Landscaping 101 Landscaping 101 “BASIC TRAINING”“BASIC TRAINING”

A look at the basics of A look at the basics of landscapinglandscaping

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”-Vincent Van Gogh

What we’re talking about!!What we’re talking about!!

• Being Proactive ..what it means and how Being Proactive ..what it means and how it applies to Landscaping.it applies to Landscaping.

• Proper Planning in landscaping and the Proper Planning in landscaping and the tools that will make your plan a success.tools that will make your plan a success.

• Making safety a part of your Landscape Making safety a part of your Landscape Plan.Plan.

What does it mean to be What does it mean to be Pro-Active?Pro-Active?

Defensive Deterrent

Precautionary

Pro-active

What Landscape items What Landscape items SHOULD be handled in a SHOULD be handled in a

pro–active manner?pro–active manner?• All of them.All of them.• MULCHING.MULCHING.• DEBRIS REMOVAL.DEBRIS REMOVAL.• SURFACE TRASH SURFACE TRASH

REMOVAL.REMOVAL.• PRUNING.PRUNING.• SHRUB/PLANT SHRUB/PLANT

INSTALLATIONINSTALLATION• LEAF REMOVAL.LEAF REMOVAL.

• ICE/SNOW ICE/SNOW MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT OR REMOVAL OR REMOVAL (WHETHER ITS (WHETHER ITS COMMON TO COMMON TO YOUR REGION OR YOUR REGION OR NOT).NOT).

• TURF TURF MANAGEMENT.MANAGEMENT.

Prepare wiselyPrepare wisely

Make a plan for Make a plan for everything .everything .

Use your Use your company company policies and policies and procedures to procedures to your advantage your advantage (follow them to (follow them to the letter).the letter).

Use time to your Use time to your advantage.advantage.

What types of items What types of items should be a part of should be a part of

your Landscape your Landscape plan? plan?

A written plan or a guide A written plan or a guide giving specific direction giving specific direction of what things you need of what things you need to plan ahead for.to plan ahead for.

Documentation Documentation

A WRITTEN PLANA WRITTEN PLAN

How is documentation a part of How is documentation a part of your LANDSAPE plan?your LANDSAPE plan?

YOUR PLAN WILL HELP MOST, IF IT IS YOUR PLAN WILL HELP MOST, IF IT IS IN A WRITTEN FORMAT (IE. A IN A WRITTEN FORMAT (IE. A CHECKLIST, TO DO LIST AND CHECKLIST, TO DO LIST AND EMERGENCY MAPS, WORK ORDERS).EMERGENCY MAPS, WORK ORDERS).

DOCUMENTATION WILL HELP YOU DOCUMENTATION WILL HELP YOU KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ON A DAILY AND ACCOMPLISHED ON A DAILY AND WEEKLY BASIS.WEEKLY BASIS.

Documentation :A big part of your Documentation :A big part of your plan for everythingplan for everything

Use all relevant information as a part Use all relevant information as a part of your Plan for Everythingof your Plan for Everything

Using Policies and ProceduresUsing Policies and Procedures

Policies are put in place to help you be Policies are put in place to help you be proactive.proactive.

Read and understand the policy Perhaps Read and understand the policy Perhaps even take the time to review the policy with even take the time to review the policy with staff and all new hires.staff and all new hires.

Taking the policy seriously will help you Taking the policy seriously will help you clearly understand what goals you need to clearly understand what goals you need to meet by what time.meet by what time.

Use time to your advantageUse time to your advantage

Make needed purchases or recommendations Make needed purchases or recommendations of purchases in advance, (shovels, Ice melt, of purchases in advance, (shovels, Ice melt, machinery, and any other equipment that is machinery, and any other equipment that is deemed necessary on your property).deemed necessary on your property).

Walk your property to determine the needs of Walk your property to determine the needs of property at the beginning of the each season property at the beginning of the each season using a check list to prevent future problems.using a check list to prevent future problems.

Make deadlines (multiple deadlines if needed) Make deadlines (multiple deadlines if needed) to get work completed.to get work completed.

Pro-Active Approach To Grounds Equipment

•Make Repairs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If your equipment doesn’t work neither can you!

• Keep documentation on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis of repairs and check-ups from oil changes to battery replacement etc.

Make safety a part of your Landscaping Plan

• Use and purchase the proper safety equipment.

• Make certain that the work environment is made safe.

• Provide proper training on equipment to prevent injury.

So in review ……..

• A plan needs to be developed in order to truly be preventive.

• Many smaller items make up the whole of the plan (policies, Documentation, Media info Etc..

• Repairs need to be made as Quickly as possible.

• Everything above = being Proactive!