An exclusive "members only" website for the professional landscape design/build contractor. Articles, videos, podcasts, business forms and forum to help you grow your landscaping business.
Home | Discussion Forum | Text Size | Search | Member Area
 About this Site
About this Site
Sample Articles
Contact Us
 DEPARTMENTS
Landscape Design
Construction Department
Business Strategies
Sales Techniques
Estimates and Proposals
Standard Procedures
Technology Tips
 RESOURCES
The Download Library
Discussion Forum
Article Index
Trade Secrets
Coffee Break
Open Office Hours
 Other
Help
Our Guarantee
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Your Account



home | Feature Articles
 

Feature Articles

Find the latest feature articles here! We generally post new articles every week, and most of them can be found right here. Click on any headline below to find the full article. And be sure to click the 'view more articles' link at the bottom of the page to read articles you may have missed.

"Give Me a Few Days and I'll Get You a Proposal" - Yeah, Right!
Jody Shilan, Editor
"Give Me a Few Days and I'll Get You a Proposal" - Yeah, Right! When I was working for a large design/build contractor I would often go on appointments that were not large enough to require a landscape plan but would be a good one or two day project . . . keep reading
Forget About the Righties -What You Really Need is a Left Hand Man
Jody Shilan, Editor
Forget About the Righties -What You Really Need is a Left Hand Man One of the biggest mistakes I see contractors make once their business begins to grow is to start looking for that perfect "Right Hand Man". The "go to" guy. The guy who is going to be at your command and solve all of your problems. Essentially a clone of yourself. . . . keep reading
Bid is a Four Letter Word
Jody Shilan, Editor
Bid is a Four Letter Word Throughout my career I have never been one to participate in the bidding process. I know that for many landscape contractors "bidding" is a very successful business model, but clearly less so these days . . . keep reading
Too Much Information (TMI) -- When less is truly more
Jody Shilan, Editor
Too Much Information (TMI) -- When less is truly more In the early stages of my career I used to bring every piece of sales paraphenalia I had to my initial client meetings. Sample drawings, my leather bound portfolio of my installation work with my resume as the first page, and so many brochures and marketing pieces that I often had to take two trips to my car just to bring everything into the client's house . . . keep reading
The Not So Odd Couple -- Landscape Design and Production
Jody Shilan, Editor
The Not So Odd Couple -- Landscape Design and Production The ultimate goal of any landscape design is to see the "plan" ultimately installed. The role of the designer is to create a vision of the client's goals and desires and develop these "dreams" into a thoughtfully created landscape plan. The role of production is to take that plan and build it . . . keep reading
Extra! Extra! Read All About You!
Rod Dickens | Contributor
Extra! Extra! Read All About You!
There's no mystery to getting your company name and projects in a magazine, newspaper, or other publication. The process begins by targeting the right publication, understanding who the reader is, and knowing what the editors want . . . keep reading
Understanding The Difference Between Imaging and 3D Software
Len Hordyk, Contributor
Understanding The Difference Between Imaging and 3D Software It appears that there is some confusion out there about the difference between imaging software and 3D software for landscape design. There are significant differences between them and we should start by defining what they are . . . keep reading
The Importance of Designing the Landscape and Architecture Together
The Importance of Designing the Landscape and Architecture Together When it comes to new construction and major home renovations, we as landscape design/build contractors are usually called in to a project after the majority of the home construction is completed. In reality, we should be involved in the process much sooner. . . . keep reading
Download: Plant Guarantee
Jody Shilan, Editor
Download: Plant Guarantee We all know that we would like to find the guy who started the whole plant guarantee thing and beat him senseless, but since it's too late for that let's at least protect ourselves as much as possible . . . keep reading
Save Labor In 4 Easy Steps: Why Adding More Labor Is Not The Way To Solve Your Labor Problems
Jody Shilan, Editor
Save Labor In 4 Easy Steps: Why Adding More Labor Is Not The Way To Solve Your Labor Problems We're all acutely aware of the labor shortage facing our industry and the limitations being placed on the H-2B seasonal guest worker program. This is a real problem for the Green Industry, but one that can be minimized if we approach it from different directions . . . keep reading
"We Don't Know How Much We Want to Spend" - How to Get a Budget Number From Your Client
Jody Shilan, Editor
"We Don't Know How Much We Want to Spend" - How to Get a Budget Number From Your Client A common problem for landscape contractors is trying to find out what a client is budgeting for a particular project. Clients are always hesitant to throw out a number, and contractors know that without a budget they are going to be flying blind . . . keep reading
Outsource Your Drawings--Why You Need a Virtual CAD Assistant
Kyle Burgamy, Contributor
Outsource Your Drawings--Why You Need a Virtual CAD Assistant Before you hire a full time landscape designer, why not consider "outsourcing" your drawings to a freelance CAD operator? To remain competitive and profitable, a landscape designer or contractor must constantly seek to improve efficiencies with their services . . . keep reading
The Write Stuff - How to Speed Up Your Proposal Writing
Jody Shilan, Editor
The Write Stuff - How to Speed Up Your Proposal Writing I think you'll all agree that writing a proposal is probably one of the least enjoyable tasks in our business. Truth be told, most of us hate it. The real irony here is that we consider writing proposals hard work yet look at running equipment and building things all day as enjoyable. . . . keep reading
Workforce Management - Why You Should Never Travel Empty Handed
Jody Shilan, Editor
Workforce Management - Why You Should Never Travel Empty Handed The term "workforce management" can mean different things to different people. For some it may relate to the idea of properly managing your personnel. To others it may be an HR issue that refers to staffing issues and hiring practices. . . . keep reading
You Want Fries With That Plan?
Jody Shilan, Editor
You Want Fries With That Plan? Believe it or not, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your client is to actually limit the amount of choices they have when it comes to the design of their landscape. I know, at first glance, this sounds counter intuitive. . . . keep reading
It's All in the Details: The Benefits of Standardizing Construction Details, Materials, and Techniques
Jody Shilan, Editor
It's All in the Details: The Benefits of Standardizing Construction Details, Materials, and Techniques If you put all of your construction foreman and laborers together in one room and asked them to describe how they build a paver walkway or patio, how many different answers would you get? . . . keep reading
More HeadlinesMore Headlines
 FD2B Trade Secret
Sign up for our weekly
FREE Trade Secrets

Trade Secret Archives
Discussion Forum
 Discussion Forum
Recent Forum Posts
• Landscape Design Software
• TMI - Too Much Information
• What you really need is a Left Hand Man
• The Odd Couple
• Starting a Business DBA or LLC?
• Are you really bidding?
• Hello and Welcome
• Do you belong to any associations?
• Client Holiday Gift Ideas
• Adopt A Tree