RAISE THE BAR: Mid-Year Realignment

On a scale of 1-10, how important is it to have your team bought in and aligned around the vision of the company? If your answer is 7 or above, this article is for you. We just hit the midway point in 2023. I hope your business is going as well as planned. Chances are there have been substantial changes and adjustments in the last six months that you didn’t plan or anticipate. This means your 2023 plan and current status may not be in alignment. This month is a great time to reflect on those changes and realign your team for a strong second half of the year.

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RAISE THE BAR: Freedom and Discipline

Published in Lawn & Landscape, June 2023

What do some of the best athletes and top performers have in common? They show great discipline in their work and day-to-day life. I truly believe that discipline and healthy habits can create an unstoppable team. As I researched where discipline comes from and how to develop it in my company, I stumbled upon a simple statement from Author Michael Abrashoff: “Freedom creates discipline.” It may sound counterintuitive at first, but I firmly believe that freedom creates discipline. Let’s dive into why this is the case and how it applies to your business and life in general.

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Landscaping used smart irrigation to save clients 1 million gallons of water.

Published in Irrigation & Lighting June 2023

Upgrading an irrigation system to use smart controllers can have a big payoff for clients. Just ask the managers at the Seascape Resort in Santa Cruz, California. In just 12 months, K&D Landscaping in Watsonville, California, cut their client’s water usage by 1 million gallons. That generated nearly 30% cost savings or about $35,000 in water bills in one year, according to Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping.

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2023 Women In The Green Industry Award Winners

As the landscaping industry plugs away through the labor crisis, supply chain issues and inflationary pressures, there are numerous leaders in the industry that work tirelessly to elevate the industry.

Many of these leaders are women: Women whose achievements and success stories have helped move the needle for other women in the industry; women who promote safety, sustainability and workforce development; women who work toward advancing the green industry as a whole.

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Recommender: How do you decide on the right size deck for your zero-turn mower?

For the majority of properties, our crews like the 72-inch floating deck mower from Scag. You get a lot of square footage mowed and you also can get into a lot of areas. The price point also makes a big difference. The 61- and 72-inch are similar in price, but when you go up to the 96-inch, the price really jumps. You also have to consider your mode of transportation.

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RAISE THE BAR : Thank you coach

I am often asked what was the catalyst that triggered a 30-year-old company to grow from $1 million to $10 million in five years. In short, it all started with a cold call from a business coach. It was early 2015 and Jonathan Goldhill was calling on CLCA (California Landscape Contractors Association) members asking around for those looking to grow.

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RAISE THE BAR: Perfecting the spring kickoff

Does your team know the plan ahead? Spring is an opportunity to set the tone for the season, rally the troops and share the vision for where the company is headed. In the past at K&D, we would charge right into the busy season without any formal get-together or meeting. Before we knew it, we were in the dead heat of summer. Then one year, we decided to have a spring launch meeting, and it made a huge difference in engagement and retention. For the last eight years, we’ve made a point to have a celebratory spring kickoff. Let’s dive into some of the components of a great spring meeting.

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RAISE THE BAR: Investing In Yourself

If you are reading this magazine, it means you have made a conscious effort to improve yourself and your team. One way to take it a step further is to attend an industry event in person. Whether you are new to the conference scene or a seasoned veteran, this article will help you get the most return on your time.

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The many benefits of a drip irrigation system

Drip irrigation often gets a bad rap for being high-maintenance, says Steve McCarter, vice president of sales and marketing for Landscape Products.

Still, there are many good reasons to use a drip irrigation system. We spoke to McCarter; Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping in Watsonville, Calif.; and Adam Edgar, assistant category manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, to learn the benefits a drip irrigation system offers contractors, including targeted watering and a less extensive installation.

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