Leaders Forum, presented by NALP and powered by Aspire, is a member-exclusive event that will be held on Feb. 4-7, 2026, in Santa Barbara, California. It is an opportunity for CEOs and top executives to network and discover new ways to drive productivity and motivate their teams. Gabe Adams, a behavioral scientist with UVA Darden School […] The post Unlock Team Voice and Motivation at Leaders Forum 2026 appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
If you want to have accurate pricing and adequate cash flow throughout the upcoming year, building an effective budget is critical. Rather than considering it an optional practice or not putting much consideration into the budgeting process, landscape companies need to approach this process with intentionality. “I would advise landscapers to really understand the purposes […] The post Business Smarts: Creating an Effective Budget appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
As technology continues to be integrated more frequently into customer interactions with brands, the expectation of it to be present in the landscape industry is also on the rise. If you are striving to convey that your business is on the cutting edge, one simple addition that can help modernize your customer service is a […] The post Boost Transparency and Trust: The Case for Adding a Client Portal appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Labor is the Achilles’ heel for many landscape maintenance companies. However, utilizing herbicides and plant growth regulators can enhance both the quality and efficiency of your landscape maintenance operations, whether residential or commercial, large or small. “What we’re trying to do is give clients the clean, green look, but we’re trying to reduce the amount […] The post Scalable Strategies for Effective Herbicide and Plant Growth Regulator Use in Landscape Maintenance appeare...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
The images you share on your website and social media can have a major impact on who is interested in working with you based on the quality of the photography. If you decide to invest in hiring a professional photographer to improve your portfolio of work, there’s more to it than just finding someone to […] The post A Picture Worth a Thousand Words: Taking Your Landscape Photography to the Next Level appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Disaster preparedness plans allow your team to be proactive versus reactive when nightmare scenarios occur. However, simply documenting your plan of action isn’t where you should stop. “The investment in crisis planning and preparedness is a pittance compared to the steep cost of a crisis for the unprepared management team,” says Deb Hileman, president and […] The post Disaster Preparedness for Landscape Companies: Keys to a Resilient Plan appeared first on The Edge from the National ...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Imagine you’re a landscape technician working on a hot day. There’s sweat dripping off of you, and you’re trying to write a note on the customer’s paper bill. Chances are you’re writing the shortest note possible and, in your hurry to get on with your route, the note is illegible as well. This causes the […] The post How I Do It: Transitioning to Paperless Billing appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Irrigation winterizations may not be top of mind when you think of revenue generators for your business, but this service shouldn’t be overlooked either. NationScapes, based in Lakewood, Colorado, will conduct over 6,000 winterizations this year with a team of 15-18 technicians. Tom Handy, manager of the irrigation department at NationScapes, says they achieve this […] The post Turn Irrigation Winterization Into a Reliable Revenue Stream appeared first on The Edge from the National Associ...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
It’s hard to know how well your company is performing without benchmarking on a regular basis. Thankfully, you can access the industry’s most comprehensive financial and operating benchmarks with the 2025 Financial Benchmark Report. This report covers different data points such as profitability, productivity, liquidity, and financial health. You can easily compare your performance by […] The post Gain Competitive Insights with the 2025 Financial Benchmark Report appeared first on The Ed...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
If you’ve struggled to scale your business, you may be wondering what you’re doing wrong or what it takes to reach the next level. “Sometimes, you set people up for failure if you don’t have clear expectations,” says Noe Loarca, owner of Avanza Landscaping. He says establishing accountability by setting clear expectations and putting specifics […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
If you’ve been experiencing fewer leads or a longer sales process following the COVID boom, you’re not alone. One way to speed up your sales process is to tap into ChatGPT. “A lot of sales is meeting with people, asking them questions, organizing what they tell you, and then formulating a proposal,” says Jack Jostes, […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
If you’re looking to stay competitive in the quickly evolving landscape industry, there is no better place to find fresh, forward-thinking content and proactive peers than at ELEVATE, presented by NALP and powered by Cat. “ELEVATE has always been one of my favorite weeks of the year because I get to connect with so many […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
