Abstract

Landscape maintenance firms in Georgia identified opportunities for landscape architects, landscape installers, growers, and university personnel to better serve their industry. The primary opportunities for landscape architects were to consider plant maintenance in the design stage (32.9%) and to specify plants with proven performance (27.6%). Landscape installers were asked to improve planting techniques (39.2%) and perform their own installation activities to ensure quality (27.5%). The top 2 opportunities for growers were improved quality and size standards for plant material (22.4%) and to supply new and different plants (16.4%). University personnel were asked to provide training and certification courses (37.9%) and landscape maintenance publications with information on pest management (19.7%). Landscape maintenance firms also identified the most common complaints received from their customers and the sources of information that influenced which plants to purchase. This information provides valuable insight into the needs of landscape maintenance firms and establishes a basis for more effective cooperation and marketing in the nursery/landscape industry.