The Commercial Landscape Industry Report: Crack the Code on Growth in 2026

K&D Landscaping CEO Justin White, who’s also the host of the Trades Talk podcast, says it’s clear that in 2026 trade industry companies will have to raise their bar or risk getting left behind.

“If  we keep doing the same things that made us successful in the past, it doesn't guarantee success in the future with such a changing market,” White says. “Technology is playing more and more of a pivotal factor around your ability to grow and your ability to grow profitably in 2026 and beyond.” 

White’s company found itself falling back on its laurels not long ago. The result was a client retention slump. He and the team regrouped, and client retention soared back up to 96%.

“For every single person that calls our company, our goal is to change their day for the better,” he says.

White examined the three primary reasons a customer leaves: 1. Lack of communication. 2. Quality of workmanship. 3. Price increases.

Communication and prices go hand in hand, White says. If you’re going to raise prices, let clients know when and why it’s going to happen. As for quality of workmanship, he says when you hire new employees they need to be trained on company standards.

Standards can never be lowered, rather, quality needs to increase for a business to stay competitive. White dives into the Commercial Landscaping Industry Report to focus on next year’s important issues, including client retention battles, pricing pressures, the tech surge sweeping the industry and the power of experimentation.

White’s highly focused on experimentation and believes that’s how you raise the bar.

“All companies should be [run] in a way where your business is the type of business that everyone wants to buy and you never want to sell,” he says.

Justin White recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included White’s thoughts on:

• [2:45] Always experimenting

• [7:52] The three biggest reasons clients leave their landscaping partners

• [17:27] The biggest hiring mistake White made…twice

• [30:46] Why technology is a competitive edge, but only if you use it right

• [43:01] The 30-minute exercise that sparks innovation

Additional Resources

• Trades Talk podcast

• Aspire

• Elevate

• Fans First by Jesse Cole

To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, or anywhere you get podcasts.