Podcasts about landscape professionals

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the rain has been good for our lawns, but hopefully we won’t see any standing water.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the rain has been good for our lawns, but hopefully we won’t see any standing water.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the rain has been good for our lawns, but hopefully we won’t see any standing water.

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob tells us how you can prevent fungus from overtaking your lawn while its hot and humid.

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob tells us how you can prevent fungus from overtaking your lawn while its hot and humid.

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob tells us how you can prevent fungus from overtaking your lawn while its hot and humid.

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the lack of rain is causing lawns and gardens to dry out so keep watering!

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the lack of rain is causing lawns and gardens to dry out so keep watering!

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the lack of rain is causing lawns and gardens to dry out so keep watering!

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob tells us what to do for your lawn during this dry spell.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob tells us what to do for your lawn during this dry spell.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob tells us what to do for your lawn during this dry spell.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says to keep your eyes out for fungus colonies with the […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says to keep your eyes out for fungus colonies with the […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says to keep your eyes out for fungus colonies with the […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Now that the threat of frost has passed, we finally have the “green” light to work on […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Now that the threat of frost has passed, we finally have the “green” light to work on […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green' with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Now that the threat of frost has passed, we finally have the “green” light to work on […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the window is now open to do your seeding!

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the window is now open to do your seeding!

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says the window is now open to do your seeding!

Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley and Vice President of the Landscape and Tree Care Group, Drew Garcia, talk about building a scalable safety program for landscape professionals with our SafetyOne™ mobile app and website. Show Notes: ⁠⁠https: ⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠Director/Host: ⁠⁠⁠Alyssa Burley⁠⁠⁠Guest: ⁠⁠⁠Drew Garcia⁠⁠⁠Producer/Editor: ⁠Megan LockhartMusic: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production© Copyright 2026. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says you should never cut more than one-third of grass blade when you are mowing. With the […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says you should never cut more than one-third of grass blade when you are mowing. With the […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says you should never cut more than one-third of grass blade when you are mowing. With the […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says to make sure you get rid of the standing water on your grass, and discusses […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says to make sure you get rid of the standing water on your grass, and discusses […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says to make sure you get rid of the standing water on your grass, and discusses […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals! Bob tells John that you don’t need to water the rest of the week after all the rain, and don’t attempt to mow the heavy, wet grass. Bob also […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals! Bob tells John that you don’t need to water the rest of the week after all the rain, and don’t attempt to mow the heavy, wet grass. Bob also […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals! Bob tells John that you don’t need to water the rest of the week after all the rain, and don’t attempt to mow the heavy, wet grass. Bob also […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “Spring Startup Without the Scramble: A Simple Operating Plan for Your Busiest Season” Spring can feel like a wild sprint in the turfgrass industry. Demand rises fast, the weather shifts by region, and crews are expected to move from preparation to production with little margin for error. Whether you own a large landscape company, supervise grounds, or work independently, the same business question pops up this time of year: how do you stay organized when everything speeds up at once? North Carolina makes this even more important because spring does not look the same across the state. Both cool-season and warm-season grasses are grown in North Carolina, with cool-season grasses performing best in spring and fall, while warm-season grasses are slower to green up in spring and grow best in summer. That means your startup plan needs to align with your region, turf type, and service mix, rather than relying on a single statewide timeline. Here is a framework for all types of turfgrass managers: 1. Set your spring capacity before you fill the calendar. A full schedule doesn't always mean a profitable schedule. Start by estimating what your team can realistically handle each week based on labor hours, travel time, equipment availability, and the complexity of your work. For a sports turf manager, this may mean planning field preparation windows around game schedules and weather. For a landscape business owner, it may mean separating recurring maintenance from installation work so one category does not disrupt the other. For an independent operator, it may mean limiting new clients until recurring customer routes stabilize. This step helps you avoid the spring trap of saying yes too quickly and spending the next six weeks fixing preventable delays. It also gives you a better basis for quoting timelines, setting expectations, and deciding whether to outsource any work. 2. Build a startup checklist for equipment and supplies. Spring problems often look like labor problems when they are really equipment and supply problems. A mower down for two days can throw off an entire route. A missing part can delay an athletic field prep. A late material delivery can create a client communication issue that your team then has to manage. Create one checklist for startup readiness and assign dates to each item. Include inspections, maintenance, blade sharpening, tire checks, calibration, backup equipment options, and commonly used supplies. If you manage a crew, assign ownership to specific people and confirm completion in writing. If you work alone, schedule this work like billable time because it protects billable time later. The goal is not perfection. The goal is fewer surprises when everyone needs service at once. 3. Standardize your onboarding before hiring pressure hits. Many businesses wait until they are short-staffed before considering training. Spring is the worst time to build onboarding from scratch. A simple onboarding process can help new hires become productive more quickly and reduce the burden on your strongest crew members. Keep it practical. Focus on safety, equipment basics, site expectations, communication standards, and what good work looks like in your operation. For sports turf settings, include event-day expectations and the chain of communication. For landscape crews, include job-site photos and quality examples. For independent operators who occasionally bring in help, use a one-page field guide that outlines your process and customer standards. Education is one of the strongest retention tools available because it helps people build confidence and feel invested in their work. It also protects quality when the pace increases. 4. Protect your schedule with proactive client and stakeholder communication. Spring startup gets harder when communication becomes reactive. A short round of outreach before your busiest stretch can prevent many avoidable issues. Confirm service windows, clarify what is included, and explain what may shift due to weather or field use. For sports turf professionals, this can mean a quick pre-season update to athletic directors, coaches, or facility contacts about timelines, field conditions, and scheduling limits. For contractors, it can mean a reminder about spring demand, response times, and approval timelines for add-on work. For independent operators, it can mean confirming your route days and the best way to reach you for non-urgent requests. Clear communication reduces interruptions and helps people understand that good turf outcomes require planning, timing, and patience. 5. Track a small set of weekly numbers. You do not need a complex dashboard to run your Spring startup well. You need a short list of numbers that tells you whether your plan is holding up. Pick metrics that align with your role and review them weekly. Examples include: • labor hours scheduled versus labor hours worked • completed jobs or field tasks versus planned • equipment downtime • callbacks or rework • weather delays • material usage on high-volume items • outstanding approvals or invoices These numbers help you spot problems early. If labor hours are running high every week, your route density or staffing plan may need adjustment. If callbacks spike, training or quality checks may need attention. If equipment downtime keeps increasing, preventive maintenance may be slipping. 6. Build your plan around your market, not a generic template. The turf and landscape industry is broad, and that matters for business planning. NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) reports that the landscape services industry reached a market size of $188.8 billion in 2025 and includes more than 692,000 landscaping service businesses. That scale reflects a wide range of business models, from solo operators to larger firms, along with very different customer expectations across markets. A startup plan that works for a municipal sports complex may not fit a residential landscape route. A plan that works in one region of North Carolina may need adjustment in another. The NC State Extension puts it plainly: “No one type of grass is best suited to all situations.” The same principle applies to operations. Build your plan around your turf, clients, team, and region. A practical spring takeaway… Spring will always be busy. While we can't remove the pressure, we can reduce preventable chaos. A simple operating plan can do that. Set your capacity, prep equipment early, standardize onboarding, communicate before problems start, and track a few meaningful numbers. These steps require intention, and they pay off when the season starts moving faster than expected. In a profession built on timing, spring success often starts before the first rush arrives. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Spring Startup Without the Scramble: A Simple Operating Plan for Your Busiest Season appeared first on The Turf Zone.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob reminds us to be careful about planting seeds right now.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob reminds us to be careful about planting seeds right now.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob reminds us to be careful about planting seeds right now.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Will last week’s freeze cause damage? And when will you start to see your plants pop? Is it […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Will last week’s freeze cause damage? And when will you start to see your plants pop? Is it […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Will last week’s freeze cause damage? And when will you start to see your plants pop? Is it […]

