INLA Newsletter | September 2025

INLA NEWSLETTER

September 2025

IN THIS ISSUE:

INLA Day of Service
I-SALT
2025 Maintenance Rodeo
American Hort Survey

INLA Day of Service- Join us!

Mark your calendars for September 18, 2025, from 9 AM to mid-afternoon.

Come join the students from DMACC, Kirkwood Community College, and Iowa State University’s Horticulture programs as we roll up our sleeves to make a difference at our annual Day of Service!

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, we will plant woody and herbaceous plants, mulch, water, and put up protective fencing around The Carter Court Commons at 4401 E 46th Street in Des Moines, just west of Delaware Elementary School.

With shovels, plants, and plenty of teamwork, this hands-on project will help beautify this vibrant landscape for the neighborhood to enjoy for years to come.

Iowa Salt Applicator Leadership Training (I-SALT)

The Iowa Salt Applicator Leadership Training (I-SALT) is coming up on September 4. Please pass this information on to anyone on your staff who does winter maintenance as well as lawncare providers and other contractors in your area who might benefit from this professional development program.

September 4, 2025

8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

MidAmerican RecPlex

6500 Grand Ave

West Des Moines, IA 50266

Lunch from 12-1 pm is included with registration

Event details and registration here.

Maintenance Rodeo 2025 Exhibitors

Join the INLA, along with 100 parks professionals, as delegates from across the state.

Event date: October 15, 2025

Exhibit Booth registration deadline: Friday, October 3, 2025, at Noon

Event Timeline: Exhibit booths will be open for delegates to visit

from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Lew Clarkson Park – Northwest 54th Avenue, Johnston, Iowa

Exhibit Booth Investment: $250.

American Hort - Salary & Benefits Survey

In an industry marked by evolving labor demands and rising employment costs, AmericanHort is helping greenhouse and nursery growers, and garden retailers make more informed workforce decisions through its annual Salary & Benefits Benchmark Survey.

We invite you to participate in the 2025 survey, which is open now through September 26. All horticulture businesses are encouraged to participate. Those who complete the survey will receive a comprehensive benchmarking report for 34 job titles that provides industry-specific insights into compensation, staffing, and benefits—essential tools for improving recruitment, retention, budgeting, and overall human resource strategy.

Perennial Plant Pick of the Month

by Tyler Baird

Vernonia lettermannii

COMMON NAME: Ironweed

BOTANICAL NAME: Vernonia lettermannii

USDA ZONE: 4-9

SUNLIGHT: Full sun

SOIL CONDITIONS: Dry to medium soils preferred but a very adaptable plant that has the best upright form in poor soils.

HABIT: 2-3’x 2-3’

FEATURES: Ironweed is a native plant that is tolerant of many soil conditions once established. It has thread leaf foliage and showy purple flowers in late summer that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Ironweed performs well in soils where other perennials tend to struggle. If you have a tough spot with poor soils, consider trying ironweed. There are cultivars on the market such as ‘Iron Butterfly’ that stay a little more compact and upright than the straight species that tends to arch later in the season as blooms come on. This is a great late summer bloomer that pollinators enjoy, and it adds nice color and a fine texture to perennial plantings.

Annual Plant Pick of the Month

by Dylan Schrock

COMMON NAME: Victoria Blue Salvia

BOTANICAL NAME: Salvia farinacea

SUNLIGHT: Sun

HEIGHT: 18-24”

SPREAD: 16-22”

SOIL CONDITIONS: Average Soil

FEATURES: A sturdy, and uniform salvia in a compact size that will stand on it’s own while it stands out.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Victoria Blue Salvia is an excellent choice for some true blue color for uses in mass planting and even large pots. Victoria is a more compact version than many other types which makes it very low maintenance as it will not split and fall over. It is beloved by pollinators-especially bees. It keeps nice color through the whole season and in somewhat protected areas it may even make it through the winter. Cheap seeds, easy to start yourself, an easy way to make a big impact in your gardens and containers.

Salvia Victoria Blue

ICNP Certification

If you’re looking to get ICNP certification, please contact Bob Smith at Kirkwood Community College, and we will try to organize a time to sign your business or individuals up to test and become an Iowa Certified Nursery Professional.

Contact Bob at 319.398.5899 x5127 or Bob.Smith@kirkwood.edu

INLA Membership Enrollment

If you haven’t returned your 2025-26 Membership Enrollment, please follow the link below and take a moment to register online!

INLA Membership Online Membership Form

Thank you for your membership!

Robert Clark

Bailey Nurseries, Inc.

St. Paul, MN

John and Alex Frazier

Frazier Nursery

Vinton, IA

Carrie Tresemer

Golden Valley Hardscapes/ Xylem, LTD

Story City, IA

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