K&D Landscaping, Inc.

Don't be that Landscaper! How often do your crews do vehicle safety checks? Be honest. We used to do them once a month. Until we realized that was once every 30 opportunities for something to go wrong. Now at K&D Landscaping, Inc. we check daily — and it’s made a huge difference. Because the biggest risk isn’t a blown tire or low oil. → It’s that tarp not being tied down. → That piece of equipment sliding in the truck bed. → A loose cone rolling off the trailer into traffic. But guys, it’s not just dangerous, it’s a terrible look for our entire industry. And one more thing.... drivers: check your lights. If a blinker’s out and your truck gets pulled over, that ticket goes to the driver — not the company. It’s on YOU. So let’s raise the standard. For our crews. For our company. For the industry. Do your teams do daily safety checks? What’s the craziest close call you’ve seen on the road? Share a photo in the comments!! 

This may not look riveting, but believe me - I’m beyond stoked to be here right now. Why? Because the vast majority of orgs in this field don’t have a CRM. Those who do probably don’t know how to use it to its full potential. That’s why I have been looking forward to this K&D Landscaping, Inc. training on Aspire Software for weeks. This means us staying aligned, running more efficiently, and better serving our clients and helping each other. Thank you Kelsie Colborn for onboarding and organizing and thank you Terry (TJ) Rau Jr for all of your guidance and patience. Like you said, data is knowledge, knowledge is power! Anthony Battistella Jamie Clark

Got a landscape management crew? Cool. They can double as your fire prevention crew. This came up front and center at the CAI BayCen luncheon — even though the topic was AB 1572, wildfire prevention kept surfacing as the bigger picture. Same story in a recent meeting with The Management Trust: fire risk is top of mind for property managers across the board. Especially along the Central Coast, landscaping isn’t just about curb appeal anymore. It’s about keeping buildings from going up in smoke. And if your crew’s still just mowing and blowing without thinking about fire risk? They’re blowing it. Literally. Here’s the deal: Zone 0–5 ft: Nothing flammable. No mulch. No shrubs. No stacked wood. Zone 5–30 ft: Keep it low, clean, and spaced out. This is your buffer — treat it that way. Zone 30–100 ft: Reduce fuels. Thin brush. Limb trees. Break up the fuel load. This isn’t just smart — it’s law: AB 3074 introduced Zone 0 and requires the first 5 feet around structures in fire-prone zones to be ember-resistant. AB 38 makes defensible space inspections mandatory when properties change hands in high-risk zones. If you manage HOAs or commercial properties, now’s the time to talk to your landscape contractor. It's nott just about how things look — but about how they’ll hold up when it gets real. K&D Landscaping, Inc. Haley Georgalos Daniel Nemire Jamie Clark Clayton Nicholson Nick Brown Justin White ★ Monterey Fire Department

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝐶𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 For the past three years, our Employee Success Specialist Shantel Perez has made it a priority to regularly visit job sites, ensuring our team members in the field feel just as supported and connected as those in the office. This week at various Santa Cruz job sites, she was joined by Kelsie Colborn , our Billing & Payroll Specialist , where they handed out snacks, checked in with the crew, and reviewed plans together using the iPad. These visits aren’t just check-ins—they’re a reflection of our culture. At K&D, we show up for each other, stay connected across departments, and lead with presence and purpose. Because true success starts with a team that feels seen, valued, and supported. Justin White ★ Jessica Wendt #RaisingTheBar #TheKandDWay #landscaping #LandscapeConstrution #CompanyCulture #Maintenance #SantaCruz #Monterey #Salinas #Watsonville #LandscapingCompany #DesignBuild #EmployeeSuccess

A hidden issue costing you millions: lack of clarity. I learned this the hard way in 2024: Clarity = commitment. When I wasn’t clear about who owned what, things fell apart. Tasks slipped. Deadlines passed. And honestly? That was on me. I was delegating without defining ownership. Half-ASSigning. Half-communicating. And expecting full results. Now, when I delegate, I give absolute clarity: Who owns it? What success looks like? When it’s due? It’s made everything smoother. If you want better results, ask yourself: Have I made this 100% clear? How do you create clarity inside your company? K&D Landscaping, Inc.

