All landscapers encouraged to join image-boosting effort

Landscapers can uses these resources to educate customers and legislators on the nature of lawn care.
Photo: GreenPal

As part of its ongoing work to boost the public image of the landscaping business, the industry’s principal trade organization has created a collection of materials to dispel some of the common misperceptions surrounding the green industry.

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) created this set of resources through its Public Affairs Advisory Council. The campaign is called the Root of Happiness. Its purpose is to illustrate to consumers the various benefits that landscaping and lawn care can provide.

“We are continuing to see battles at the local, state and federal level where jurisdictions are trying to over-regulate or ban leaf blowers, pesticide and fertilizer use and are doing so based on inaccurate information,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of Public Affairs for NALP. “We encourage people to share these materials with customers, legislators and the public.”

Any landscape professional, not just NALP members, may use the fact sheets.

One of the resources, the “Benefits of Healthy Landscapes,” is a webpage that lists all the different areas where landscaping has a positive impact. A video and document with the same facts can also be shared.

A graphical version of the information lists the health, safety and environmental benefits of managed landscapes, along with facts about what makes a landscape healthy in the first place.

Another resource is “Myths and Misperceptions about Landscapes,” which addresses common beliefs and compares them with the facts of the matter.

These materials can be found here and are also being shared on NALP’s consumer website, LoveYourLandscape.org.

“It is important for the industry to speak with a unified voice so the power of our messaging resonates,” Henriksen said.