Landscape professionals from around the country provide their top advice for others in the industry.
Review your processes.
“Review your processes on a regular basis and don’t be afraid to change things that could be more efficient. Sometimes a painful change can really pay dividends if you're patient.” – Keith Bowman, president of horticultural service and business development for McHale Landscape Design
Invest in your employees.
“All strong companies rely on well-trained and developed employees during good times and bad.” – Keith Bowman, president of horticultural service and business development for McHale Landscape Design
Know your numbers.
“Knowing your numbers gives you a more confident price structure and allows you more room to adjust going into next season.” – Edward Arens, owner at E&M Outdoor Services in Monticello, Minn.
Register to vote.
“If you’re unhappy with what is happening, you need to make sure you’re registered to vote and at least have your voice heard.” – Andrew Bray, senior vice president of government relations and membership for the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Pick an operating system and stick with it. Develop a leadership team.
“It helps create goals every step along the way, and every 90 days, you’re refreshing those goals. It’s also very important to have a base of people within the company making the higher-end decision, so the owner is not just doing it themselves.”– Joshua Malik, president of Joshua Tree Experts
Don’t forget to learn.
“Leaders are readers. Anyone in the industry knows it’s an all-consuming one. As landscape maintenance operators, we are running a trucking company, an agriculture company, an accounting firm, etc. If we don’t lift our heads off of that work and look to learn, we’re going to get lost in all the problems. When we read, it’s a great shortcut to keep us informed and educate us to keep making our business better.” – Peter Lucadano, co-owner and CEO of RedTree Landscape Systems
For more on the current state of the industry, check out these articles below:
- Find a review of 2023 here.
- Learn about top industry trends here.
- Check out what regulations are coming down the road here.
- Discover what experts' individual takes are in the following Q+As:
- Ditch Witch
- Volvo Construction Equipment
- RedTree Landscape Systems
- Briggs & Stratton
- E&M Landscape Services
- McHale Landscape Design
- Vectorworks
- See additional commentary on the State of the Industry here.
