature which is the mid-spring emergence of yellow flowers all throughout the canopy. This bloom can also occur during unexpected summer rain events. And the tree supplies seed pods which are a source of food for many native animal species.

A good location in the landscape for this tree is a patch of sandy/gravelly, well drained soil in full sun. It is recommended to prune the tree often when young to develop the ability to walk or sit under it, though you should make sure to prune in warm weather as pruning in cold weather is damaging to the plant. Newly planted and young trees benefit from supplemental watering to help get them established. Continued supplemental watering once established will encourage faster growth and a thicker canopy, but this practice will shorten the life of the tree which on rare occasions can reach the century mark.

Despite how common this plant is in Arizona landscapes, there is a good reason for it and the commonness did not diminish the beauty of this plant for me. I would probably cultivate several of these trees for their shade with brief forays into the blistering sun to visit my agave before running back to the protection of their canopy where there would be some delicious ‘prickly pear’ lemonade or iced tea waiting for me. I wonder if there are understory plants that grow in the desert...?

Genetically modified foods have gotten quite a bad rap in the past few years, something I attribute to both a lack of knowledge and a multi million-dollar marketing campaign by the Non-GMO Project. That innocent looking butterfly that’s seemingly plastered on everything from salt to bread is an enormous spreader of misinformation. To begin with, salt does not have any genes to modify so a “Non-GMO” label is a bit misleading! I’ll try to dispel some of the more outlandish claims here.

Claim #1: Genetically modified produce is not as healthy as produce that is grown organically.

FALSE. There has been zero correlation between Genetic Modification and the health of food. Foods that have been genetically modified actually have a much more extensive testing and trialing process than traditionally grown foods. Biofortification can also result in a crop that has more nutrients than those that are traditionally grown. Ex. Golden Rice. (a)

Claim #2: Genetically Modified Crops are more expensive to cultivate.

FALSE. While it is true that there is a slightly higher price up front, “the economic advantages associated with insecticide savings and higher effective yields more than outweigh the technology fee charged on GM seeds.” (b)

Claim #3: The use of genetically modified crops only benefits large corporations.

FALSE. Globally, most genetically modified crops are grown by subsistence and small batch farmers solely for the purpose of providing for their families and the surrounding community. The recently approved GMO Cassava plant in Kenya produces a root with about 10 times more carbohydrates than the average cereal. It can also be grown in marginal and drought prone areas which account for about 80% of the land in Kenya. (c)

Claim #4: Genetically Modified crops use fewer pesticides.

TRUE. Most crops that have been genetically modified have actually been modified to be more resistant to diseases and pests. For example, with Genetically Modified corn, scientists engineered it to contain a gene that excretes a protein to kill invading pests such as the corn borer, thus eliminating the need to be sprayed with an insecticide (d).

(a) Ingo Potrykus, Lessons from the ‘Humanitarian Golden Rice’ project: regulation prevents development of public good genetically engineered crop products, New Biotechnology, Volume 27, Issue 5, 2010, Pages 466-472, ISSN 1871-6784 

(b) The Economics of Genetically Modified Crops, Annual Review of Resource Economics, Vol. 1:665-694 (Volume publication date 2009) First published online as a Review in Advance on June 26, 2009

(c) Kenya approves disease-resistant GMO cassava

(d) Gewin V (2003) Genetically Modified Corn— Environmental Benefits and Risks. PLOS Biology

… as inspired by Billy Joel.

Thirty years… who would've believed that? I know I didn't expect it! So, I wanted to write something special to commemorate my third decade with Christensen’s.

Before the COVID-19 shutdown last spring, I had been planning on getting tickets for Billy Joel, who was coming to town. Definitely a bucket list concert for me, but… since there was no telling how long lockdown would last, I decided to take my finger off off the “buy tickets” button. Good thing that I did. When we return to some form of normalcy, maybe he'll come back one more time. One can hope, right?

Anyway, that is when I came up with the idea of an improvisation to a Billy Joel song.

GREAT IDEA, Cap'n! You can do it!

I started out with the ever popular “We Didn't Start The Fire”. It was coming together beautifully, but then the song kept going and going… and going. I was running out of witty lines to put in for its sixteen parts (I got to about ten), while maintaining the pace and trying to keep it in chronological order.

You may have predicted by now that I hit a wall.

I tried spinning all kinds of ideas around and it just wasn't working out, so I put it on the back burner. But then ANOTHER song popped into my head, and it all started coming together. It is, arguably, the song that got Mr. Joel launched to stardom. While option one probably took a month to piece together to no avail, option two came together in about four hours.

