Summer 2026 may seem distant, but grounds managers at institutional and commercial facilities are already pondering the challenges it will bring. Various issues shaping the industry – labor shortages, sustainability and technology – are developing. Meanwhile, managers are looking to balance costs and workforce challenges as electrification and automation initiatives continue to evolve.
Grounds managers are facing mounting pressures on two fronts that will impact decision making and summertime operations: labor shortages and tightening budgets.
“Capital expenses are oftentimes some of the first things to come under scrutiny in budgets,” says Lenny Mangnall, the marketing product manager for Exmark. “When we look at the budget, the default is often to just nurse the old equipment along instead of committing to a large capital spend.”
That short-term mindset places a greater burden on managers and exacerbates the labor issues they already experience, Mangnall says. Without enough workers available, managers are looking for solutions to maintain productivity without increasing strain.
“Facility teams are increasingly prioritizing labor efficiency, sustainability and productivity while keeping costs down,” says Jack Easterly, the global business segment manager for landscaping and facility for Husqvarna. “Ongoing workforce shortages continue to drive interest in autonomous and low-maintenance solutions.”
Managers are also taking a more strategic approach to purchasing. Investing in the right tool for the job helps reduce total cost of ownership over time, even if the upfront price is higher.
Chaotic weather patterns, heat and droughts have made flexibility essential for grounds operations. During droughts, managers often redirect crews to other projects to keep workers engaged and productive rather than losing staff during downtime. The approach not only supports retention but also makes better use of budget resources that would otherwise go unused, Mangnall says.
Additionally, managers are moving toward installing connected irrigation systems, drought-tolerant landscaping and battery tools that can safely operate in high-heat conditions, Easterly says. When selecting equipment, managers now must consider not only productivity. but how to minimize environmental impact.
“In many parts of the country this year we had an extremely wet year, so that narrows the windows when you can go out there to do grounds work,” says Mangnall. “You must have the products and the people that can go out there and get the work done in a timely manner. That is, without them working past the hours that they are normally scheduled to do, which just irritates the employee base and makes it harder to retain.”
To respond to challenges, ground managers are turning to automation and connected systems to help make operations more efficient, predictable and resilient.
The biggest shift for managers has started with autonomous and connected mowing, paired with lightweight, high-performance handheld tools powered by either gas or battery, Easterly says.
“For those commercial customers that have converted, battery runtime, power density and charging infrastructure have significantly advanced, making electric equipment more viable for full-day commercial use,” he says. “Fleet-management software and robotic solutions are redefining how teams allocate labor during summer peaks and manage their equipment fleet.”
Interest in autonomy among parks, municipalities and schools has also increased, Mangnall says. However, the challenge is how they can fit autonomous mowing into existing workflows and maximize return on investment.
“If a mower is out there operating autonomously, how do you best use the labor nearby to monitor it or handle other tasks?” says Mangnall. “We’re seeing a lot of interest from facilities that want to tie their mowers together to track service schedules, engine health and maintenance needs.”
Easterly adds that these smart systems also provide measurable insights on runtime, energy use, scheduling and more, allowing managers to optimize labor and reduce downtime.
Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market.
Ground Management: Trends, Challenges for Summer 2026 and Beyond
