News Briefs
Contractor Focus: Pruned Right! by Andy Longo, Owner of Pruned Right, Nutley, NJ
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riting this article has given me a renewed appreciation for the talents and dedication of all those who contribute articles on a consistent basis. I was asked to answer a few questions about why I decided to go into the business, how I feel about licensing / certification, offer some words of advice for someone considering our profession and possible obstacles they might encounter. I would like to try and answer these questions as concisely as possible. My decision 30 years ago to become a professional gardener was not my first career choice, having studied and worked for many years as a professional artist. My love of plants and working in gardens helped put me through art school and became the obvious career choice when my art career slowed. It was never my intention to completely stop painting, but as my gardening client base grew larger so did the time requirements which left little time for anything else. In an effort to focus on more gratifying creative work, I sold the lawn service and chemical applications part of my business over twenty years ago, deciding to offer proper hand pruning and curb appeal enhancement, stressing the use of colorful seasonal planters along with vegetable/herb container gardens. I never regretted this decision, but it is more difficult to find staff who are passionate and knowledgeable about this type of work. Pruned Right is always hiring gardeners, regardless of skill level, but they must possess a true passion for gardening. Certification is a touchy subject, this said I am not certified, but study constantly viewing certification as a decision made for personal growth without the expectation of future monetary gain. Chemical applicators licenses however are extremely important and should continue to be required. Clients need to know that any person applying potentially dangerous products is licensed and insured to do so. I am very proud to say we have been members of the NJLCA and our local Chamber of Commerce for over twenty years. I strongly suggest anyone considering a career in Horticulture join and support the NJLCA, they are there for all of us. This profession will always be competitive and the old saying “quality wins out” was never truer. The “old timers” like me will tell you the same thing. Your honesty, personality and professional knowledge are what a discerning client is looking at when deciding to initially hire and then whether
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to continue using your company’s services, not necessarily your price. It really isn’t more complicated than the “Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated”. Corny right? But true. It is important to always remember these two things. 1. If you do something great, they will tell a few people. But if you leave them with a problem, they will tell everyone they know and put it online. 2. A good client is difficult to find and worth the extra effort to keep. They expect you to do the work well, but it is the small things that they remember. Return their calls as soon as possible, get to any requests for additional work in a timely fashion, and address problems with understanding and solutions, not excuses or arguments. We try and ask several times a year, “How are we doing? Are there things we could do better?” Hopefully everything is fine and your clients are happy, even so, they will appreciate being asked. This may not work for you, but the names of my clients, their children, house keepers and pets are now in my phone and reviewed before I stop by their property. We have retained some great clients for decades and acquired neighboring accounts because they admired our work. To new people considering this profession - if you are willing to work very hard and be respectful of others (both fellow contractors and clients), there is always room for new talent. Just be yourself, keep up to date on new products and methods and always do the best job you can. Editor’s Note: Andy, you are still an artist! However your medium is now plant material and your pruning shears are your paintbrush. Thank you for your insight into some very valid points about the industry and your many years of friendship to the NJLCA. For more information, visit www.prunedright.com.