Landscape Architect Articles

Time to Get Busy . . .08-25-14 | 11

Time to Get Busy . . .
By George Schmok

Wow . . . It's hard to fathom that by the time you get this, summer will be either gone or just about to fall into autumn. As I write this column it is only mid-August, but my kids are already back in school and the weather seems to be getting cooler as we lose a few minutes of sunshine with each and every day. In California, we are looking forward to the coming months with high hopes that the predicted El Ni????(R)????o will bring much needed rain (while not causing too much storm water damage to life and landscape).

In addition, the sometimes-nonexistent monsoon season seems to be especially active in the southwest this year, while the Farmers' Almanac is said to be predicting another cold fall and winter ahead throughout the entire country . . . Now, I'm not speaking to the global warming issue, but I am stating predictions that should be weighed heavily by the landscape industry in case they do come true.

With cold ahead, and maybe earlier than expected, it is time to plan the draining of irrigation systems in the north and the cutting back of irrigation systems in areas where water is a limited resource. It may also be a great time to look at the snow blowing business, or adding holiday lighting to your portfolio to get you through the dark months of decreased landscape activity.

With increased rainfall in the West and the possible storm water damage that usually accompanies the El Ni????(R)????o effect, now is the time to start working with your clients to plan for the worst. Hillside homes in Malibu are almost always victims in these cycles, and those that aren't hit with mudslides and slope loss are often susceptible to the fires in the following year after massive growth from dormant brush.

So far we haven't had a huge hurricane season, but those wicked storms also seem to be moving up the eastern seaboard more and more, and the Gulf is more than overdue for something to hit and cause a commotion.

OK . . . So what's the point? The point here is that although the past few years have been hard for the landscape industry, there are some big opportunities this fall and winter to help build a buffer for the years ahead.

If you are on the West Coast and you are not pitching your clients on stormwater mediation, then you are missing a legitimate opportunity to enhance your bottom line. And I'm not just talking to the big guys out there working with cities and huge developers like those we see in this issue about parks. If you are working at the custom residential level and your clients live in the hills or on a flood plain and it's been a few years since you've finished the project, now would be a good time to set up a mailer or send out an email with a checklist of potential hazards and the services you offer to counter those hazards.

If you're on the Eastern seaboard or along the Gulf Coast, you should be doing the same, but maybe as you move north you may want to be throwing in a mention or two about reserving your snow removal now or to start thinking about cutting back those trees that could be susceptible to ice damage. Sure, it might seem like late August or early September is a bit premature to be thinking about the dead of winter, but if the weatherman is correct . . . And all jokes aside, things are lining up that way . . . Now is a great time to set the foundation, plant the seed, and start fertilizing the market (OK that one was a bit of a stretch) to make the coming months busy and profitable for your growing company.

And since we're speaking about growing your business, hopefully we'll see you at one of the shows coming up like the Landscape Expo - San Mateo, The Landscape Expo – Long Beach, GIE+EXPO, ASLA, and NRPA. LC/DBM will be exhibiting at all of these great EXPO's as we too start to build toward 2015 . . .

God Bless . . .

George Schmok, Publisher