John Feldman has spent more than three decades designing landscapes on some of Southern California's most complex terrain. As principal of Ecocentrix Landscape Architecture, a boutique firm in Santa Monica specializing in hillside development and luxury residential...
A European manufacturer of integrated grill tables is set to make its North American debut, targeting landscape designers and architects as it seeks to establish a new category in outdoor dining. FESTÁVOLO, founded by Nils Dethloff, product range combines...
Melanie Buffa, newly appointed landscape director at Agency Artifact and president of the ASLA Southern California Chapter, spoke with Pro Landscaper USA about how the landscaping profession's credibility depends on its ability to deliver built projects, not just compelling concepts. Her professional philosophy has been shaped not by academic...
Selling a company is rarely just a financial transaction—it is a life event comparable to marriage or buying a first home. Cetane Associates, a lower-middle-market M&A advisory firm, has built its reputation on guiding owners through this emotional and logistical journey, offering personalised support that larger investment banks often cannot...
When brothers Kevin and Steve McHale started cutting grass as teenagers in Maryland, they never imagined their neighborhood operation would one day employ 450 people across nine East Coast locations. Now celebrating its 45th year, McHale Landscape Design has grown into a multi-million-dollar residential architecture and design-build firm—yet the...
As temperatures rise across the country, employers in outdoor industries are facing increased scrutiny from OSHA. The agency’s updated National Emphasis Program (NEP) on heat hazards, effective April 10, 2026, expands enforcement efforts to prevent heat illness and improve compliance with OSHA heat regulations. The updated directive will remain...
Accessibility codes should be treated as just the beginning, argues landscape designer and academic, Alexa Vaughn. The real work is designing with disabled people as partners. More than three decades after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landscape architects often rely on the ADA Standards for Accessible Design as a...
Postsaver, a UK-based leader in timber protection, has launched DeckPRO in the US—a heat-activated wrap designed to stop ground-line rot in decking foundation posts. Following recent expansions into the US fencing and utility sectors, Postsaver is now targeting the decking market. The move addresses a growing demand for longer-lasting,...
With the urban built environment responsible for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, landscape architect Pamela Conrad argues the profession must do more to quickly offset the carbon impact of their projects. Through her nonprofit, Climate Positive Design, Conrad is building tools to turn that imperative into action. “Carbon neutral and...
Carlos Bataller, founder and CEO of Realturf USA, shares practical advice on four critical areas: creating clean edges, managing curves and undulations, planning drainage and controlling heat. Creating clean, durable edges without nail strips or timber Bataller advises against installing turf directly next to natural grass. “Over time, natural...
A briefing on California's non-functional turf ban. Learn about the phased compliance deadlines, the arguments for and against and what’s on the horizon. What is the Californian ‘non-functional’ turf ban? In 2023, California Assembly Bill 1572 passed the state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The...
For nearly 90 years, PROSOCO has built a reputation in the masonry and concrete industries, focusing on cleaning, protecting, and maintaining hard surfaces. Ken Rathbun, the company’s director of product strategy, recently spoke with Pro Landscaper USA about how the brand applies this legacy to landscaping. Read the full article in...
The landscaping industry is entering 2026 with a mindset best described as cautiously optimistic. On one hand, economic pressures remain a dominant concern. On the other hand, a meaningful portion of contractors are still planning for growth and backing that confidence with real investment. What the results say According to Aspire’s February...
Landscape architecture is by nature a collaborative endeavor. Designers, contractors, clients and communities all bring different expertise and perspectives to a project. At its best, the process is dynamic and responsive. At its worst, miscommunication and competing priorities create friction. Michelle Crowley, president of the Boston Society of...
The familiar hum of gas-powered landscaping equipment has long been a suburban staple. However, a quieter shift is underway. EGO POWER+, known for battery-powered residential tools, has launched EGO Commercial, a dedicated professional-grade brand, to persuade contractors to make the switch from gas to battery. Marketing manager Brady Bjorkman...
For professionals entering the landscaping industry, the newly elected president of the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) offers a pointed warning about modern mentorship. “Be very careful who you take advice from,” says Alex Salazar. Having watched young professionals turn to TikTok influencers and AI chatbots for guidance, he...
Rose Morrison discusses the visa cap limits squeeze and what it means for 2026 labor planning. Outlining what strategic alternatives landscaping companies could build to H-2B visas. If you’ve spent time in landscape operations or business ownership, you know that workforce planning can make or break a season. Traditionally, H-2B visas in the...
in-lite is on a mission to demonstrate that lighting belongs in every outdoor space, offering landscape professionals both the products and partnership to make it happen. The outdoor lighting brand, celebrating 25 years in business, believes that gardens can have a second life after dark. According to Michelle Vilera, North America brand lead for...
Rose Morrison details how native spring ephemerals create sustainable, low-maintenance commercial landscapes with stunning seasonal impact Commercial landscaping has become more expensive over the years. Clients are either reluctant to invest as much as before or are seeking more sustainable commercial landscaping. Additionally, many want more...
Dan Hansen, founder and president of Southern California's SouthWest Landscape, has been inducted into the Green Industry Hall of Fame, recognizing a 44-year career that transformed a one-man operation into a multi-branch commercial landscape management firm. Hansen, who started the business in 1982 at age 22 with three young children to support,...
As the professional landscaping industry transitions toward electrification and automation, manufacturers are defining their strategic bets. For Honda Power Equipment, the roadmap emphasizes a legacy of durable internal combustion engines while pragmatically navigating toward a battery-powered and increasingly automated future, with a steadfast...
Mike Garcia, founder of design and build firm Enviroscape LA, has transitioned from a chemical-intensive industry standard to a philosophy of partnering with nature. His journey began with an ornamental horticulture education focused on “chemicals, chemicals, chemicals—chemicals on everything,” but shifted after encountering organic methods in...
Transforming a standard pool into a show-stopping focal point requires landscapers to masterfully blend aesthetics with precise, advanced engineering. SwimmingPoolWindows.com, a fabricator and installer based in St. Augustine, Florida, provides that very design solution. The company specializes in providing custom acrylic pool windows for both...
Andrea Mueller’s path to landscape design was anything but linear, shaped by a family nursery, multiple design disciplines and a core ideal. “I was always intrigued by the idea that spaces should be an extension of one another. So, the outside should be an extension of the inside, and the inside an extension of the outside,” she says. Though her...
F&C Distributors started out as a local fireplace supplier and has since transformed into one of the nation’s leading distributors for outdoor living products. “The outdoor living market has taken over as the primary aspect of the business, and we now cover the whole country, with customers in nearly all 50 states,” says Loar. F&C...
Terremoto’s David Godshall is hoping for immigration reform in the US. “Most of the landscape construction crews that we work with in Southern California are primarily Latino men, and their immigration status is varied. “We take issue with the fact that the immigration system in the United States is a bit of a mess, especially when there are...
Rose Morrison shares smart revenue for landscape companies in winter. When temperatures dip and turf goes dormant, many crews shift from lawn care to cold-season maintenance. Winter landscaping demands different rhythms and plans than the typical work done in warmer weather. Those who prepare early can carry talent, equipment and cash...
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