Today, we’re at Cabrillo College Horticulture Department working on a community beautification project to celebrate 50 years of their legacy. This initiative is a wonderful opportunity for both our office and field teams to come together and collaborate on making a positive impact in the community. It’s a reminder that when we unite across departments, we can achieve even more and strengthen our bonds, both within our company and with those we serve. At K&D Landscaping, we value teamwork, community engagement, and the lasting difference we can make when we work together. As Cabrillo celebrates this milestone, we’re proud to be a part of this important moment. Thank you to Ewing Irrigation and Lanscape Supply, Central Home Supply and Graniterock for donating materials! How is your team contributing to your local community? Share your stories in the comments — let’s inspire each other! Sarah Hulick Justin White ★ Anthony Battistella Kendel White Jamie Clark Daniel Nemire Jeremy Ross Brian Gates Shantel Perez Kelsie Colborn Kendel White Ryan Burr Jon Wendt Jessica Wendt Lauren Wendt Drew Etling Blanca Montes Liz Ryan #KnDLandscaping #CommunityImpact #CabrilloHorticulture #RaisingTheBar #TheKnDWay #Community

When I agreed to do a “career day” talk through YFIOB, I figured I’d be speaking at a typical high school. When I showed up at Hartman School, I quickly realized… this was a different kind of school. Let’s just say — the students here are navigating some serious life challenges. And honestly? I’m so glad I ended up in that room. I pivoted my talk to focus less on “here’s what I do for work” and more on resiliency, moving forward after mistakes, and building a vision — even when your story doesn’t start the way you hoped it would. My own upbringing wasn’t picture-perfect. I’ve had to unlearn things, rebuild, and lean on the few adults who actually showed up for me when I needed it. So, if there was one thing I really wanted to leave them with, it was this: lean into the people who care. The ones who keep showing up. That’s where the shift starts. Huge thanks to Your Future Is Our Business and Robert Hartman School for the invite. The students were sharp, thoughtful, and honestly gave me a lot of hope. I came there to speak — but walked out feeling like I was the one who learned something. K&D Landscaping, Inc.

Fundamental #17: Walk In Our Customers’ Shoes 👟 At K&D Landscaping, we know that great service starts with great listening. When we truly understand our clients’ needs, we’re able to deliver solutions that are thoughtful, effective, and built on trust. Hear what our sales team, Anthony Battistella and Daniel Nemire had to say about what this fundamental means to them. 👉 Looking for a landscaping partner who puts your needs first? Let’s connect and explore how we can bring your vision to life. #TheKandDWay #CustomerExperience #ClientRelationships #EmpathyInAction #SalesTeamInsights

I used to get annoyed when other landscapers copied our style. The website layout. The uniforms. Even our marketing lines. At first, it felt personal. But now, I take it as a compliment. We use this as fuel for our speed of change! They’re watching. They’re chasing. But they’ll always be one step behind. 😏 Because you can’t copy vision. You can’t fake culture. And you sure as hell can’t replicate authenticity. Your why isn’t something they can download and slap a logo on. I know some of you have been copied too!! Tell me your story: the slogan they swiped, the design they ripped, the trucks that suddenly started looking a little too familiar. #DISRUPT K&D Landscaping, Inc.

Can we talk about the aggressive recruiters on LinkedIn? I love them. Here is the deal: my team at K&D Landscaping, Inc. is constantly being recruited. Sometimes daily! ...And I’m proud of it. I tell my team: "If you’re not getting calls from recruiters, I’m not doing my job as a leader." Great talent gets noticed. That’s the point. I love that my team is getting hit up on LinkedIn. It means we’ve built something worth watching. But here’s the difference: If someone leaves just for a higher paycheck, they were never really bought in. They didn’t believe in our vision. People who believe in the mission don’t leave for a couple bucks. They stay for purpose, growth, and culture. So think about this... Are you building a company people want to join—or one people are just waiting to leave? Is your team being recruited? How do you feel about it?