The Landscaping Podcast

Growth sounds good until it starts costing you your standards, your sanity, and the culture that built your company in the first place. In this episode of The Landscaping Podcast, Shay and Zac break down one of the hardest lessons in business: knowing when to say no. They talk about why not every opportunity is a good one, why knowing your people matters more than most owners realize, and how to s...

Zac went solo for this one, because there’s a message he wanted every landscaper and hardscaper to hear loud and clear. In this episode, he shares the exact messages from the ads Landscaping Unlimited ran during the Super Bowl and the Olympics, and break downs why we ran them in the first place... To help elevate the green industry, to tell the story that most people never see, and to give credit...

Spring and summer don’t “show up” in the green industry; they hit you like a freight train, whether you're ready or not. In this episode, Shay breaks down how he’s preparing Landscaping Unlimited to dominate peak season in his 11th year as a Licensed Landscaper. From tightening systems and sharpening standards to getting crews, equipment, scheduling, and customer expectations locked in before the...

If you live in Eastern North Carolina and you’ve ever wondered why weeds keep winning, this episode is your wake-up call. Shay and Zac break down pre-emergent vs post-emergent, what they are, how they work, and why timing matters more than “ whatever your neighbor sprayed .” We talk soil temperatures, NC State, seasonal windows, and how to build a weed-control plan that matches your property, not...

In this episode of The Landscaping Podcast, Zac gets real about two things the industry doesn’t talk about enough: Healthy Competition and Business Failures. First, he breaks down why landscapers and hardscapers should be rooting for each other while still competing at a high level. The work is hard enough without personal drama, gossip, and people trying to tear each other down; strong competitio...

Shay records a solo episode from the Big Island of Hawaii and talks about a landscaping truth: Every place on Earth has beauty, and every place also has problems. From comparing Hawaii to North Carolina, to breaking down how climate shapes everything from plant choices to drainage and durability, this episode is a reminder that great landscaping is about working with your environment, not fighting...

You work hard, long days with physical labor, stress, and responsibility. But here’s the uncomfortable question: Are you giving your best energy to strangers, and bringing the leftovers home? In this episode of The Landscaping Podcast, Zac lays out five practical, no-excuses ways blue-collar men can show up for their wives and kids, even after exhausting workdays. This isn’t about being soft; it’s...

In this episode of The Landscaping Podcast (Powered by Landscaping Unlimited Inc.) Shay and Zac get real about what it takes to stay focused on the mission when life doesn’t slow down. Between running a growing landscaping company, managing crews, handling customers, building a brand, coaching sports, volunteering in the community, and still trying to be present husbands and fathers, the pressure...

Snow in Eastern North Carolina isn’t “ normal ,” which is why it catches homeowners off guard. slick walkways, burst pipes, downed limbs, and damaged properties because nobody has a snowstorm plan. In this episode of The Landscaping Podcast ( Powered-ByLandscaping Unlimited Inc. ), we break down a no-fluff snow-and-ice game plan for homeowners: How to prepare before the storm hits What to do when...

In this solo session, which is the milestone of Episode 40, Shay Brickhouse lays it all on the table, addressing the real purpose behind The Landscaping Podcast and the mindset that built it. This show isn’t here for fluff, fake gurus, or highlight-reel nonsense. It’s here for the men in the trenches, the ones building businesses, leading crews, providing for families, and trying to become better...

In this solo episode, Zac tackles a problem that destroys crews from the inside out; and that's blurred lines between friendship and professionalism. Yes, work can feel like family, and yes, you can build real bonds with the people you sweat beside... But, when “we’re boys” turns into favoritism, sloppy standards, gossip, or disrespect for leadership, the business pays for it. Every time. Zac brea...

In Episode 38 of The Landscaping Podcast , Zac goes solo and takes you to Green & Growin’ 2026, specifically the Pesticide Applicator School. This wasn’t a “ certificate chase. ” This was him getting deeper in the weeds (literally), so Landscaping Unlimited has another employee raising the standard of product delivery to clients. Zac breaks down what he learned, why continuing education matter...

Shay and Zac just left Green & Growin’ 26 with one takeaway above all others, and it's that the green industry is growing, fast. This wasn’t just another event. It was a glimpse into the next era of landscaping: Business leaders getting educated, raising standards, stacking credentials, and building real careers, not “seasonal jobs.” In this episode, they break down what they saw across the ed...

