Author: taproot ecological design

Structure of landscape installation companies is changing due to labor shortages

Change is coming to the landscape industry by way of labor reform. These changes are being seen across the country. Business owners who are unwilling to raise wages for skilled labor like hardscapers will lose this crucial entity over the next few years. Many of these types of workers have started their own businesses hoping they can get a bigger piece of the pie. The hardscape industry is booming in Knoxville and many other growing cities across the country with plenty of work to go around.

As prices have gone up for these types of installations since COVID, many times that has not resulted in higher wages for workers. As a result, many installation companies are turning to subs to complete the jobs they sell. These companies end up hiring the same workers that just left them except with one exception – higher wages. Instead of companies controlling how much the workers make via hourly wages, the new structure is the worker, now a sub, naming their price for completing a job. This change causes the worker to get what they wanted, higher wages, and the installation company has little choice but to hire them.

Finding skilled labor in the landscape business is not easy right now and some would say it is almost impossible. No skilled hardscape laborer is going to work for a company making $25 an hour when they can work on their own for 4 times that. I have heard installation companies say they have run ads for foreman positions for years and not been able to land one. The problem for landscape companies is these workers now know what they are worth and are willing to take a chance to get the money they deserve.

This trend does not fall in the category of redistribution of wealth but it does change the industry in many ways. Some of these changes have already been felt, but many are still taking shape as some involved in the industry are taking a while to catch up to the game. Those that are to slow will miss out on new opportunity.

Landscape designers’ roles are changing as well, many are starting their own businesses instead of working for installation companies as designers/salesman. Designers use to rely on the company they worked for to provide labor, equipment and most importantly, leads. Now, with many companies having to turn to subs to complete work, the only thing these companies provide is leads which can in many cases be obtained in other ways.

Designers fuel the industry by generating the work for the companies through sales and project managing the jobs to completion. Experienced designers that go out on their own have relationships with many subs, including at previous jobs, so the transition in the way projects are completed is relatively seamless. The end result is more money for subs and designers because the huge cut the installation company previously received (up to 50%) is now being split up between the designer and the laborer. This usually results in lower prices for the client which can only help the industry in the long run.

Change has been in the air for the last few years in all phases of life and the landscape installation industry is no different. Restructuring is occurring and those that hope or wish for things to stay the same may miss the bigger message. Hopefully the end result is more money for workers, both laborers and designers, and potential clients might be looking at slightly lower prices. The ones that might suffer are the owners of large installation companies that rely on in-house labor to meet their profit margins. These companies will either have to adjust to using subs for their projects or decide to close up shop altogether. The ones that do resist change and do not realize that things are not going to go back to the way they were will possibly go out of business for good.

It is that time of year when your garden is lacking something – color is gone, leaves are missing and interest is waning. Evergreen trees and shrubs help maintain your landscaping base throughout the year but only provides shades of green during the winter months. To combat these problems I suggest inserting some color into your landscape that lasts all year round.

Loropetalum is a plant that saw a spike in popularity a decade or so back and has been used in a variety of different situations. Loropetalum has seen its popularity drop a little due to its vulnerability in cold conditions and root rot issues. It is an excellent plant for maintaining color in your yard throughout the dull months of winter and if you avoid historically wet spots when planting has a very high success rate.

Michael Dirr introduces loropetalum in his iconic book, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by writing:

“If prescriptions could be written for perfect garden plants, this species would come close to filling the order…Easy to manage, unbelievably drought-tolerant, and pest-free. I consider it one of the top introductions of the past 10 years.”

Now that’s a recommendation from one of the most respected plant minds in the country, so if you don’t believe me then maybe you will listen to Mr. Dirr, who wrote the book on landscape shrubs. Dirr loved the contrast of emerald green boxwoods and loropetalum as a dual layer hedge to provide layers and depth to his planting designs.

This is a combination that I use in my designs quite frequently, especially when a client desires a low maintenance evergreen base with no added color from perennials or annuals. In my opinion you can not go wrong with this color combination as it looks just as good in June as it does in January.

Loropetalum has a very unique bloom that can take place several times a year depending on weather conditions. The main bloom is in late February and continues thru March with sporadic blooms throughout the summer when temperatures are mild and rain is adequate. The bloom itself is neon pink with 8-12 filaments forming a clump at the ends of branches and in leaf axes. As you can imagine this display of blooms in early March is quite phenomenal especially when little else is in bloom. The contrast of burgundy with hot pink is very pleasing to the eye and one that will leave a lasting impression.

If you are a landscape designer or a homeowner looking to add some color to your local scenery then give loropetalum a try – it can be found at virtually any plant provider and comes in full size (6x6ft) and dwarf varieties (3x3ft) that will fit into any existing landscape.

 

Groundcovers are a valuable asset in any garden they maintain moisture in the soil by limiting penetrating sunlight to the soil, suppress weeds, eliminate the need for mulch and all while utilizing an unused layer of soil. Some people think that groundcovers are bad because they compete with the other more important specimen plants in the garden. In reality the opposite is true, any plant in your landscape wants groundcover present.

The groundcover actually eliminates competition for the plants and conditions the soil as well by preventing erosion and collecting nutrients. Most groundcovers grow through rhizomes which are underground roots that spread a lot like bermuda grass just under the surface of the ground. This weave of subterranean roots provides that plant community with perfect stability without interfering in the growth of plants with root systems beneath them. Here is an illustration from Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West that shows the different depths of root systems with various perennial plant species.

As the drawing illustrates each plant species has it soil horizon or layer that its root system resides. By planting groundcovers you are giving your soil a great start towards sustaining a great plant community and high nutrient levels.

Many times groundcovers are thought of as boring and only green or some consistent color but that is not always true. You have your pachysandra or english ivy that fits this category but you also have vinca minor, delosperma (pictured above, right) and creeping jenny (also above, left) that either bloom or offer great color impact with foliage. Not all groundcover is relegated to ground level either – plants like Low-Grow Fragrant Sumac (pictured middle above) grows to 3-4 tall but creates a mass over time that spreads over time and eliminates and competitors. For shade gardens heuchera species are a great choice since they are clump forming and keep their leaves thru the winter. Heuchera comes in hundreds of varieties and can fit the color scheme or blend in any garden