Labor shortages aren’t just a headline, they’re the daily reality for large landscape contractors across the country. With crews stretched thin and project schedules tighter than ever, the margin for inefficiency is razor-thin. Every wasted trip to a nursery, every unclear substitution, every uncoordinated delivery translates into lost time and higher costs.

As an industry built by and for green professionals, we know what it takes to keep jobs moving under pressure. Over the years, we’ve seen contractors adjust their operations in smart ways to adapt. The most successful firms are leaning on new sourcing strategies that free up valuable labor and keep their teams focused on installation, not administration.

Here are five proven approaches that contractors can use to stay ahead.

Most people think of online platforms as “point-and-click” tools. You browse, you place an order, and that’s where the service stops. But the green industry doesn’t work that way, and neither do we. At LandscapeHub, submitting an order is just the start. Our team steps in to make sure your plants not only leave the nursery but arrive on your job site, on schedule, and in top condition.

In the green industry, time and accuracy aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re the difference between a smooth install and a costly delay. Yet, too often, contractors and buyers are forced to work with outdated spreadsheets, incomplete price lists, or inventory that’s no longer available by the time an order is placed.

The result? Project timelines slip, budgets take a hit, and client trust is eroded.

With a spotlight on C.R. Nelson Wholesale Plant Supply and the people behind the plants

At LandscapeHub, we’ve built technology to make sourcing easier, but the heart of what we do is rooted in relationships. The trust between growers and contractors, between buyers and reps, is what keeps projects moving.

As the green industry continues to evolve, so do the materials that power it. The 2025–2026 landscape season is being shaped by regional climate shifts, evolving design standards, labor constraints, and growing sustainability demands, all of which directly impact how contractors and buyers source landscape materials.

Here are the key trends shaping what’s being specified, stocked, and shipped in the months ahead.

In the heart of Ohio, Intel’s new semiconductor manufacturing site—dubbed the Cardinal Campus—represents one of the most ambitious tech infrastructure investments in recent U.S. history. This multi-billion-dollar project aims to reestablish domestic chip production and bring thousands of jobs to the region. Led by Bechtel, the site is not only an engineering feat, it’s also a showcase for how thoughtful landscape design and native plant selection can support long-term sustainability and regional identity.

Behind the scenes, a TX-based buyer from Ruppert Landscape was tasked with managing procurement for the extensive planting plan. With a species list heavy on resilient natives and site-appropriate varieties, the job required careful coordination across growers and geographies to get the right mix, on spec, on time, and at scale.

When you’re taking on a large landscape project, one of the biggest challenges, and risks, is managing the plant order. Chasing down availability from multiple vendors, juggling spreadsheets, comparing inconsistent quotes, and hoping deliveries show up on time can drain hours (and patience).

You’ve got a confirmed install date, a final plant list, and crews scheduled, but one of the key trees is suddenly nowhere to be found. You call your usual suppliers. No luck. You check availability sheets. Out of date. Now you're spending half a day chasing down a single line item just to keep the project moving.

At the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ, a well-maintained living wall adds natural beauty to a space focused on healing. We recently supported a refresh of this vertical system in collaboration with GSky Plant Systems, a firm recognized for designing, installing, and maintaining living walls across the U.S. and Canada.

In the landscape industry, timing matters and so does trust. Whether it’s a large commercial installation or a fast-moving residential job, contractors need to source plant material from suppliers they know will deliver. For years, that meant relying on a familiar network of local nurseries, often coordinated through a patchwork of phone calls, spreadsheets, and in-person visits.