I like seeing more landscaping content online. With all the talk about technology and automation, it’s exciting to see people pay attention to the trades. I watch videos about tools, equipment, jobs, and how other contractors run their businesses. Sometimes I see a different way to solve a problem we’ve dealt with ourselves, and I learn something.
At the same time, I’m a little disappointed by how much of the content leads to a system, a coaching group, a book, or a program that promises to teach you how to run a landscaping company.
I have nothing against people selling what they know. There’s value in learning about estimating, invoicing, insurance, customer service, and how to manage a crew. Those are real parts of the business, and someone starting with a truck and a few tools may need help understanding them.
But I think you have to be careful about treating anyone else’s system as the way to run your company.
You can watch a video about quoting a cleanup. Then you get to the property and discover that the access is terrible, the waste is heavier than it looked, the truck is nearly full, and the customer wants to change the scope. Now you have to make decisions with your crew, your schedule, and real money on the line. That part doesn’t fit neatly into a 30-minute video.
Landscaping is full of those decisions. How many people do you send? What equipment do you bring? How much can the truck hold? Where is the waste going? What happens if the job takes longer than expected? How do you talk to the customer when the plan changes? You can learn the basics online, but you still have to face the actual property and work through what’s in front of you.
It’s like riding a bike. You can read about it and watch someone do it, but eventually you have to get on the bike. Then you find out what happens on a hill, in the rain, or when you lose your balance. Business works like that too. Some of the hardest lessons I’ve learned came from situations I’d never seen covered in a video. I had to make a decision, see what happened, and improve the way we worked next time.
That’s why I’m cautious when someone makes a business system sound universal. Give ten landscapers the same truck, tools, and crew, and you could get ten different results. They’ll lead differently, price differently, communicate differently, and run into different conditions on the job. A system that works for one company may need to be taken apart and rebuilt for another.
The same goes for software. I use tools that make my work easier, but I don’t think every contractor needs my exact setup. Some people run a substantial business with a notepad and a phone. Others need software for scheduling, estimates, and customer communication. Pick what solves your problems and fits what you can afford.
There’s more information available now than ever: videos, articles, forums, AI, and other contractors willing to show their work. Use it. Learn the fundamentals. Take an idea that makes sense, test it on your own jobs, and keep it if it works. If it doesn’t, change it.
I’ll keep watching landscaping content because I enjoy seeing the tools and the different approaches people take. I’ll also keep taking it with a grain of salt. I know what our crew, customers, trucks, and projects are like. Someone online may give me a useful idea, but I’m the one who has to make it work in the field.
Field note: Learn from other contractors without handing them every decision. The best system is the one you can use, adjust, and stand behind when the job doesn’t go according to plan.