On this day of R&R, I truly hope you’re all enjoying some down time and mentally revving up for 2014.

To be quite honest with you, I’m not doing any reading today. In fact, I wrote this post on Monday. I’m probably fighting off a headache from too many cups o’ kindness last night while watching “Despicable Me 2” with my daughters for the seventh time since Christmas morning.

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t want to read today or later this week, so I thought I’d serve up a good “best-of” list of LM content from 2013, in case you missed them or in case you’re looking for a good refresher. For the record, I’m basing what’s “best” on nothing but my own opinion and positive feedback we received from readers either anecdotally or via social media.

So, here’s LM’s best articles of 2013, in no particular order. Feel free to add to the list by tweeting us @landscapemgmt or leaving your thoughts in the comment section. Cheers and Happy New Year!

LM’s best of 2013

1. Applied knowledge
By LM staff
December 2013
We tracked down six mobile app-using landscape professionals to find out how they save time and money with these tools. Don’t miss the related links at the bottom of the article for a slew of other apps to check out.

2. The site visit proposal
By Jody Shilan
November 2013
Design/build expert, Landscape Live! radio host and LM columnist Shilan outlines his process for efficiently bidding on “lower end” work. Plus, a free download of a sample site visit proposal form.

3. The 7 habits of highly effective family businesses
By Marisa Palmieri
March 2013
Taking a page from Stephen Covey’s iconic business book, we honed in on best practices among successful family businesses in the Green Industry and shared exclusive survey results.
4. Native plants: Are mandates the answer?
By Gregg Robertson
LM blog
There was a lively discussion in the comment section of this post by LM’s government affairs blogger.

5. How do I get ready for 2014?
By Kevin Kehoe
October 2013: LM’s 2014 Business Planner
LM’s The Benchmark columnist reveals some assumptions business owners can be making in preparation for the new year. In fact, it may be worth re-reading all of the 2014 Business Planner content.

6. B the change
By Marisa Palmieri
May 2013
A look at two Green Industry firms that have taken the leap to become Certified B Corporations.

7. LM150: Think big
By LM staff
June 2013
In conjunction with this year’s rankings of the largest 150 Green Industry firms, we shared 13 big ideas from companies on the list that firms of any size can learn from.

8. The old college try
By Beth GeraciApril 2013
Our April cover story on young, college-age business owners resonated with a number of our readers who also started out as college students themselves.

9. 12 things high-profit companies do
By Bruce Wilson
September 2013
Best Practices columnist Bruce Wilson shares his observations from working with some of the best business minds in the industry.

10. Hiring heroes
By Sarah Pfledderer
November 2013
In our associate editor’s first cover story, she uncovered why hiring current and former military members is about more than honoring their sacrifices.