Puzzling
How did they land that job?! It's not like the homeowner is having them do work for them at the mall. THEY'LL BE AT THEIR HOME!!

I know you can't always judge a book by its cover, but many of the landscapers I know work hard at looking as professional as possible (and their crews) when they show up for estimates or to begin the project.

Hey, I know we work in the dirt, but to take liberty with what Will Smith said in "Men in Black", some of us make Timberlands and company t-shirts look good.

After the project
OK, what happens after a landscape project is over? Plants and flowers have feelings, too. They want to live after they're put in the ground. They deserve someone who knows the proper location and planting techniques.

How many times have I been called in to clean up some other "landscaper's" interpretations? My crew and I usually have a moment of silence for all the living organisms (trees planted 12" from the foundation, azaleas planted in areas with 22 hours of direct sunlight, wave petunias planted in full shade, you get the message) that needlessly suffered before they gave up and just died.

What's the real deal?
I'm curious to hear what other landscape professionals consider when they go to meet prospective clients.
-- What have you found that's important to do during that initial consulation?
-- What are customers telling you that's important to them?
-- And who has some funny (or not so funny) experiences with coming in behind the wrong landscaper?

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