Trees, Ornamental & Bedding Plant: Opportunities ahead

Everyone knows it and feels it. We’ve traveled some rough economic roads the past several years.

It has put most companies into a survival mode: do what you have to and delay or cancel what you don’t.

Many in landscape contracting have relied on maintenance while new installations have been greatly reduced. Commercial and residential owners or developers have even cut maintenance to bare-bones, as well. All you have to do is drive around and see what is not being done, or rather being done – only the basics. It’s mow and blow, fall cleanup and seasonal color – not much else. Many landscapes are now showing this decreased level of maintenance as woody ornamental plants are losing their “fit and form” and becoming overgrown and showing signs of obsolescence.

Renovation times ahead. We are heading into a time of greater opportunity. Though it is different from the expansion times that preceded this downturn, opportunities are ahead as property owners are challenged to improve marketability. This all points to renovation. This is the time to show customers how redesigning and renovating their landscape can both improve their homes’ marketability and even be more efficient (cost-saving).

New landscape = improved property income. Both residential and commercial developers/owners are asking themselves how to improve their property’s performance (occupancy rates, rental income averages, etc.). Renovation is the answer to this question, and renovating the existing landscape is the most cost-effective way to begin. Many property owners should be considering this in the coming months.

Help reshape the design. Embrace this chance to bring a redesigned landscape plan to these property owners. Open the door and show them a more cost-effective, efficient design. The first thing we would think of is more landscape plants and less turf (no surprise here as we are a tree, woody shrub and perennial grower). But this is a fact-based direction for the customer, as it reduces the weekly efforts for maintenance and can greatly reduce water needs. Grouping plants of similar water needs can even reduce water usage further.

Work with your partners during redesign. As a wholesale grower, we consistently receive calls from landscape customers sourcing plants that are not commonly available.

This seems to be one of the greatest time-consuming efforts during implementation of the design. Having a strong line of communication between the landscape architect, designer, contractor and wholesaler is a must.

Tapping your top wholesale vendors for ideas and plant availability can save time.

Building flexibility into plant lists while still maintaining the design concept can also save time, but the easiest path to efficiency is selecting the right plant (readily available) from the start.

Opportunities are ahead for those who sell the benefits of landscape renovation. Are you ready?
 

Danny Summers is director of sales for Ingleside Plantation Nursery.