An industry that refuses to evolve is one that dies. Thankfully, the landscape industry is not one of these and has changed rapidly even in the past few decades.
For instance, in the past, bids were written with pen and paper. Now there is software that can measure properties and send estimates in minutes. Businesses have also grown in sophistication, becoming employers of choice offering a broad range of benefits to their team members.
However, there are still areas for improvement and further adoption. Below are some of the common themes from our Talking with Titans series.
Lean Into Innovation
While many in the industry have embraced certain aspects of technology, it’s important to keep exploring other innovative ideas to give your business a competitive edge.
“Technology and automation are here to stay and I love it,” says Ivan Giraldo, founder of Clean Scapes Landscaping, based in Austin, Texas. “We, landscapers, as direct users need to become very open and comfortable using it. Landscape architects will have to start designing to accommodate robots and autonomous mowers in the landscape.”
One way to stay on top of the latest technology and innovation is to attend ELEVATE Expo. This is an opportunity to connect vendors who are pushing the industry forward with their solutions.
Promote Professionalism
Another area that industry leaders want to see continued momentum is the public perception of landscaping as a respected profession. This not only helps attract new individuals to the field but also helps businesses have more productive interactions with customers.
“Stop giving away the very hard and demanding work that their frontline teams are providing for customers, allowing the industry to be commoditized, and skipping specifications to justify lowball numbers on customer properties,” says Tim Portland, executive chairman for Yellowstone Landscape, headquartered in Bunnell, Florida. “Be professional with appropriate standards and deliver quality work and results versus the opposite.”
Richard Sperber, executive chairman of Sperber Landscape Cos., headquartered in Westlake Village, California, adds he’d like to see a trade school where people can go and get hands-on learning about landscaping in a 1-year program, whether it’s a branch manager, an account manager, a tree care or an irrigation tech.
One of the ways NALP supports this effort is by providing free training to contractor members, including the Business Management Training Courses and Landscape Technician Training Courses.
“I’d like to see more visibility for landscaping as a viable and important career opportunity for young people,” Sperber says. “This creates an avenue to continue the trade with future generations and create a rich pool of talent for the industry to recruit from.”
The NALP Foundation is working to increase younger generations’ awareness of the industry through initiatives with SkillsUSA at the high school level and its custom Roblox experience, Landscape Design Empire, which allows young players to design, install and maintain landscapes for a fictional neighborhood.
Support Safety
While overall injuries are down for the industry, according to a NIOSH study, there has been a rise in serious injuries and fatalities for multiple years.
Carmine Schiavone, CEO of SavATree, headquartered in Bedford Hills, New York, agrees that there are still too many employees who get injured while working in the field.
“I would like to see us as an industry continue to improve and accelerate innovation on safety through training, qualification, and validation that all who participate are capable of doing the work without the risk of injury,” Schiavone says. “No matter how large or small the company, we all play a major role in building expectations for our industry and its safety future.”
You can step up your company’s safety by joining NALP’s Safe Company program, which is free to members, and provides the resources to create a safer workplace for your team members. NALP also offers Safety Tailgate Training, which is designed to keep your crews informed, engaged, and safe all year long.
Spearhead Environmental Stewardship
Landscapes naturally sequester carbon, clean surface water, and lower the heat island effect, but landscape professionals want to see the industry take a more proactive lead on environmental issues.
“The industry’s current emphasis on sustainability is critical and should continue to grow; I worry our industry is way behind on putting a stamp on environmental issues that impact our business,” Sperber says. “As an industry that is tasked with taking care of the earth, we each need to do our part to ensure a healthy planet for current and future generations.”
An example of NALP leading the charge is the launch of the Healthy Green Spaces Coalition along with other industry organizations. This coalition was created to provide science-backed research and expert guidance on the most effective ways to manage water efficiently in landscapes, ensuring that vital green spaces continue to deliver significant environmental benefits.
NALP member companies also have access to the free digital guide Sustainable Landscape Practices, which offers practical strategies and inspiring ideas to help landscape professionals integrate sustainability into every aspect of their work.