So, please enjoy “Thirty years of the Cap'n”, as inspired and based on the rhythm of Billy Joel's “Piano Man”.

*Harmonica introduction that we all know*

It's 8am on a Monnnnday
And contractors start shufflin' in.
Thirty seasons in now with CPC.
So let our saga begin…

Off to the yard, we're unloading trees!
In March, it's pretty damn coooold.
There's rain, snow and mud, and mixed with some sleet,              
I need ten changes of clothes….

La da da dee dee dah….
La da da dee dee daaaaaah haaaa….

*Chorus*
Teach me about plants, you're a Nurseryman!
Show me ponds, legos, and lights!
You help our designs turn out beautiful,
From morning, through the day, and the night.

Some contractors have become friends of mine
Since I was around twenty-three.
Some share a joke, while some bum a smoke
While we're cruisin' on a cart tagging treeeees.

Some say “Dave, The Green Industry's killin' me!”
As the laughter fades away from their face
“I could've had, maybe, an office job”
“But I can't stay cooped up in one place!”

La da da dee dee dah….
La da da dee dee daaaaaah haaaa….

My alias is called “Cap'n Obvious”
You're my “Minions” when I rant, vent, and write.
I'm the first of four “Daveys”, which I find pretty crazy,
And I've been here over half of my liiiiife.

We've all learned about plants and new hybrids
Logistics, Distribution, and sales goals.
Fatigue creeps up on you with a vengeance
And you're exhausted by the time you get hooooome.

<Visualize me doing “air-piano”here>

*Chorus*
Teach me about plants, you're a Nurseryman!
Show me ponds, legos, and lights!
You help our designs turn out beautiful,
From morning, through the day, and the night.

There's a few dozen trucks before Memorial Day
Upper management throws us a smile.
It’s impressive to me when all of you come to see
Our controlled chaos for a while.

And the loaders roar like dinosaurs!
Is it six yet? I sure need a beeeeer!
I step out in the yard and hear “Good Lord! You're still bald!”
“But Cap'n, it's great you're still here!”

La da da dee dee dah….
La da da dee dee daaaaaah haaaa….

*Chorus*
Teach me about plants, you're a Nurseryman!
Show me ponds, legos, and lights,
You help our designs turn out beautiful,
From morning, through the day, and the night.

Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a pleasure serving you for the past thirty years. From the days when I was an eighteen-year old punk kid working at Rushton Farms as a production worker in the tree fields, to the today where you trust me and all of us at Christensen's to help coordinate and assist to make your design visions become a reality.

I would say let's see what the next thirty years will be like, but I'm going to be honest: That would put me at seventy-eight years old. At that point, I plan on being on a beach, sipping on some tropical drink that has a fruit basket as a garnish on top of it, and enjoying retirement.    

Thank you, everyone! And my apologies if the lyrics to this tune gets stuck in your head for the rest of the day!

Dave “Cap'n” Reutter

Early this spring I had the privilege of visiting the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, where I had my eyes opened to how many different varieties of agave there are. They reminded me of hostas back home.  Agave: loves dry heat and sun. Hosta: prefers shade and cooler temps. They are culturally opposite but have some things in common as a landscape plant. (For our Southwestern friends who think hosta is the agave of the Midwest... write your own article.)

They are both easy to care for, though agave may have an edge in that area. They do resemble each other somewhat and are both grown mainly for the look of their foliage. This foliage comes in all shapes, sizes and colors. Over 250 different varieties of agave are out there. Hostas on the other hand top 3000! Hostas come with many variations of the colors blue, green, gold, and white, with many combining these colors in variegated foliage. Agave have a similar palette, but also include some purple and pink and come in variegated varieties as well. When it comes to diversity of shape and textures, agave certainly seems to have the upper hand. Some varieties of agave reach sizes a hosta could only dream of.

The largest agave is Agave atrovirens. It can weigh a total of 2 metric tonnes. Each leaf can be over 14 feet long and weigh over one hundred pounds, and the flower stalk can grow over 40 feet tall. This may not be suitable as a landscape plant, but the Blue American is a gorgeous large landscape plant at 4-6 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. These, along with other large varieties, can make the largest hosta feel inadequate. Leaves on agave can be wide or narrow, short or long, tightly packed or loose and open. The more you research the more amazed you become with the sheer variety

If I lived in more arid regions, I might miss certain plants, like hostas, but I could see myself joining the ranks of other obsessed agave collectors. Going to agave swaps across the southwest, scouring the internet for more varieties, drunk on my own home made mezcal. Deeper into the rabbit hole I would go, dabbling in cactus and succulents until I’m hooked on them as well. It wouldn't be long until I was involved in shady back alley deals trying to get my hands on the rarest varieties.

