Tony Battistella: Why Human Connection Still Wins in Landscaping

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White sits down with Tony Battistella, the new Director of Growth at K & D Landscaping, to talk about how the industry is changing and what still matters most. Tony walks through his journey from park service attendant at 16 to running his own business in New Zealand, and now helping lead one of California’s fastest growing landscape companies. Along the way, he’s worked at nearly every level of the trade and brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to leadership and growth. The two dive into how AI and automation are beginning to shift the trades, but Tony makes the case that human connection and soft skills will never be replaced. They explore why landscaping is likely to be one of the last industries to fully automate, and what that means for future hiring, training, and growth. Tony also breaks down what great account managers actually do — not just keeping clients happy, but becoming the key link between sales, operations, and long-term retention. They also talk about the next generation of workers and how to build teams that can adapt, communicate, and thrive in a world where technology is everywhere  but authenticity is getting harder to find. With stories from the field, lessons learned from failure, and a mindset rooted in progress over perfection, Tony shares a fresh, grounded vision for what leadership in landscaping should look like.