2019 proved to be another strong year for the landscape industry, according to the latest LM Industry Pulse.
Landscape pros are optimistic about their assessment of 2019, with 83 percent describing the market as “healthy.” Many expect that market health to continue into next year. As one respondent stated, “Our goals will increase; we have a lot of commercial work already on the books for 2020.”
Financially, 2019 was a good year for the majority of companies surveyed, with 70 percent of companies predicting they will meet or exceed their expected revenue and 65 percent expecting to meet or exceed their net profit goals.
One thing that has many industry pros concerned is the upcoming election cycle and how it will affect the economy. Regardless of their political affiliation, landscape company owners are cautiously optimistic that loyal customer bases will help pull them through an economic downturn.
In the face of a potential recession, landscape companies are tapping into some creative ways to become more efficient and keep costs down, such as adopting more advanced software or integrating versatile equipment such as skid-steers into more of their jobs. User-friendly battery-powered tools and electric equipment are becoming more popular, and some companies, such as Texas-based Clean Scapes, are turning to propane for their entire riding mower fleet.
The industry continues to face its perennial challenges: the labor shortage and inclement weather. In this year’s Industry Pulse, landscape pros share their perspectives on their outlook for the upcoming year, how they are handling hiring and recruiting and how they’ve dealt with the ups and downs of Mother Nature.
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