The green industry is changing fast, and the companies and homeowners who understand tech are about to win a whole lot of their time back. In this episode, Shay and Zac break down the real-world impact of landscaping technology that’s already making life easier: -> Automated irrigation systems that reduce waste and prevent “set it and forget it” disasters -> Customizable outdoor lighting tha...

Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes of high-end landscaping jobs? In this no-filter solo episode, Zac Small (Navy vet turned COO of Landscaping Unlimited) tackles the 7 questions he gets asked the most, with brutal honesty, laugh-out-loud stories, and zero sugarcoating. Here’s what you’re getting: - The craziest client requests he’s ever had (and how he handled them) - The single pie...

Most landscaping companies aren’t failing because they don’t work hard; they’re failing because the business is moving so fast that the fundamentals never get built. In this episode of the Landscaping Unlimited Podcast, Shay and Zac review four common challenges that keep landscaping companies stuck in chaos and reacting. First, the discussion hits the onboarding gap; when the season is slammed, a...

What does the “perfect” lawn look like? In this episode, Shay and Zac break down the difference between the lawn you actually want and a lawn you’ve been conditioned to chase. We discuss why the flawless, manicured look often comes with hidden costs (money, chemicals, time, and ongoing maintenance), and why a slightly more natural, healthier lawn is often the smarter, better-looking choice in real...

In Episode 32, Shay and Zac break down the real difference between a contractor and a subcontractor, and why confusing the two can cost you money, respect, and peace. They discuss how ego and emotion creep into business deals, why “we’re friends” is not a contract, and how to set expectations that protect both parties. You’ll hear what fair looks like, what getting taken advantage of looks like, a...

**GIVEAWAY**: https://www.landscapingunlimitedinc.com/giveaway/ Happy New Year from Shay and Zac and Shay, and welcome to the first episode of 2026. In this New Year’s Day kickoff, we pull back the curtain on what Landscaping Unlimited, Inc. is building next... Bigger brand moves, sharper skills, and a stronger crew. We’re sharing our 2026 game plan of what we’re investing in, what we’re upgrading...

Is it smarter to rent equipment or buy and own it when you’re trying to grow a landscaping or hardscaping business? In this episode of The Landscaping Podcast , Shay and Zac break down the real-world decision concerning cash flow, maintenance headaches, downtime risk, storage, insurance, depreciation, tax write-offs, and what happens when a machine sits more than it works. We discuss situations wh...

In Episode 29 of The Landscaping Podcast, “Laborer to Leader,” we break down the real path from entry-level worker to respected leader, without politics, excuses, or waiting for “your turn.” If you want to join a landscaping (or trades) team and work your way up the ladder, this episode is a blueprint. We talk about the traits that get you hired, keep you employed, and put you on the short list fo...

Merry Christmas from Shay, Zac, and the entire Landscaping Unlimited Team, and thank you for being part of The Landscaping Podcast . In this special Christmas episode, we slow down and speak directly to you, our listeners. We share genuine appreciation for the support, messages, and encouragement you’ve given us, and we talk about something bigger than landscaping... And that is, how living Christ...

In Episode 27 of The Landscaping Podcast , Zac and Shay break down the five core values that define Landscaping Unlimited, and what they actually look like in the real world ( not just on paper ) Lead by example, People over profits, Stand by your work, Do it the right way (not the easy way), and Always Professional (on and off the job) . We connect these values to Landscaping Unlimited's mission...

This is the biggest announcement we’ve ever made. In this episode, Zac and Shay share that Landscaping Unlimited will have a commercial running during the 2026 Super Bowl and the 2026 Olympics, hosted by WITN News, and explain why we’re making this move now. We break down what this means for our company, how we’re thinking about brand growth in Eastern North Carolina, and what we want this moment...

In Episode 25 of The Landscaping Podcast , Shay and Zac discuss the factor that quietly determines whether your job lasts for years or fails fast. That factor is the soil beneath everything being builtand planted. Eastern North Carolina has a mix of soil types that can appear “fine” on the surface but behave very differently when water, weight, and roots are involved. If you don’t know what you’re...