See the latest from NALP. Stay up to date on the latest trends and strategies for landscape and lawn care businesses.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
If you’re looking to branch into design/build work, a critical element to master is navigating the permitting process so your projects can be approved in a timely manner. “I think people can underestimate the permitting process in general,” says Hayden LaForge, operations manager for Landscape Creations of RI, based in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. “It’s easy to […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
In response to drought conditions, many municipalities have rolled out water restrictions that result in tree deaths and increase the heat island effect as they label turfgrass and green spaces as part of the problem. Recognizing this challenge for the irrigation and landscape industry, the National Association of Landscape Professionals, Scotts Miracle-Gro, Hunter Industries, Rain […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Marketing is an important line item in your budget, but you can easily end up wasting your money if you aren’t regularly measuring and adapting your methods to changes in the market. Setting Your Budget It can be tempting to not increase your marketing budget as you grow to limit your expenses, but it’s best […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
As you implement more technology in your landscape business, you can easily become overwhelmed by the amount of data at your fingertips. “Paralysis by analysis is a real malady today because you’ve got so much stuff that you’re just inundated with on a daily basis, and you get a lot of disparate data that’s […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Among the busy streets of Washington, D.C., is a historic home with an elegant landscape. Not long ago, the owners purchased two properties to add a guest house to the main home. The family also wanted to renovate the existing landscape to match the beauty of the surrounding neighborhood. They brought in McHale Landscape Design, […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Klausing Group, PBC, based in Lexington, Kentucky, has always believed that businesses can be a force for good. They decided to take that belief one step further by becoming a Certified B Corporation. CEO Roscoe Klausing announced his company’s decision to pursue B Corp certification at Leaders Forum in 2023 as part of their strategy […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Guest post by Bob Williamson, pest & lawn director for Cetane Associates We all like convenience in every aspect of our lives. No one likes to wait, and it’s easy to become frustrated when things aren’t resolved promptly or when we don’t get what we want right away. Growing your business means being ready to […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Equipment theft is a costly headache that causes a ripple effect throughout your operations as you scramble to fill the gap. Economic pressures have been known to drive more individuals to theft, as well as the increased value of assets. AMAROK anticipates thieves will increasingly target the construction, landscaping, and trucking industries for valuable equipment […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
When it comes to exit plans, ESOPs are often overlooked. Yet Larry Ryan, founder and chairman of Ryan Lawn & Tree, made the bold decision to sell the company to his employees just 11 years after its founding. He wanted to grow the business to $100 million by 2030 by creating a team of long-term, […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Manufacturers are currently in pursuit of battery cell technology that will allow them to provide faster charging times for landscape companies. As technology advances, below are some of the areas to be mindful of as you scale with battery power and what to expect in the near future. Faster Charging Considerations One of the […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Our Level Up series shares the strategies that help landscape and lawn care companies get to the next level. In the next 10 years, Monarch Landscape Management, based in Houston, Texas, is looking to become a $100 million company. Currently, the company is at $14+ in annual revenue. Jason Mathers, president of Monarch, says the […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Time flies when you’re busy executing work. Yet it’s essential to pause and review if you are on track to reach your goals before the end of the year. Ideally, you should be checking on your company’s performance at least on a quarterly basis, if not monthly or weekly. However, a mid-year check-in specifically can […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Training is critical to your landscape company’s overall success, but it is often a task that falls by the wayside during the busy season. Thankfully, there’s no one right way to train your team. What works for your operations may not be a good fit for another landscape business, but you can always gain inspiration […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Taking your employees to industry events can help boost camaraderie, personal growth, network connections and their overall understanding of the landscape industry. If you’re mulling over bringing some team members to your next event, here’s some advice from landscape company owners who see the value in bringing their staff with them. Select The Right People […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
