2026 - Page 9 of 13 - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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Year: 2026

Firefighter-Owned and Operated: How Px3 Landscaping Puts Safety Above Everything

Safety is paramount for any landscape company, but Ryan Pontzloff, owner of Px3 Landscaping LLC, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, approaches it from the lens of a volunteer firefighter. ā€œBeing a volunteer firefighter in the communities in which your company operates really shifts your focus,ā€ Pontzloff says. ā€œYou get to learn street names and addresses through […]

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The Systems and Support Account Managers Need to Stay Long Term

Your account managers are the backbone of your business, and just like your own spine, you have to take care of them, or you can end up feeling some serious pain in the form of unsatisfied customers. ā€œIt builds stability not only within the company but for your clients as well,ā€ says Mackenzie Payne, branch […]

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Selling Water Conservation: Messaging That Moves Homeowners to Act

When it comes to selling water conservation enhancements to residential clients, what matters most varies drastically from what convinces commercial customers. While financial incentives like lower water bills and rebates help, behavioral motivations drive lasting change on the residential side. According to the Healthy Green Spaces Coalition, homeowners change their landscape and irrigation practices for […]

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How I Do It: Investing in Account Manager Sales Training

Account managers are the backbone of Visterra Landscape Group, based in Rosemont, Illinois. Because these team members are critical for retaining customers and increasing margins, the company decided that one of their core focuses will be providing their account managers with more resources. ā€œI think as an industry as a whole, we have lacked providing […]

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The Secret to Manager Loyalty in a Competitive Labor Market

It takes time and money to develop quality managers on your team, so the last thing you need is for them to walk out the door. Additionally, the tenure of your managers has a direct impact on the trust you are able to generate with your clients and other team members. ā€œThe retention of these […]

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How I Do It: Taking the Lead on Recruiting

Recruiting is HR’s responsibility, right? For Will Richardson, managing director of Father Nature Landscapes, based in Birmingham, Alabama, he’s found it’s more beneficial when he takes an active role in this task. ā€œIn my mind, it’s a way better investment in our future for me to focus on recruiting and get the right people on […]

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Drones as a Workhorse: Turning This Technology Into a Core Tool

If you’re on the fence about investing in drone technology, you may be limiting the possible ways that this tool can be used for your landscape company, especially if you choose to have one in-house. Ā  While most operations tend to use drones for marketing purposes, so they can capture aerial photos and videos of […]

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From Vendor to Partner: Relationship-Driven Sales Approaches That Boost Close Rates

In a competitive market, it’s critical to not sell by price alone. Not only will this protect your profit margins as you avoid underbidding, but it can also lead to long-term relationships that produce referrals and additional work.   Establishing Trust The first step in shifting the client’s mindset from you being just a vendor […]

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Starting Over From Scratch: How A Client-First Approach Led to National Recognition

Tim McAuliffe originally thought he would retire in Texas after selling his firm in Pennsylvania and moving in 2018. However, he and his wife chose to make a change for more work/life balance with their family in 2024. ā€œI had the opportunity to join a local firm in the Carolina coastal area of Wilmington, North […]

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Against the Elements: Creating a Mountaintop Escape for Year-Round Enjoyment

Until now, the landscape of this mountaintop home had been a blank slate. Nestled among the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania, this yard consisted of nothing but turf. As the family began renovating the home’s interior, they sought to create a backyard resort that would enhance the mountain views and provide year-round enjoyment. They brought in […]

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