There would be an intervention most likely... to no avail.

 All photographs copyright David E. Baker.

In my favorite Westerns, “Howdy, partner” was a common greeting. Having partners and friends was the key to survival in the Wild West. Today, partnerships can be a wonderful way to do business. The collaboration brings out the strengths in each organization, and deficiencies can be offset with shared experience and knowledge. Partnerships require honest, open communication to be most successful. It’s hard to be an expert in every aspect of today’s projects. Knowing what is going on in the marketplace and being prepared has never been more crucial. When you partner with your supplier, your team now has the knowledge and expertise of hundreds of growers, manufacturers and distributors. When your projects come in, share with your partner all your concerns and opportunities so you can work together for better outcomes that build your partnership.

Welcome to 2021 - the most challenging year in your career. The economic shutdown and Covid-19 has nearly destroyed the nursery and horticulture supply chain as we know it. We might as well be building it from scratch. It started with the evergreen shortage, quickly spread into commodities, containers - all the products we use every day and then - not to be left out - our hardscape suppliers have also been doing everything they can to keep up. The industry that took decades to build was brought to it’s knees in a little over a year. The creativity from our buyers and the flexibility of our vendors has been nothing short of amazing.

In addition, the transportation challenge has many aspects. The industry lost many drivers, and the demand in other industries is off the charts. The long and short of it is, transportation costs are through the roof, and our ability to move product has been greatly impacted. Another challenge I know you are familiar with is labor. The saying “Good people are hard to find” has been replaced with “Anyone has been hard to find”. When you can get a signing bonus at McDonald’s, you know the labor market is jazzed up.

We have faced many of these challenges in the past, maybe not all at the same time, but we have survived. But here’s the thing. You have never had so many opportunities to make money. The phones won’t stop ringing, the projects keep getting signed and the demand is not letting up anytime soon! So, buckle up, “Partner”, each week brings a new creative solution to our ever changing season.

This year will continue to test our mettle, but we can come out of this better, more adaptable, and willing to meet any challenge. We are learning and changing to meet the needs of the day. When you partner with Christensen’s Plant and Hardscape Centers rest assured, we are working hard every day to be the best supplier and partner we can be. So, stop in today and say, “Howdy, partner” and let’s meet this challenge together. Partnership, collaboration and our shared experience will lead to our success. Enjoy the summer season and remember we are all in this together.

The number one question we’ve been asked this year is: “Do you know when you will be getting (insert literally anything here) in?” This season has been one big game of "Go Fish", and I am lousy at fishing! The shortages have been across the board, with almost nothing unaffected. But what if I told you that you could play a key role in keeping something from running out? If that does not raise an eyebrow - what if I told you that you will get paid to do this?

You're not alone - the concrete vendors who produce pavers, wall units and steps are also facing shortages. They have plenty of aggregate and colorant, but what they are in dire need of are the empty pallets that your product was loaded on. You paid a deposit for that pallet, wouldn’t you like your money back? Instead of waiting until the end of the season when you have a gigantic pile of skids, bring them back as often as possible. Don’t risk the skids in your yard becoming damaged and unusable, weather worn, or magically vanishing. That is your money disappearing!

Concrete vendors need these pallets to be returned so they can be reused or refurbished. If they don’t have returned ones, they’ll buy new ones - and at the current prices of wood, vendors will be forced to raise their prices. Recover your cash by returning those skids, and don’t let your money evaporate by failing to return pallets in good condition.

Here is a list of things we at Christensen’s look for when you are returning brick skids to us: 

• Does it have all the boards on top, bottom, and in between? When boards are missing, the pallet can no longer effectively hold what could be up to 3500 pounds.
• Is the wood rotted? Do you see mold? If yes, that wood is no longer structurally viable, which in weakens the entire pallet. This is a huge safety concern.
• Is it a returnable skid? All our vendors have either spray painted or burned their name or logo on the side of the pallet. Brick pallets are specially constructed to support the weight of the product and are easily identifiable.
• Did you buy the product from us? We only accept pallets by the vendors and brands we carry, so if there are other brands mixed in, we will give them back to you.

Help us slow potential price increases by reducing the pallet shortage. Make sure all your employees are aware of the pallet deposit as well, so you do not have an accidental $500 bonfire! As always, feel free to call us with question or concerns, or if you want to try your luck at "Go Fish". But be warned, we have a very well stocked pond.

…by planting native varieties and native cultivars.

Have you ever taken a moment to really appreciate our natural surroundings? Immersed as we are in smartphones and technology, I think we tend to forget to do this. I am often guilty myself, but I do enjoy walking through parks and woods and seeing the different oaks, maples, and other native species.

Our growing population has created a high demand for roads, parking lots, businesses, and housing. That land that was stripped to make room for a development contained its own habitat and ecosystem. Planting more native plants and native cultivars is a step to rebalancing the habitat that was lost.

What is a native plant?

This is a complicated question with much debate. Some believe it means plants that are untouched by man and naturally growing in the wild. You’ll encounter discussion on exactly where that “wild” needs to be to qualify as “native” for your particular project. Then there are native cultivars or “nativars”, which are selected, named varieties of native plants, with some improvement such as a more colorful bloom, nicer habit, or better disease resistance. It can be easier to source nativars than the original species, too as some plants do not lend themselves well to nursery production. You'll want to determine what the differences are from the original wild version to see if the improved one works in your particular project.

Benefits of planting more natives and nativars

• Once established they require very low maintenance.
• Often require less water.
• Attract and support native wildlife such as birds, butterflies, pollinators and more.
• Native plants help you use less fertilizers and pesticides.
• Already adapted to local climate conditions.

It is always a good idea to plant multiple different species and not all one variety. Doing this may prevent catastrophic loss in case a new disease or insect outbreak occurs, like the ongoing Emerald Ash Borer, Dogwood anthracnose, Boxwood blight, or Oak wilt situations.

Fun fact: A native oak tree supports over 500 species of caterpillar compared to the non-native ginkgo which supports only 5. Plant some oak, the songbirds will thank you. (Research by entomologist Doug Tallamy)

There are choices to make in any landscaping project. The microclimate can provide a place to start, then the considerations of general design and how much maintenance are one is willing to carry out, site traffic and usage, etc. Within the framework of your plans there are opportunities to go beyond visual enjoyment - your clients could actually taste the fruits of your labor!

Let’s begin by considering some plants that are readily available, or may already be in your design toolbox.

Aronia (Black chokeberry) is popular in Michigan landscapes. The white spring flowers turn into loads of nearly black berries which are eagerly eaten by birds. I encourage you to pick some for yourself - they may be exceedingly tart, but are tasty when added to sugary lemonade or made into jam. Consider Aronia m. ‘Viking’. Aside from the outstanding fall color, it's berries may be eaten right off the branch for an invigorating antioxidant-rich wallop to your tastebuds.

Agastache (Hyssop) is a perennial with aromatic leaves and flowers. There are blue-purple varieties and some newer cultivars in pink, coral, yellow or orange. Mix bruised leaves into tea for an alluring licorice flavor. Some varieties sway towards a mint flavor profile that I’ve enjoyed smashed into vanilla ice cream. Hyssop flowers make an enticing garnish in summer drinks.

Do you have dandelions in your lawn? Besides feeding honeybees, dandelions are a versatile culinary bonanza! Not only are the leaves an excellent salad green, but the flowers are edible, as well as the roots. Young flower petals have a honey-like flavor good in tea and jam, and the entire flower head may be sauteed in butter with garlic and eaten with a little salt on toast. Dandelion roots may be dried and brewed into a medicinal tea with many benefits.

Whenever discussing eating self-harvested plants safety must be mentioned. Always consider the plant and it’s surroundings. Pesticides, fertilizers, and any other runoff from the surrounding area will make it’s way onto and into the plants. Only consume a plant that you have properly identified and be sure to know the areas exposure to potential toxins.

If there is any doubt, do not consume it! 

These are some of my favorite edible landscape plants:

• Borage - Annual herb with star-shaped edible blue flowers.
• Daylily - Unopened flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked.
• Pansy - The flowers are often used as a salad or dessert garnish.
• Fruit trees and shrubs - Blueberries, apples, cherries, peaches, pears, etc.
• Honeyberry - (Lonicera caerulea) Large blue-black berries, used like blueberries.
• Lavender - Aromatic flowers and foliage with countless uses.

Perhaps the following recipe will inspire a patio conversation this summer.

Dandelion Wine

Boil 1 quart of rinsed dandelion flower petals in 1 gallon of water for 4 minutes, strain out and discard the petals. Allow the water to cool to under 100°f. Stir in 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced lemon, 8 cups of sugar (or 7 cups of honey), and 1 package of wine yeast and pour into sanitized plastic vessel, ideally fitted with a fermentation lock, but a towel and loose-fitted bucket lid will work. After 2 weeks decant or siphon into a secondary vessel or bottles and allow to age for at least 1 more week. Garnish with a freshly picked flower from your yard and enjoy the fruits of your labor.