At this time of the year, your commercial properties should be looking their very best. Spring conditions are nearly always kind to landscapes, especially after a winter with lots of protective snow cover to minimize the damaging effects of freeze-thaw cycles.
What’s the point?
If your commercial properties do not earn at least a B grade at this time of the year, it may be time to sit down with your current service provider to learn more.
Ask specific questions and evaluate the responses against agreed expectations.
- Your concerns should be acknowledged and noted.
- You should be discovering plans for improvement are already in motion.
- The timetable for remedying situations should be definitive and clear
Be opened minded because every business experiences its challenges from time to time.
One that is currently widespread in our industry is attracting and retaining skilled and experienced team members. However, the truth is we’ve seen this coming for years and it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.
That’s the second point.
The challenges we face in this industry never change. Here are five that come to mind.
1. Communication
2. Safety
3. Labor
4. Training and Education
5. Capacity
Every single one of these can be greatly improved with planning and desire with an experienced landscape designer, and that’s my final point.
When a company truly enjoys enhancing outdoor environments it finds ways to get things done for you, no matter what. If you think about it, that may be the difference maker you are looking for.
About the Author: Fred Peratt is head coach and owner of Environmental Enhancements, Inc, a Sterling, VA based commercial landscape management company serving the Washington D.C. Metro Area. He is also the Education Advisory Council Chair for the National Association of Landscape Professionals.