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Mostly a crap shoot but compared to most I've seemed to have better luck than most landscape contractors over my 20+ years in business. I've always had fairly small crews (2-4 men). I generally have one hardscaping crew/ one softscaping crew, in general. I've had numerous employees with 5-,6-, 8-, 10- and (currently) 13 years of tenure at my company. Even our "summer" college employees have returned for 3-4 years.
We do mostly residential design/build. Work mostly comes from referrals and return customers. Customers are always remarking on the "hard working, efficency etc." of our crews.
And my employees have always been American-born. Not that I have any problem with immigrant labor. I respect their work ethic. Just haven't gone there....yet.
...For what it's worth, here's a few things I've tried to do...
1-When you find a good employee, don't screw around. IMMEDIATELY, give substantial raises. Get them up to a respectable wage rate ($15-$20/hr.). Tell them you appreciate their effort, etc.
2-Quickly get rid of crappy employees and replace them. Listen to your key guys. If they think they suck...then they probably do.
3-We offer matching retirement (Simple IRA), health insurance (1/2 cost of single coverage), paid sick/personal/ vacation days. (Approx. 10 days-graduated- total for key employees). If you want a "professional" employee, give them the benefits a "professional" gets.
4-We RARELY work Saturdays. My guys average 40-45 hrs./ week. More overtime available but they'd prefer downtime. I don't blame them. I do to. I try to respect that they have their own lives.
5-I've always tried to have whatever equipment is necessary to make the job easier, from big to little.
...In general, show respect...show respect...show respect. Everything listed above is a sign of respect. Talk is important, of course, but it is just talk.
You'll still get your share of crappy employees but the good ones are out there. Just be sure that when you find your "needle-in-a-haystack," that you have a system (and mentality) in place to entice them to stay.
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