Landscaping 101 BASIC TRAINING A look at the basics of landscaping

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

What were talking about!! What were talking about!! Being Being ProactiveProactive Proactive Proactive..what it means and how it applies to Landscaping. Proper Proper Planning in landscaping and the tools that will make your plan a success. Making Making safety a part of your Landscape Plan.

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

What Landscape items SHOULD be handled in a pro–active manner? All of them.All of them. MULCHING.MULCHING. DEBRIS REMOVAL.DEBRIS REMOVAL. SURFACE TRASH REMOVAL.SURFACE TRASH REMOVAL. PRUNING.PRUNING. SHRUB/PLANT INSTALLATIONSHRUB/PLANT INSTALLATION LEAF REMOVAL.LEAF REMOVAL. ICE/SNOW MANAGEMENT OR REMOVAL (WHETHER ITS COMMON TO YOUR REGION OR NOT). TURF MANAGEMENT.

Prepare wisely Make Make a plan for everything. Use Use your company policies and procedures to your advantage (follow them to the letter). time to your advantage.

What types of items should be a part of your Landscape plan?

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

A WRITTEN PLAN

How is documentation a part of your LANDSAPE plan? YOUR PLAN WILL HELP MOST, IF IT IS IN A WRITTEN FORMAT (IE. A CHECKLIST, TO DO LIST AND EMERGENCY MAPS, WORK ORDERS). YOUR PLAN WILL HELP MOST, IF IT IS IN A WRITTEN FORMAT (IE. A CHECKLIST, TO DO LIST AND EMERGENCY MAPS, WORK ORDERS). DOCUMENTATION WILL HELP YOU KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ON A DAILY AND WEEKLY BASIS. DOCUMENTATION WILL HELP YOU KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ON A DAILY AND WEEKLY BASIS.

Documentation :A big part of your plan for everything

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

Using Policies and Procedures Policies are put in place to help you be proactive. Policies are put in place to help you be proactive. Read and understand the policy Perhaps even take the time to review the policy with staff and all new hires. Read and understand the policy Perhaps even take the time to review the policy with staff and all new hires. Taking the policy seriously will help you clearly understand what goals you need to meet by what time. Taking the policy seriously will help you clearly understand what goals you need to meet by what time.

Use time to your advantage Make needed purchases or recommendations of purchases in advance, (shovels, Ice melt, machinery, and any other equipment that is deemed necessary on your property). Make needed purchases or recommendations of purchases in advance, (shovels, Ice melt, machinery, and any other equipment that is deemed necessary on your property). Walk your property to determine the needs of property at the beginning of the each season using a check list to prevent future problems. Walk your property to determine the needs of property at the beginning of the each season using a check list to prevent future problems. Make deadlines (multiple deadlines if needed) to get work completed. Make deadlines (multiple deadlines if needed) to get work completed.

Pro-Active Approach To Grounds Equipment Make Repairs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If your equipment doesnt 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!