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says it’s a little too early to start seeding, but definitely get debris cleaned up and make sure to get leftover fall leaves […]

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says it’s a little too early to start seeding, but definitely get debris cleaned up and make sure to get leftover fall leaves […]

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says it’s a little too early to start seeding, but definitely get debris cleaned up and make sure to get leftover fall leaves […]

J. T. Price is the CEO of Landscape Workshop, one of the leading commercial landscape maintenance firms in the Southern United States. Since taking the helm in 2014, J. T. has led the company through explosive growth—driving a 65X increase in equity value and growing the team to nearly 2,000 employees. With a background that includes time at McKinsey & Company, roles in private equity, and extensive operational leadership, J. T. brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and practical execution. He's deeply committed to making Landscape Workshop the premier destination in the Green Industry for high performers, while delivering consistent, professional service to clients. J. T. holds degrees from the University of Richmond and Harvard Law School, and currently serves on several boards, including the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (as Chair), and the Altamont School. He lives in Alabama with his wife, their two children (ages 13 and 11), and their dogs, Chewie and Oreo.  

Jerry Schill is the founder and CEO of Schill Grounds Management — a company he launched in 1993 with his brother after a chance summer job revealed a passion for landscaping. What began as a two-person side hustle has grown into a large-scale commercial grounds management company, now one of the fastest-growing platforms in the industry.In 2020, Jerry began a bold new chapter—scaling Schill Grounds Management through strategic acquisitions alongside organic growth. Under his leadership, the company has completed more than 16 acquisitions and now operates across six states and Ontario, Canada. With a growing family of nine brands and more than 1,400 team members, Schill Grounds Management is recognized as a national leader built on consistency, performance, and a people-first culture — and Jerry is still very much in building mode.Beyond the business, Jerry is an active contributor to several industry associations, including the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Accredited Snow Contractors Association, and the Ohio Landscape Association. He also founded Holiday Feast — an annual charitable tradition that has served thousands of free meals to families in need throughout the Cleveland community.Throughout our awesome conversation, Jerry reflects on entrepreneurship, drive, discipline, humility, ambition, what it means to build something that lasts, and lots more.00:00 Introduction to Jerry Schill and His Journey00:59 The Impact of Family and Early Influences01:49 The Leap into Entrepreneurship03:54 The Evolution of Show Landscape07:21 Understanding the Landscaping Industry13:08 Leadership Evolution and Personal Growth19:04 The Importance of Peer Networks20:58 Scaling the Business and Maintaining Culture24:32 The Shift to Acquisitions for Growth27:47 Integrating Acquired Companies Successfully31:38 The Role of Technology in Landscaping34:47 Motivation and Future Vision for SGM38:09 Lessons Learned from the Journey39:55 Curiosity and Lifelong Learning41:13 The Holiday Feast Initiative44:08 Aiming for a Billion-Dollar Company45:46 Advice to Younger Self46:56 Hidden Gems in Cleveland-----LINKS:https://schilllandscaping.com/abouthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-schill-2b010b1a/Referenced Episode — Sanjay Singh: https://www.layoftheland.fm/218-sanjay-singh-macer-get-good-at-hard-things/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company's passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says continue to water your trees and shrubs and remember to cut your lawn down to 2 inches for the winter.