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Jessica Schwartz
The Importance Of SOPs For Landscape Companies
Standard Operating Procedures: From Process To Progress In the Landscape Industry, most companies have a multitude of systems. There are systems relating to the frontline team: clocking in; how/where they start their days; how they know which clients to service; and more. There are also systems relating to management: the sales process, cold calls, job proposals, receiving signatures, and more. All companies utilize systems. What differentiates successful and efficient companies is that they standardize and document their systems. In order to be successful continually, a process must be defined, taught, and followed through by everyone. When you don’t follow processes, you won’t receive the expected results. Companies who document processes help ensure their growth. What Is An SOP? SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedure, formally defined as “a set of written instructions that describes the step-by-step process that must be taken to properly perform a routine activity,” (TechTarget). There are a couple important pieces to have a true SOP. The process must be written. This is key to ensuring the process is followed correctly each time. Being written is what separates a system from an SOP. Some companies have SOP’s stored in documents. Others utilize software to create and store them. It must be broken down into steps and clearly written so anyone, whether new or senior to the company, can follow the steps. Better yet, are added pictures or visuals. The goal is to not only identify the process, but create the SOP in a way so that it ...
Best Practices: Raise Your Mowing Game
How often do you mow customer lawns during the spring and fall compared to the summer? What type of equipment do you use? What heights are the blades? If any of the lawns you service are poor shape, and you’ve been watering and fertilizing regularly, examine the mowing practices being used. Following is guidance offered from three university extensions around the United States. As these are specific to the region, keep that in mind. (If you have mowing best practices to share with fellow readers, send an e-mail with a brief overview to Turf at acosgrove@groupc.com.) Colorado State University Extension provides this insight for turf in that region (Lawn Care, Fact Sheet No. 7.202): “The two most important facets of mowing are mowing height and frequency. The minimum height for any lawn is 2″. The preferred mowing height for all Colorado species is 2.5″ to 3″. Mowing to less than 2″ can result in decreased drought and heat tolerance and higher incidence of insects, diseases, and weeds. Mow the turf often enough so no more than one-third of the grass height is removed at any single mowing. If your mowing height is 2″, mow the grass when it is 3″ tall. You may have to mow a bluegrass or fescue lawn every three to four days during the spring when it is actively growing but only once every seven to 10 days when growth is slowed by heat, drought, or cold. Buffalograss lawns may require mowing once every 10 ...
Best Practices: Raise Your Mowing Game
How often do you mow customer lawns during the spring and fall compared to the summer? What type of equipment do you use? What heights are the blades? If any of the lawns you service are poor shape, and you’ve been watering and fertilizing regularly, examine the mowing practices being used. Following is guidance offered from three university extensions around the United States. As these are specific to the region, keep that in mind. (If you have mowing best practices to share with fellow readers, send an e-mail with a brief overview to Turf at acosgrove@groupc.com.) Colorado State University Extension provides this insight for turf in that region (Lawn Care, Fact Sheet No. 7.202): “The two most important facets of mowing are mowing height and frequency. The minimum height for any lawn is 2″. The preferred mowing height for all Colorado species is 2.5″ to 3″. Mowing to less than 2″ can result in decreased drought and heat tolerance and higher incidence of insects, diseases, and weeds. Mow the turf often enough so no more than one-third of the grass height is removed at any single mowing. If your mowing height is 2″, mow the grass when it is 3″ tall. You may have to mow a bluegrass or fescue lawn every three to four days during the spring when it is actively growing but only once every seven to 10 days when growth is slowed by heat, drought, or cold. Buffalograss lawns may require mowing once every 10 ...
