Mastering New Hire Onboarding for Lawn Care, Landscaping, and Tree Care Teams

Bringing new talent into your landscaping, lawn care, or tree care business isn’t just about filling a position—it’s about setting up new employees for long-term success. Strong onboarding processes can mean the difference between retaining a skilled workforce and watching great hires walk away. The best companies in our industry don’t leave onboarding to chance. They create structured, engaging experiences that get new employees acclimated quickly, build confidence, and set them up to perform at their best.

If you want your business to attract and retain high-performing employees, here are five essential onboarding strategies to implement today:

1. Onboarding Never Truly Ends

Many business owners assume that onboarding is complete once a new hire reaches their 30-, 60-, or 90-day mark. But true onboarding extends beyond those initial months. Employees need continued support, coaching, and reinforcement well after their official start date.

Landscaping, tree care, and lawn maintenance professionals work in physically demanding environments with constantly evolving client needs. The best businesses create ongoing learning opportunities—whether through seasonal training refreshers, team-building exercises, or regular check-ins. Even after your new hire has settled into their role, continue investing in their development to ensure long-term retention.

2. Start Before Day One

First impressions matter, and the onboarding process should begin well before an employee’s first day.

Think of all the things your new hire will need—uniforms, tools, job site schedules, email accounts, and safety training materials. If you can set these up ahead of time, they’ll walk in on day one feeling prepared rather than overwhelmed.

Additionally, consider streamlining paperwork by using e-signature software. This way, employees can complete required documents (such as tax forms and benefits enrollment) before their first day. Instead of spending their first few hours filling out paperwork, they can start learning the job and getting to know the team.

3. Not All Onboarding Happens on the Job Site

In the green industry, teamwork and communication are just as important as technical skills. While it’s crucial for new employees to learn the ins and outs of job site operations, it’s equally important to make them feel like part of the team.

During their first week, schedule a team lunch, a morning coffee meeting, or another informal get-together where new hires can bond with their coworkers. The more comfortable they feel with their team, the more engaged they’ll be in their work.

4. Tailor Your Onboarding Approach to Your Business Needs

One-size-fits-all onboarding doesn’t work, especially in a hands-on industry like landscaping and tree care. The type of onboarding a new Account Manager needs will look very different from the onboarding required for a crew leader or technician.

For management-level hires, focus on company culture, client relationships, and leadership skills. For field team members, ensure they receive thorough training in safety protocols, equipment use, and efficient job site workflows.

Technology can also play a big role in improving the process. If you regularly hire seasonal employees, consider using digital onboarding tools to streamline document collection, safety training, and scheduling. This helps new hires get up to speed quickly while reducing the administrative burden on your team.

5. Onboarding is a Two-Way Street

The best onboarding programs don’t just introduce employees to company policies—they also encourage feedback.

Make sure to check in with new hires regularly and ask for their thoughts on the onboarding experience. Do they feel prepared for their role? Do they need additional training? What could have made their first few weeks smoother?

Employees who feel heard and valued are more likely to stay engaged and contribute positively to the company culture. Plus, their feedback can help you refine and improve your onboarding process for future hires.

Putting It All Together

Investing in Onboarding = Investing in Long-Term Success

High employee turnover is a costly issue in the landscaping, lawn care, and tree care industries. But a strong onboarding process can significantly improve retention, job satisfaction, and performance.

By implementing structured onboarding strategies—starting before day one, fostering team connections, tailoring the process to each role, and encouraging feedback—you can build a stronger, more engaged workforce.

Onboarding is more than just a checklist—it’s the foundation of a thriving company culture and a productive, committed team.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

Fred Haskett TrueWinds Consulting