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Artwork for How to Hardscape

How to Hardscape

Michael Pletz
Hardscaping
Budgeting
Landscaping
Marketing Strategies
Sales Process
Cycle CPA
Youtube
Marketing
SEO
Lead Generation
Estimating
Business Growth
Profitability
Client Relationships
Knowledge Tree Consulting
Social Media Marketing
Employee Management
Hardscape North America
Strategic Planning
Overhead Recovery Systems

A podcast dedicated to helping hardscapers start and grow their business. If you are a hardscaper, landscaper, or a contractor of any sort, this podcast is going to help you professionally. Landscaping companies and contractors alike will benefit from discussions with leading experts in the industry talking installation, tools, products, marketing, business, and so much more to help you grow your ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes389Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

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Artwork for How to Hardscape

Latest Episodes

Today we have Todd Irvine talking about protecting trees during the construction process including excavation, base preparation, and laying pavers close to them.

Sponsors:

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Today I talk about how you can set yourself up for the slow winter season with content to work on for your organic content strategy in 2027. We also have two past guests discuss their strategy and how it has helped their businesses.

Sponsors:

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Today we are joined by John Warrillow. He founded the Value Builder System where they believe owners deserve a fair shot when it comes time to sell their business by helping them realize the value of what they have built and giving them the tools the... more

Today we are joined by Chris O'Donohue from The Great Canadian Landscaping Company to discuss what he has learned after 25 years in business through the ups and downs and the importance of networking with peers in the industry.

Sponsors:

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Recent Guests

Todd Irvine
Arborist and tree-protection consultant
Episode: Building Near Trees
Mike Miller
Landscaping business owner who built a content-rich website and uses project recaps to attract and qualify clients
Episode: Organic Content Strategy for Landscapers
John Warrillow
Entrepreneur, founder of the Value Builder System and author of Built to Sell
Value Builder System
Episode: Building Your Business to Sell with John Warrillow
Chris O'Donohue
President and founder of The Great Canadian Landscaping Company
The Great Canadian Landscaping Company
Episode: Lessons Learned After 25 Years in Business with Chris of The Great Canadian Landscaping Company
Greg Crabtree
Speaker, author, entrepreneur, and financial leader
Simple Numbers / simplenumberscri.com
Episode: Future Outlook of Home Services Businesses with Greg Crabtree
Mike Arnold
President of Creekside Outdoor Living
Episode: Round 2 with Mike Arnold of Creekside Outdoor Living
Jeremy Gunness
CFO and CTO at Knowledge Tree Consulting (KTC)
Knowledge Tree Consulting
Episode: Applications of A.I. in a Landscaping Business with Jeremy Gunness of KTC
Bill Gardocchi
Hardscape business owner who sold his company
Unspecified
Episode: Selling Your Landscaping Business
Mike Michalowicz
Author of Profit First; featured guest
Profit First (author)
Episode: Profit First Featuring Mike Michalowicz and Shawn Van Dyke

Hosts

Mike Michalowicz
Primary host, author and entrepreneur frequently discussing profitability and business systems.
Mike Plettts
Co-host and industry figure contributing practical perspectives on hardscape operations.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings
  • Wish I would have found this sooner!

    I recently found this podcast and can’t get enough. I own a small contracting company and we do a lot of hardscaping. I’m very passionate about the industry and enjoy learning about other hardscapers and their journeys through the industry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AMB Contracting
    United States3 years ago
  • Very Informative!

    I follow and listen to each and every episode. I’m a landscape designer based in Ottawa and I find this content and info relevant and super informative!

    Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lrathwellldesign
    Canada3 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    Love the content that’s covered in this podcast. Broad range of information based on the hardscaping industry as well as business building essentials.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    great reviewist
    Canada6 years ago
  • Value every show

    Mike brings value every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Auman Landscape
    United States6 years ago
  • A must for hardscapers

    Love the topics that this podcast covers from installation, tools, business advice, sales, and so much more! Every hardscaper / landscaper should be subscribed and listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VisionaryDreamer2020
    Canada6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Content spans finance, HR, and design-build with diverse practitioner voices.
Guests are real-world experts delivering practical strategies.
Listeners praise actionable, battle-tested guidance for hardscape businesses.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Building Near Trees
Q: How close is too close to a tree when planning a retaining wall or patio, and how much root cutting is too invasive?
The safe distance depends on the tree's age and size. Mature trees can be at risk of tipping if roots are cut more than a foot deep within roughly two meters of the trunk. Irvine recommends staying as far away as possible and limiting any necessary work to a small section of the root area.
Building Near Trees
Q: What are some initial signs of dying that a homeowner might see in their tree, and are there ways to help preserve it?
Mature trees with root damage may struggle to draw water, leading to dieback at the tips and top of the crown. Younger trees are more likely to recover from root damage than large, old trees.
Organic Content Strategy for Landscapers
Q: Where do you suggest somebody that wants to get started with creating the content and going down the route that you did?
He recommends beginning with live videos to get comfortable on camera, then assembling before, during, and after footage into a project video and writing a blog to accompany it. He advises using AI tools to draft and refine blog content, and says not to wait for expensive equipment or polished production.
Organic Content Strategy for Landscapers
Q: What kept you going with YouTube?
He explained that YouTube takes sustained effort, including substantial editing time, but viewers' support and his commitment to learning the platform helped him continue. He also learned that how-to videos can attract search traffic, while personality-driven videos give viewers a reason to return.
Lessons Learned After 25 Years in Business with Chris of The Great Canadian Landscaping Company
Q: What was the catalyst to do something like that?
A very poor financial year in 2024, a fast market shift, and higher mortgage rates reduced sales. The company sold unnecessary equipment, reduced overhead, and dropped unprofitable contracts to become leaner and prioritize quality.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About How to Hardscape

What is How to Hardscape about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on practical guidance for hardscapers, landscapers, and contractors aiming to grow sustainable businesses. Episodes frequently cover profitability, pricing strategies, cash flow management, and scalable systems, often anchored by real-world contractor stories and guest expertise in design-build, HR, and marketing. Listeners can expect actionable tactics—from Profit First implementations and budgeting debates to how to recruit, onboard, and retain staff; plus how to upsell high-value features like lighting, water, and radiant heating. A notable strength is the mix of finance-heavy frameworks with hands-on field experience, plus a strong emphasis on transparency, documentation, and process improvement that listeners can appl... more

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Which podcasts are similar to How to Hardscape?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How to Hardscape:

1. Not Our Finest Hour
2. Hardscape Growth
3. The Cost of Doing Business
4. The Mulder Life Podcast
5. Kid Contractor Podcast with Caleb Auman

How many episodes of How to Hardscape are there?

How to Hardscape launched 7 years ago and published 389 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact How to Hardscape?

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What guests have appeared on How to Hardscape?

Recent guests on How to Hardscape include:

1. Todd Irvine
2. Mike Miller
3. John Warrillow
4. Chris O'Donohue
5. Greg Crabtree
6. Mike Arnold
7. Jeremy Gunness
8. Bill Gardocchi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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