By Karina Sinclair

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THERE’S A RHYTHM to good work. You feel it on those days when everything just clicks — when the crew is humming, the weather is on your side and the job moves along so smoothly you start thinking maybe you could squeeze in one more task before quitting time. That’s the moment you face a choice: keep pushing while things are going well, or recognize that a productive day doesn’t have to be an exhausting one. We all know the saying: “Make hay while the sun shines.” It’s classic farmer wisdom, and something I heard often growing up in a rural area. When the weather’s good, you get to work. No hesitation, no excuses. In landscaping, it’s the same. You can’t lay pavers in the rain, and you don’t want to plant annuals in a heatwave. So when conditions are just right, you go all in.

But here’s the part seldom mentioned: even farmers don’t work from sunrise to midnight every day. They know that overworking the land — or themselves — leads to diminishing returns.

What I’m really trying to say is ‘care for yourself as well as you care for the plants you nurture and the landscapes you design and build.’ In this issue of Landscape Trades, we’ve rounded up advice to help you reduce stress, avoid injury and thrive during ‘go time.’ We want everyone to return home at the end of the work day with minds and bodies intact.

If talk of tariffs and trade wars makes you anxious, head to page 20 to learn about some financial programs the federal government is offering to Canadian business owners and growers. There’s also some great advice from a certified psychological health and safety advisor for saving your sanity on page 26. Hint: give up doomscrolling.

Everyone knows jobsite safety is priority one, but do your crew supervisors know that the law requires them to enforce this? The Healthy Horizons column on page 42 sets out expectations that help businesses build a culture where safety is top of mind.

Once you’ve got personal health and wellness sorted out, it’s time to strengthen the health of your profit margins. Julia Harmsworth asked experienced landscape designers, architects and contractors about understanding their value and building confidence to raise their prices. Check out Let’s Talk About Pricing on page 28.

In addition to our already solid lineup of columns, such as Art of Gardening (page 32) and Designers Corner (page 36), I’m excited to introduce Lawn Science by Dr. Sara Stricker, a brand new column dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of turf management. With a blend of environmentalis  passion and scientific rigour, this column delves into common misconceptions around grass and its role in contemporary green spaces.

But wait — there’s more! We have a second new column launching on page 40. Seasoned landscape business owner and consultant George Urvari brings us Worry-free Business to explore the psychology of building better teams and processes to avoid burn out (and maybe even have some fun). This column will alternate with Growing Your Business.

So, seize the moment when opportunity knocks. Say yes to the big contract, invest in training when your crew is eager to learn and take advantage of mild spring weather before summer’s furnace kicks in. But don’t confuse momentum with an obligation to run yourself into the ground.

The best pros know sustainability isn’t just about plant choices or materials — it’s about energy. Your own, your team’s, your business’s. So by all means, make hay. But also, know when the work is done for the day.

What’s one way you protect your energy during busy seasons? Let’s hear it. LT


Sincerely,
Karina Sinclair
Managing Editor, Multimedia
 

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