The Edge March/April/May 2026

î COVER STORY

The STATE of RECRUITING

What It Takes to Find and Attract Today’s Workforce By Jill Odom

ANYONE IN THE INDUSTRY CAN TELL YOU THERE’S NO SILVER BULLET TO recruiting. Yet as the hiring market evolves, your recruiting strategy must change as well. Successful recruiting today requires a combination of intentional sourcing, clearly defined candidate criteria, and benefits that align with how today’s workforce evaluates employers.

their expectations and values, leading to a better long-term fit. John Bosch, VP of operations for Virginia Green, based in Richmond, Virginia, says they also find the best candidates with employee referrals. Bosch says depending on the time of the year, their referral bonus ranges from $250 to $1,000. He says they pride themselves on how they invest in employee development, provide a positive work environment for all and continue to innovate. While job boards remain a necessary tool for recruiting, several companies note that brand recognition increasingly impacts candidate quality. “This is why having a well-thought-out and clear employer value proposition is so important,”says Heather Reitano, senior re cruiting manager for The Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio. “This lets candidates know exactly what they can expect from you as an employ-

most successful recruiting methods remains employee referrals. However, having a strong company culture and understanding your value proposition are necessary for this tactic to be effective. “The best employees for landscaping come from within,” says Elizabeth Elliott, owner of Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center, based in Pasadena, Maryland. “When we need a new crew member, we just say, ‘Hey, find your next coworker,’ and it works well. We have family units, and it works just fine for us.” Milanes adds that employee referrals create a natural alignment between new hires and the culture from day one. These individuals tend to already understand

Katelyn Milanes, director of culture and employee engagement for Fisk Lawnscapes, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, recommends leaning into your unique differentiators. “Candidates want to know that their work matters and that they’re part of something bigger than just a paycheck,” Milanes says. “Companies that clearly communicate their purpose and show they genuinely care about their people will attract employees who are engaged, committed, and aligned with their culture.” WHERE ARE LANDSCAPE COMPANIES ACTUALLY FINDING TALENT? Across company sizes, one of the

22 The Edge // March/April/May 2026