I don’t want to say it’s been a bad year, it hasn’t.
It’s been typical of what a year as a landscape designer and a contractor has been as long as I can remember. Typical meaning constant change and no guarantees.
You Never Get Every Job
It took me years to realize you’ll never get every job from every person who calls. There are variables in what is a good fit for both clients and customers.
Does the potential client need the job completed in a week or a month? If they have a graduation party next weekend and I’m booked out a month I can’t help.
What type of service is the potential client looking for? I’m sometimes called to spruce up a house before it goes on the market. The level of service I provide is more than most want when listing their house. They want a ‘quick and dirty’ job, not a thorough job.
What is the job? While I’m a landscaper I don’t do everything related to landscaping.
This year a clients neighbor walked up and asked if I rip out Poison Ivy, by hand.
No. I don’t.
A couple of weeks ago a potential customer called three times in an hour demanding I call back immediately with a price to haul brush to the dump. Yes, I do haul brush to the dump when pruning shrubs but I’m not Junkluggers.
Investment Matters
Finally, there is an investment. No two contractors, in any field, will price a job the same way.
However, you can’t base value on price. Just because a price is high doesn’t make it a bad value and just because a price is low doesn’t make it a good value. But that’s a post for another time.
Since I started working in this field I’ve felt like a square peg in a round hole. After over thirty years that feeling has never gone away. I don’t think it ever will.
I strive to make landscapes look as good as they can. Unfortunately, people only invest so much in their landscapes.
Since the stock market crash of 2008, I’ve seen changes in people’s priorities and spending habits.
I’ve also changed since I started in this field.
I’ve often spent my own time, and money, going the extra mile. An extra hour or two here. Perhaps upgrading plants to a larger size out of my own bank account. Spending extra time making sure downspouts drain away from the house.
Patient Craftsman of Exceptional Landscapes
Today I changed my slogan to, “Patient craftsman of exceptional landscapes.” I doubt anyone will notice, especially today.
Why did I do that?
As a sign that I’m not like all landscapers. I work with purpose, and that purpose is creating exceptional landscapes.
What makes me think I’m so special? A few examples.
- Clients often tell me they can’t tell a shrub has been pruned after I complete the job.
- Edges of my landscapes are smooth, flowing and deep.
- Plant selections focus on interest in every season and minimal care.
- I don’t dump three inches of mulch on landscapes every spring.
I’m not special. I know only a small percentage of clients will want my level of service, though I provide a better value.
Losing a Client
After over 15 years, I lost a long term client this spring. I resigned (was let go) because I couldn’t handle servicing the property twice a year. The gardens were constantly in need of major work and it was frustrating.
There are plenty of houses I visit once or twice a year and I’m fine with that. But this house wasn’t a boilerplate landscape by any means and it needed more attention.
One of the reasons I stayed so long was a conversation I had with one of the owners years ago.
They said, “John, I know you’re not going to be the fastest or the cheapest, but when you do the job I know it’s going to be done right.”
That conversation kept me at the property longer than I should have stayed. I also enjoyed watching the landscape grow in.
The Future
When I started Land Designs Unlimited LLC the internet and YouTube weren’t options. I can now electronically share my knowledge in many different ways and the list is expanding daily.
Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor or student you can read, and watch, me explain what I do and why. I sincerely hope you learn something.
Whether my future is creating landscapes or teaching how to create landscapes I will always be a patient craftsman of exceptional landscapes.
Thank you.
Comments
2 responses to “Patient Craftsman of Exceptional Landscapes”
I want to start by saying I have learned so much from your You Tube videos, even that the notch on my Felco blade is for cutting wire. I didn’t even know about the notch before the video. I am in the maintenance business, so I am at my clients’ yard many times during the summer. Some of them tho’ only spring, mid summer and fall, but others every two or three weeks, to prune shrubs, sheer hedges and finish them off by pruning the stubs, deadheading flowers, weeding, watering plants, checking for disease or insects etc. They all pretty much give me a free hand in their yards, and I treat all the yards as if they were my own and, yes, I also go above and beyond by doing extra things, or buying some things that they never see a charge for. I get invited to weddings, graduations, yard parties, I also get large tips at the end of the year and Christmas gifts. People in North Dakota are really nice and my clients really appreciate the work I do for them and the quality of my work, and I charge by the hour and I am not cheap. I turn down work every summer because I just don’t have the time for any more since my partner passed away last summer, and he hadn’t worked with me since 2015. I have never advertised and don’t even have business cards.
I love the landscape pictures you posted, not crowded and with depth and a variety of plants that work well together. All I can say is keep up the amazing work you do and thank you for all your educational videos!
Thank you, Kay. I have a friend with a similar business model and she’s got the same spirit, loves the outdoors and loves the freedom.
We could sit down and talk for hours about my business desires meeting reality. In the end, it’s expectations meeting reality. I haven’t lost the optimism of my youth for the reality of adulthood. I still want it all.
I have a client who lets me visit as often as I like, do whatever needs doing and the check comes two days later. In the industry, we call that the ideal client.
I’m hoping to keep a few clients like that and finally take better care of my own property as fodder for blogs and videos. Only time will tell how that works. If I work in someone’s yard my efforts only reach the people who live in the house, if I write a blog post or post a video my efforts can be viewed around the world.
Thanks for your comments on the posts. I admire your positive attitude and energy. I hope some of it rubs off on me.