Before you break ground on your next job, make sure you’re not putting lives — or your business — at risk. In this episode, we’re joined by Jean Lépine, chief strategy officer at Ontario One Call, to talk about the critical importance of getting your locates before you dig. Whether you're planting a tree, building a patio or trenching for irrigation, striking underground infrastructure like gas lines or telecom cables can have serious consequences. Jean breaks down what every landscaper needs to know to stay safe, avoid costly delays and stay on the right side of the law. If you want to protect your crew, your clients and your reputation, you'll want to dig into this episode.
Resources
Episode Transcription
Courses:
Groundwork
Know Risk
Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance
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40:12
Safety First:
Safety is the name of the game in this episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast. Peter Guinane joins me to talk about the importance of jobsite safety. With nearly 40 years in the industry, Peter has developed a strong safety culture at Oriole Landscaping so it’s top of mind every single day. And as we are on the cusp of the 2025 spring rush for landscapers, there’s no better time to pause and consider the safety culture at your company. Whether you’re a business owner, a supervisor or a brand new hire, everyone plays a role in keeping a workplace safe. And not just for yourself, but for your crew mates, too. So listen in and find out what some of the most common injuries on a landscape jobsite are and what to do if an inspector comes around. You might want to share this with your teammates, too, because it never hurts to get a refresher on safety.
Resources
Episode Transcription
Oriole Landscaping
Landscape Ontario training and professional development
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44:24
Get better first:
Get better before you grow is the advice from this episode’s guest, George Uvari. The landscaping veteran turned business consultant talks about saving time and money by outsourcing certain tasks, the value of understanding personality types, finding peace and harmony, and attracting luck to your business. George believes it’s possible for business owners to reclaim time, reduce stress and even have fun running a successful company by shifting priorities from profit to people and processes. If you’re ready to work smarter, not harder, then take some time to learn from this episode of the Landscape Ontario Podcast.
Resources
Episode Transcription
Knowledge Tree Consulting
Oriole Landscaping
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
The Game with Alex Hormozi podcast
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44:30
Finding clarity:
In this episode of the Landscape Ontario podcast, we dive into some of the biggest challenges faced by landscaping professionals — how to price jobs profitably, avoid costly mistakes and overcome the mental blocks that can hold you back. Our guest Weston Zimmerman, CEO of SynkedUP, joins us to share actionable advice on job costing, managing overhead and finding clarity to help you grow your business. Whether you’re struggling with unbillable time or feeling stuck in "entrepreneurial poverty," Weston’s insights will leave you inspired and ready to take control of your business.
Resources
Episode Transcription
SynkedUP
How to price my job video course
Labour Rate Calculator
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51:10
Inside scoop:
In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the niche sector of interior plantscaping.
While lots of landscapers like you might spend much of your time outdoors, many people, including your clients, friends and family, work indoors, surrounded by screens, cubicles and walls that could use a little life. That’s where Hella Keppo comes in. Hella is the founder of Stems Interior Landscaping, a thriving business that brings lush, tropical plants into work spaces throughout the Toronto area. Her mission? To help reconnect people with nature — even if it’s within the walls of an office building.
Let’s dive into the world of interior plantscaping with Hella Keppo, as she shares her journey, insights, challenges and skills needed to be successful in this niche sector.
Resources
Episode Transcription
Stems Interior Landscaping Inc: www.stems.ca
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@stemsinteriorlandscaping
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StemsInteriorLandscapingInc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stems_interior_landscaping
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stems-interior-landscaping-inc/
Interiorscape:
Green Plants for Green Buildings: https://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/
National Interiorscape Network: https://interiorscapenetwork.com/
TPIE (Tropical Plant International Expo): https://tpie2025.smallworldlabs.com/education
Nich (National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture) Infographics of plant benefits: https://consumerhort.org/plantsdothat-3/
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing):
ANFT (Association of Nature & Forest Therapy): https://anft.earth/
Article by Roger Ong about the tour in Japan: https://zenbird.media/shinrin-yoku-connections-with-the-forest-its-past-and-our-future/
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