A Closer Look at Drew Koschmann’s Passion for Perennials
October 7, 2023 
Drew Koschmann takes a hands-on approach to training his team, with the hope that they will develop a similar passion for plants. Photo: Walters Gardens
How refreshing is it when you sit down to talk to someone about their job, and you instantly get a sense that they love what they do and take pride in it? That’s what happens when you talk to Drew Koschmann, Head Grower at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, MI. Drew is the winner of Greenhouse Grower’s 2023 Medal of Excellence Head Grower of the Year award. That unbridled enthusiam is hard to find in any industry these days, but Drew is drawn to his work.
A lifetime of learning both in the classroom and in the greenhouse has contributed to Drew’s passion for horticulture, while also building a drive to constantly seek improvements in anything from new variety production to technology implementation to team building. Working with the ownership team at Walters Gardens as well as his growing team, Drew’s goal is to give the diverse range of plants grown at Walters the proper conditions they need. It’s this challenge that continuously motivates him to improve.
Key Influences and Experiences
Drew Koschmann graduated from Purdue University in 2003 with a degree in Horticulture Production and Marketing, thanks to a range of classes on business management and plant production. While in college, he also did an internship with Midwest Groundcovers.
“That was a great experience. We were doing a lot of production of finished perennials, grasses, and hostas,” Koschmann says. “I learned what a good plug or bare root should look like.”
Shortly after graduating, Drew was offered a perennial grower position at Midwest Groundcovers, and within a couple years worked his way up to nursery manager.
“I learned a lot from my manager, Larry Billings, about recognizing valuable members of your team,” Koschmann says. “He was great about making people feel appreciated, and he also taught me the importance of being punctual.”
Another valuable influence at Midwest Groundcovers was Chris Darbo, who had such a strong interest in perennials that she would make a vacation out of attending the Perennial Plant Association’s annual symposium.
“She introduced me to a lot of key figures in the world of perennials, including John Friel (of Emerald Coast Growers) and John Hoffman (of Hoffman Nursery),” Koschmann says.
Eventually, a head grower position opened up nearby at Andy Mast Greenhouses in Grand Rapids, MI, giving Koschmann the chance to expand beyond perennials to growing garden mums, hanging baskets, Easter lilies, and more.
“I was head grower there for about four years, eventually realizing my true passion was for perennials,” Koschmann says. “But that experience at Andy Mast was great; I learned everything from chemical and plant growth regulator use to plant timing.”
In 2015, Walters Gardens had a head grower opening, and Koschmann jumped at the opportunity.
“We’re producing perennials most of the year, and with crops like lavender and veronicas, the challenge is vernalization to produce good-quality plugs,” Koschmann says. “This is where my past experience has really paid off.”
A lifetime of learning both in the classroom and in the greenhouse has contributed to Drew’s love of horticulture, while also building a drive to constantly seek improvements. Photo: Walters Gardens
New Variety Development
As mentioned, Walters Gardens produces a wide range of varieties from hostas to baptisia, and its relocated tissue culture lab and a recent 4-acre greenhouse expansion keeps the company active in developing new genera, including Sarracenia and Epimedium. Koschmann works closely with the trials department and R&D teams, which are constantly trialing not just new varieties, but also new production techniques.
“If we’re looking at new growing media blends or just a new way to grow a plant, we’ll partner with our trials department to come up with the best system for each plant,” Koschmann says.
Walters Gardens also formed a partnership with Proven Winners in 2010 to market their new varieties to independent garden centers.
“Our expansion put us in the right place to continue down this path,” Koschmann says. “The site is set up so that it’s easy to add posts, trusses, and plastic.”
The new facility also includes office space for new team members, and a production barn with an Ellepot line for sticking and a plug popping line for efficiency.
“Our greenhouse systems manager, Aren Phillips, led the project, and he positioned us well for future expansion,” Koschmann says.
Smart Approach to Technology
Part of what makes Walters Gardens successful is its implementation of new technology, and Koschmann has been a big part of that. This includes an upgrade to the company’s environmental controls systems to Priva Compass in its main facilities, and taking it a step further, to Priva Connext in its expanded production area. Meanwhile, its new propagation area features a Damatex control system that is interactive in alerting the growing team when there’s a problem.
“It’s important to keep freshly planted cuttings and tissue culture hydrated, and the new system has really helped, in addition to minimizing Botrytis in our ranges,” Koschmann says.
Walters Gardens also purchased a TTA FlexSorter in January 2022.
“Having most of our production in 72-count allows us to utilize the FlexSorter to be more efficient with greenhouse sorting,” Koschmann says. “We can run 4,000 to 5,000 plugs per hour, compared to 600 to 800 by hand. It’s allowed us to move some of our employees to other areas where they’re needed more.”
With the completion of the new expansion site this past winter, the growing team is now focused on implementing ways to improve efficiency in trimming batches in
the greenhouses.
Drew Koschmann (second from left) along with the Walters Gardens management team (from left) of Christa Steenwyk (VP of Marketing & Industry Relations), Ryan Hop (COO), and Karin Walters (CEO). Photo Walters Gardens
Working with the Team
If there’s one thing that stands out when talking to Drew Koschmann, it’s his commitment to communication and education when working with both the ownership group at Walters Gardens, and his own growing team. For example, when it’s time to budget for the following year’s needs, Koschmann starts by meeting with the growing team to ask about any capital expenditures they think are necessary. He then takes this list to the management team for review, and after prioritizing which are the most important, the budget for the following year is set.
“We’re trying to pull ideas from team members, and this two-way process helps them understand cost and return on investment, while helping us identify the best ways to improve efficiency,” Koschmann says.
This team approach also extends to not just training, but building that same passion for horticulture that Koschmann has into the rest of the team.
“I try to build in one-on-one time with our growers, along with our weekly huddles and team meetings,” Koschmann says. “We have a lot of seasoned growers who have been here for years, and as we hire new growers, we want to cross-train them and have them assist experienced growers on projects that may be outside of their typical responsibilities.”
Looking ahead, Koschmann says he feels like Walters Gardens is at the forefront of plant breeding, as well as pursuing automation — when it makes sense.
“We don’t need to be the first or second company to try something new, but as we balance the needs of our current location and new sites, we are planning with both breeding and automation in mind,” Koschmann says. “That’s pretty exciting to me.”
It’s Not All About the Plants
Roller skiing is an off-snow equivalent to cross-country skiing. Roller skis have wheels on their ends and are used on a hard surface to emulate cross-country skiing. The skiing techniques used are very similar to techniques used in cross-country skiing on snow.
Why do we bring this up? Because when Drew Koschmann is not in the greenhouse, he loves roller skiing, in addition to winter sports. In fact, he’s currently training for the 50th annual American Birkebeiner, a 50-kilometer skate course or 55-kilometer classic course that starts at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI and finishes in downtown Hayward, WI.
“I love being out in the woods and seeing snow in the trees,” he says. “It’s very relaxing and helps me to stay active.”
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