Considering hiring help to maintain your lawn and planting beds? There’s more to responsible lawn care than just mow and go!
Look for professionals who have completed the Green Industries Best Management Practices training program. These companies and individuals have gone the extra mile to learn how to protect the environment while keeping your landscape looking its best.
The UF | IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping website explains that, “The GI-BMPs are a science-based educational program for Green Industry workers (lawn-care and landscape maintenance professionals) that teach environmentally safe landscaping practices that help conserve and protect Florida’s ground and surface waters. They can also save the Florida homeowner money, time, and effort; increase the beauty of the home landscape; and protect the health of your family, pets, and the environment.
Florida Statute 482.1562 states that all commercial fertilizer applicators must have a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by January 1, 2014. To get this license, each Green Industry worker must be trained in the GI-BMPs and receive a certificate of completion from UF/IFAS and FDEP. Additionally, many non-commercial Green Industry applicators or other workers are required to pass the training by local ordinances or voluntarily participate in the program to better serve their clients.”
So when you’re considering who to hire, ask whether they’ve been trained in Green Industry BMPs, and be sure to Pick a Pro! Click HERE to find a list of trained professionals in your area.
Green Industry professionals can find training opportunities here: Green Industries BMP Training Schedule
