Company
Headquarters
UNWRAPPED
LM reveals its elite list of
the 150 largest landscape
contractors.
BY NICOLE WISNIEWSKI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Flat is the new up. “If you were flat in the last 12 to 18 months in the Green Industry, that’s huge,” says Brian Corbett, managing partner at Atlanta-based CCG Advisors.
“Whatever you are doing to be flat or up
means you’re beating the odds,” agrees industry consultant Judy Guido.
Growth was certainly the exception in 2009.
Only 33 of the LM150 companies reported
growth, 18 broke even and the rest — 99 companies — saw their sales drop.
The LM150 earned a total of $7.53 billion,
down 5.6% from 2008’s $7.97 billion. Revenue
was down an average 7.64% per company in
2009 compared to 2008’s 6.75% average dip.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is in 2010 the LM150
are focusing on understanding how a weak
economy can actually help them.
That’s Ron Georgio’s plan. The presi-
dent of Valencia, CA-based Gothic Grounds
Management (No. 54) will invest in high qual-
ity talent, analyze mergers and acquisitions
potential and develop closer vendor ties with
the goal of “emerging from this downturn
bigger, stronger and more capable.”
In this report, we present a comprehensive
look at some of the LM150’s strongest assets
— from growth strategies to employee and cli-
ent retention tips to business analysis.
For the estimated 272,450 Green Industry
enterprises who aren’t on this list, the report
is a road map of sorts. Even if limiting overall
growth to drive profit — or staying small — is
your strategy, you can learn a lot from them.
continued on page S6
LEGEND * = 2008 revenue ; + = BNE T CBS Business Network figures; ˚ = Purchased
by Massey Services in 12/09; • = Purchased by Brickman in 12/09; NR = Not reported
1 TruGreen
2 ValleyCrest Landscape Cos.
3 Brickman
4 The Davey Tree Expert Co.
6 Scotts LawnService
7 Bartlett Tree Experts
5 USM
8 Ambius
9 Weed Man
10 U.S. Lawns
11 Yellowstone Landscape Group
12 Lawn Doctor
13 Gothic Landscaping
14 Vila & Son Landscaping Corp.
15 OneSource Landscape & Golf Services, an ABM Co.
16 Ruppert Landscape
17 SavATree
18 Clintar Landscape Management
19 Acres Group
20 Luke Brothers - Sawgrass
21 Marina Landscape
22 Jensen Corp.
23 ISS Grounds Control
24 Lipinski Outdoor Services
25 The Groundskeeper
26 NaturaLawn of America
27 Mariani Landscape
28 Denison Landscaping
29 Nanak’s Landscaping
30 Spring-Green Lawn Care Corp.
31 Mainscape
32 The Bruce Co. of Wisconsin
33 Sierra Landscape Co.
34 Chapel Valley Landscape Co.
35 AAA Landscape
36 Middleton Lawn & Pest Control˚
37 Cagwin & Dorward
38 Teufel Landscape
39 Terracare Associates
40 Landscape Concepts Management
41 Mission Landscape Cos.
42 Lucas Tree Expert Co.
43 The Greenery
44 Maldonado Nursery & Landscaping
45 Chalet
46 Cornerstone Solutions Group
47 McFall & Berry Landscape Management
48 Greenscape
Metroplex Garden Design Landscaping
Scott Byron & Co.
Memphis, TN
Calabasas, CA
Gaithersburg, MD
Kent, OH
Marysville, OH
Stamford, CT
Norristown, PA
Buffalo Grove, IL
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Orlando, FL
Plano, TX
Holmdel, NJ
Valencia, CA
Miami, FL
Tampa, FL
Laytonsville, MD
Beford Hills, NY
Markham, Ontario, Canada
Wauconda, IL
Holiday, FL
Anaheim, CA
San Jose, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Marlton, NJ
Tucson, AZ
Frederick, MD
Lake Bluff, IL
Ft. Washinton, MD
Long wood, FL
Plainfield, IL
Fishers, IN
Middleton, WI
Palm Desert, CA
Woodbine, MD
Phoenix, AZ
Orlando, FL
Novato, CA
Portland, OR
Littleton, CO
Grayslake, IL
Tustin, CA
Portland, ME
Hilton Head, SC
San Antonio, TX
Wilmette, IL
Dade City, FL
McLean, VA
E. Taunton, MA
Dallas, TX
Lake Bluff, IL
