And just like that- spring is here! I know Punxsutawney Phil thinks we have several more weeks of winter ahead of us, but in the landscaping world, spring always comes early. In my company, it is "go time". We’re working on finalizing those last few contract renewals, blocking out our install schedule, and hiring for available positions. It can feel overwhelming (I’m pretty sure we have checklists for our checklists), but as the days get longer, the excitement builds for the official kick-off of the 2025 season.

Do you have a routine for the official start of the season in your company? Over the years, we have created a standard routine for starting the year. We hold many different training sessions- we start with a few days of full training for all new hires and have a day or two of continuing education for returning staff. We do spring cleaning in all areas of our company. The shop is emptied, cleaned, and reorganized. Each crew cleans and organizes their bay in the lot and the shared department areas. The irrigation inventory is checked and stocked to standard inventory levels. All trucks are cleaned and organized, and all equipment is tuned up and ready to go. Our admin staff makes sure we have a full stock of business cards, door hangers, daily paperwork, and resource guides. Even the first aid kits are checked and fully stocked. There is so much value in taking time to organize and stock up ahead of the season.

While the nuts and bolts of operations are extremely important, investing time into team building and comradery is immensely valuable as well. We have a tradition of ending training week with a “Fun Day” for all staff. It's pretty much what it sounds like- a day to simply have fun as a team. We plan an activity for staff to enjoy before things get insanely busy. We’ve done paintball, zip lining, Whirly Ball, Dart Warz, Escape Rooms, bowling, and more! It is excellent for team building and ensures that morale is high to start the season. It is one of my favorite traditions every year.

Do you have any routines or traditions to start your season? If not, today seems like a great day to start. The ALCC has many opportunities for training and fun this month to help you get started or supplement your existing program. They’re offering webinars, classroom training, and hands-on opportunities as well as a lunch and learn and happy hour- a variety of options to fit your schedule and your needs. Check out ALCC’s events calendar to get the most up-to-date schedules and available options near you. Here’s to a great spring season for us all!