Focus on the real issues with respect to professionalism

Landscapers are busy people, so we don’t hear from our readers as often as we might like. If I’m ever dying for some reader interaction, though, all I have to do is publish a photo of a worker that’s not wearing a uniform.

There is a segment of our readership that is adamant about the donning of uniforms. Uniformed crews, they say, help elevate the level of professionalism in the Green Industry. That helps bolster public opinion about the industry. And that helps landscape contractors charge more for their services.

That is nonsense. First of all, the industry is a lot more “professional” than it was when I started covering it in 1997. However, the average lawn maintenance contractor today is charging less than he did back then! Secondly, my folks just had to call the Roto-Rooter guy to address some tree root infiltration in the sewer line. This guy had torn jeans and a filthy T-shirt, a Kevin Harvick ball cap, and a four-day beard. However, he was prompt and courteous, and completed his service flawlessly. He proceeded to charge my folks $144 for the hour he was there. You know what? He was worth every penny.

The real causes of an image problem. Our readers who take exception to non-uniformed employees have every right to. They are very passionate about this business—and that is honorable. Everybody wants an even playing field where all contractors are insured and certified, employ legal workers, drive clean trucks, operate commercial-grade equipment, look like professionals, perform the work like professionals, and charge a fair market price for that work. Regretfully, that day has yet to arrive. And unfortunately, the reasons why go way beyond something as simple as “not wearing a uniform.”

Below is my list of top six factors that prevent this industry from realizing its true potential:

1. Too easy to get into this business – If you have a mower and something to haul it with, you can become a contractor.
2. Oversaturated industry – There are more than 90,000 landscaping service companies in the U.S. that employ at least one person. The overwhelming majority are smaller companies with just a few employees. There are another 200,000-plus that are one-man bands. This results in a very crowded marketplace that puts incredible pressure on pricing.
3. Labor pool – Because of the incredible pressure on pricing, it’s difficult for the average contractor to pay enough of a wage to attract job applicants. The result is a workforce, generally speaking, that feeds into the public’s perception that this is a low-skills-required service that could never, ever charge something like $144 per hour.
4. You learn it when you’re 10 – Lawn mowing, to the average consumer, is a job most 10-year-olds learn how to do. TruGreen even made this concept the focal point of an ad campaign. I’m not saying it’s fair, or accurate, but it exists.
5. Lack of standardization – Some states require contractors to be licensed, but others don’t. As far as certification goes, the number of landscape workers that are not certified outnumber those that are by 9 to 1. While contractors who do employ certified staff say that it provides a competitive advantage, this 9:1 imbalance tells consumers that certification can’t be all that important.
6. Smaller, “professional” companies don’t have a voice – Industry magazines and associations are often dominated by the presence of the industry’s largest companies. This is fine, to an extent. While it’s important to show the fame and fortunes which astute landscape company owners can amass, it’s also important to show that “professionalism” also exists throughout the industry—including the smaller firms that are part of the 90%. It is up to these smaller companies to make sure their voices are heard.