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 post Permitting 101: Tips to Keep Projects Compliant and On Schedule appeared first on The Edge from the National...| 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 Irrigation, Rain […] The post Healthy Green Spaces Coalition Provides Science-Backed Guidance on Water-Efficient Landscapes app...| 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 post Making Your Marketing Dollars Count: How To Spend Smarter appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| 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 post Turning Data into Action: How to Move from Data Overload to Data Mastery appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| 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 post Landscapes of the Month: Delivering Elegance to a Historic Neighborhood appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professio...| 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 post How I Do It: Becoming A Public Benefit Corporation appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| 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 post Business Smarts: How To Respond to Inconvenient Growth appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| 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 post Don’t Be An Easy Target: How to Cut Down on Equipment Theft appeared first on The Edge from the National Associa...| 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 post How an ESOP Can Facilitate a Business Transition and Drive Growth appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| 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
As more landscape companies move to integrating battery-powered equipment into their operations, the question of where the technology will evolve in the next few years is on everyone’s mind. “That is the question of the century that we’re all trying to answer,” says Todd Zimmerman, VP of product development at Kress. “From a manufacturing standpoint, there […] The post Faster Speeds and Mobile Power: Where Battery Charging Tech Is Headed Next appeared first on The Edge from the N...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
SSC Services for Education, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, provides custodial, facilities maintenance and grounds management services to educational facilities. They have around 170 accounts across the U.S., and one of the hardest roles for them to fill is grounds management positions. Part of their solution to this challenge is their manager-in-training (MIT) program, which provides […] The post How I Do It: Crafting a Robust Manager-in-Training Program appeared first on The Edge f...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
When you’re designing an aesthetically pleasing and functional space for clients with a small landscape, it’s critical to consider the installation and maintenance of the project as well. “We can’t design something that we aren’t able to install,” says Rebecca Jacobson, vice president of sales and marketing for Santa Rita Landscaping, based in Tucson, Arizona. […] The post Tackling Tiny Lots: Designing with Installation and Maintenance in Mind appeared first on The Edge from the...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
If you continually go to the same well for your workforce, eventually this recruiting method will dry up. This is why it’s essential to diversify your talent pipelines. “As an industry, we have failed to expand our opportunity reach,” says Parke Kallenberg, managing partner with ADVANCE Consulting Group. “What I mean by that is – […] The post Beyond the Basics: Fresh Approaches to Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Lands...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Since the 1880s, this historic train station has been a hub of activity in St. Louis, Missouri. The trains have been gone for decades, but the building has become a major attraction for tourists, featuring restaurants, mini golf, a hotel, and an aquarium. As leadership looked to the future, they sought to create a welcoming […] The post Landscapes of the Month: Renovating a Historic Landmark appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
In a perfect world, you’ll be able to decide exactly when you want to exit the business, and your team will be well prepared for this change. However, life rarely goes according to plan, which is why you need to develop your strategy for succession early on. Chris Psencik, partner and vice president of […] The post Avoiding Chaos: Why You Need To Start Succession Planning Now appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
NALP’s Landscape Technician Certificate Program isn’t just a great tool for providing basic training for your team on landscape maintenance, landscape installation and irrigation. It’s also being utilized by prisons to help set up returning citizens for success. “Prisons are drawn to the program because it offers structured, industry-recognized training that leads to employable skills,” […] The post NALP Certificate Program Provides Skills For Life After Prison appeared first on T...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
It’s common for clients to have an extensive wish list when they’re thinking about the backyard of their dreams. While it’s easy to include all of these elements on a larger property, this can be much trickier when working within a smaller footprint. “It’s very human of us to want everything and the kitchen sink,” […] The post Making Every Inch Count: Design Techniques for Crafting Beautiful Small Yards appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Profes...| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
You may think slip and fall incidents are only a concern if you provide snow and ice management services, but slip and falls, as well as trip and falls, are becoming an increasing issue for landscape maintenance companies. “There is a direct connection between the increasing advertising by personal injury law firms, the number of […] The post Reducing the Risk of Premise Liability for Commercial Landscape Maintenance appeared first on The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Pr...| 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
The NALP Foundation launched Landscape Design Empire, an immersive experience on the Roblox platform, last year and it has now reached the milestone of 100,000 unique visitors. Less than 1% of Roblox experiences reach this metric. “When we started our initiative with Roblox, we knew it was a great avenue to get in front of […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
For years, landscape lighting has been more of an afterthought than an essential element to customers’ landscape projects. However, more landscape companies are including it as a standard feature, allowing them to create a more cohesive design that is stunning both day and night. “For us personally, we automatically include it in every single design […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Your business management software provides powerful data that can have a positive impact on your operations if you’re looking at the right reports. “We’re able to measure and say, ‘Well, hey, here’s how we should be performing,’” says John Richter, owner of Richter Landscape Company, based in Birmingham, Alabama, who uses BOSS Software. “Are […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
Like any other groundbreaking innovation, leaders in every industry have been encouraged to tap into artificial intelligence and integrate it into their business. However, if you haven’t really dipped your toe in the AI pool, you may be completely at a loss for where to even start. Or, perhaps you dabbled with ChatGPT a few […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
One of the newer tools on the scene when it comes to digital recruiting is AI and its automation capabilities. “AI is especially useful right now for content-related tasks — like drafting job ads or writing candidate outreach messages,” says Carlos del Pozo, CEO of Team Engine, based in Boulder, Colorado. “It’s also good at […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
It’s easy to say, “safety first,” but if your employees aren’t engaged, it can be much harder for your company to be safe in practice. Positive reinforcement can be a useful tool for motivating your team to work with safety top of mind. Rather than only reprimanding those who mess up, commend your team members […]| 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
When the project began, this Philadelphia backyard was nothing more than a sloped yard of turf with drainage issues. However, GreenWeaver Landscapes, based in Lenni, Pennsylvania, quickly transformed the space into an inviting and functional garden with water features, natives, and a spacious patio. Jennifer Nichols, president of GreenWeaver Landscapes, says winning a 2023 Gold […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
The West loop of Chicago is a hub of activity with numerous office buildings surrounding the Chicago River. One of these properties is River Point, a beautifully designed building created in 2016. This highly manicured property has a gorgeous view of the Chicago River and the skyscrapers that cover downtown Chicago. Each day, between 1,500-4,000 […]| The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals
