Landscape Management, January 2012

f t e r u u 49 JANUARY 2012 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET SPECIAL SECTION OF LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT Producing profi ts through bedding plants ornamentals trees PHOTO COURTESY BALL HORTICULTURE 3 tips for future success PREPARE FOR THE 2012 SEASON BY RESPONDING TO ECONOMIC CHALLENGES BY JAMIE J GOOCH s s e c c su A S THE old saying goes if it were easy to do everyone would do it By that measure it must be easy to tell the future This time of year there is no shortage of prognosticators predicting everything from landscape plant color choices to popular accessories to overall design trends for 2012 While its impossible to know exactly whats coming and specifi c tastes vary by region and even client the big picture is largely the same The economy dominates the presidential debates dinner table discussion and the 24 hour news cycle It will dominate 2012 landscape designs as well Its the economy If youre a cup half full kind of person you might predict the poor economy could actually lead homeowners to invest in their landscapes After all theyre not taking vacations and theyre not planning on selling anytime soon so they want their properties to be as comfortable as possible Maybe so but as high unemployment rates continue its easy to see the cup as half empty Abandoned properties dont need much in the way of landscaping and as budgets shrink the landscaping service may be one of the fi rst to be cut One way to prepare for the worst and hope for the best is by offering services that appeal to recession weary clients What services can you provide that could save money for your clients 1 Renovate landscapes Rather than starting from scratch develop services and pricing plans that allow you to spruce up budget conscious property owners landscapes without breaking the bank Use highimpact specimen plantings and pops of color to add needed design elements to existing landscapes when possible Get your foot in the door with small changes that make big impacts and build your customer base Smaller changes over time can still lead to a dramatically different landscape though it may take multiple seasons to accomplish Keep all those changes moving in the right direction by offering to create a long term master plan for clients In addition to being critical to a cohesive landscape design a master plan engages clients in the future of their landscape and helps make them repeat customers 2 Save water After an initial installation investment a well designed irrigation system starts paying the property owner back by saving water costs Whether replacing an ineffi cient system or installing a new irrigation system less maintenance is also a selling point Putting the right amount of water in the right place can also reduce the need for disease control inputs because it helps prevent fungal and mold growth Landscapers can even offer lowertech services to help property owners conserve water such as rain barrel sales and installation or installation of rain gardens to collect runoff Rain gardens can be planted with deep rooted plants that make use of extra water as its collected The money saving benefi ts of waterwise plants too should be communicated to your clients Breeders have successfully reduced many popular plants water requirements Plants bred to withstand attacks from pests and diseases that are also tolerant Lucky Red Flame Lantana stay upright all season making them well suited to smallspace landscapes