Landscaping Pros Mix 4

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 15:00:47 +0000

You don’t have to spend a lot to update your bathroom and make a big impression. The Home Depot offers many affordable ways to add style and character to your bathroom.

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:59:27 +0000

You don’t have to spend a lot to update your bathroom and make a big impression. The Home Depot offers many affordable ways to add style and character to your bathroom.

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:00:58 +0000

Takeuchi Compact Excavators

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Photo: Takeuchi

On today’s job sites, space is a luxury. That’s why Takeuchi Compact Excavators are built to maximize every inch. And their footprint is just the start. The cabs are built bigger to provide class-leading usability with comfort to match. With 18 all-steel models ranging from 1 to 15 tons, discover why thousands of contractors trust Takeuchi’s compact, long-lasting excavators for heavy-duty work.

Explore more

The post Takeuchi Compact Excavators first appeared on Landscape Management.

⚡ Upgrading your electrical panel can boost safety and power capacity, but what’s the cost? Here’s what to expect and how to budget.

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:30:27 +0000

⚡ Upgrading your electrical panel can boost safety and power capacity, but what’s the cost? Here’s what to expect and how to budget.

Five Questions with Noe Loarca

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:14:46 +0000

Noe Loarca
President, Avanza Landscaping and Maintenance
Arlington, Va.

1. Tell me about Avanza Landscaping — how did you get into the business?

I’ve always loved grass. I always make the joke that only Snoop Dogg knows grass better than I do. I started working when I was 12. I’d ask my mom to take me to Home Depot so I could buy Scotts fertilizer. I think it’s the soccer player in me — I was always looking at that soccer field. Then I had the opportunity to join someone in landscaping, and I fell in love with it, and it evolved from that. We started in September 2012. We’re a luxury brand, a one-stop shop, even for commercial customers.

2. What are your goals and dreams for the company in the next year, five years, 10 years?

My biggest goal is that nobody is in the same position that they are in now. My dream would come true if every single guy — say he’s a field guy that’s mowing and weed whacking — that in a year he’s more focused on the commercial sector. I think of Melody, who happens to be my niece. She started answering the phone for me. Now she’s our operations manager, literally running the crews, doing the scheduling, overseeing a lot of the invoices. And now she’s handing some of this work off to Jasmine, who started as an assistant to me. Looking even further, in 10 years, I’d love it if my son was involved, maybe on a crew in the summertime.

3. What is your favorite tool to get the job done?

One of the key things for me is technology. We use technology to the extreme. We use LMN a lot. It’s very robust. It helps us improve, especially with analytics, and to run reports. People make appointments with us through Calendly, we send them a calendar link, they go in and find an appointment that works for them and us. When people meet with us, they’ll say, “You guys are really up to date with everything.” If they love it and I love it, then why not?

4. Tell me about your family, and what do you all do for fun?

My family is extremely important to me. It’s also one of my core beliefs of my company — no one is going to get any stick for anything that is family-related. If someone is going to be late because they have to drop off their kids, that’s fine, that’s normal. My wife, Nardy, and I have been married 15 years, and we have a 5-year-old. I think he’s visited four different countries, and he’s also been to Hawaii, Florida, New York, Boston, New Orleans. We’re all about traveling, and we’re all about being together.

5. Do you have a most memorable day at work?

I love what I do, I really do. I could go back to almost any day and say, “That was really critical for me.” But there’s probably two days … it scares me that sometimes I remember things a little bit too much. One was when I showed up to Elevate, and I said to someone, “Hey, I met you three years ago. You were talking about this and that…” and he goes, “How do you remember that?” I’m like, “Is something wrong with me?” Another was when I had a customer call in and she said, “So I’m up on 40th Street…” and she gives me their address. I said, “I know exactly who you are. I met you when you had your daughter with you, she was about eight months old at the time.” Well, that kid is in middle school by now. It throws me off that people are surprised by that, but I also think it gives people a good feeling that I actually remember them.

The post Five Questions with Noe Loarca first appeared on Landscape Management.

Mergers and Acquisitions Guide: Finding the perfect fit

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:15:55 +0000

Landscape and lawn care owners, it’s a great time to sell your business.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity continues to be robust within the green industry. Despite economic uncertainties, this strong appetite for M&A is driven by several key factors, says Jeff Harkness, founder and CEO of 3PG Advisors.

Jeff Harkness

They include sustained high demand for residential services businesses, the green industry’s relative resilience to broader economic fluctuations and private equity firms actively raising and deploying capital within the sector.

“You turn on the news and feel like things are slowing in the broad universe of mergers and acquisitions,” says Harkness, whose firm provides strategic guidance to the facility services sector, encompassing landscaping, turf and tree care, pest control, nursery operations and snow and ice management. “But in the niche lawn and landscape industry, we’re not seeing any of that. We’ve never been busier.”

And while other hot industry sectors have experienced “bubbles” and subsequent bursts, Harkness remains bullish.

“I don’t see a bubble,” he says. “I think that there’s enough capital out there and there are enough people who are aware of the opportunity that exists in growing and scaling a business in the landscape and lawn care industries.”

Selling a business in today’s market, particularly within the landscape and lawn care industry, has become increasingly intricate, requiring careful consideration of its nuances throughout the sales process. M&A experts and experienced landscape and lawn care pros — those who’ve navigated these waters as both sellers and buyers — offer five essential insights to prepare for a sale.

Myth No. 1

Succession planning is a late-stage consideration

A common misconception about succession planning — specifically, an owner selling to an internal or external interest — is that it’s a decision reserved for the late stages of their professional life. Nothing could be further from the truth.

According to Harkness, succession planning and the prospect of selling the business should be an integral part of an owner’s annual strategic discussions, not merely a consideration for retirement or the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as illness.

Growth and exit strategies are inextricably linked with succession planning and must be woven into the company’s strategic blueprint, Harkness says. He believes this ongoing dialogue should involve the entire leadership team, recognizing that succession is not a distant goal for one’s 60s, but a continuous process.

“It must be part of the ongoing dialogue with your leadership team,” he says. “It must be part of your annual planning strategy because it offers you a path.”

For Gro-Masters’ Lynn Tootle, his succession plan had always been clear: Upon his previous partner’s departure, he would acquire their shares and continue the business. This deeply ingrained strategy had long guided his vision for the Savannah, Ga.-based lawn care company’s future. Tootle had even hoped that his children — a son in college and two daughters in high school — might eventually find interest in the business. However, a lack of familial interest removed a key reason for Tootle to postpone a sale indefinitely.

Lynn Tootle

The concept of selling Gro-Masters to a private equity firm was initially far from Tootle’s mind. He acknowledges he didn’t fully grasp the intricacies of such a transaction. Private equity deals were relatively new to the “spray world,” although they were more established in commercial maintenance.

The idea only materialized when competitive offers, presented by his business broker, began to escalate. At this point, with concrete figures on the table, the possibility of a private equity acquisition truly entered Tootle’s considerations, dramatically altering his previously held succession plans.

“We got our business broker involved and had him shop out opportunities if we were to go the direction of private equity investment,” Tootle says. “It became very evident that with the dollars that (private equity buyers) were talking about, it made no sense to do anything other than sell.”

In late January, LawnPRO Partners, a private equity platform specializing in residential lawn care treatment, tree, shrub, and pest control services, successfully acquired Gro-Masters in an acquisition backed by HCI Equity Partners. Tootle remains president.

The Gro-Masters deal, like many in today’s market, reflects a broader evolution in the motivations of small-business owners. Harkness says that while owners in their 60s and 70s still consider selling for retirement or succession, a growing number of owners in their 30s and 40s are now seeking to sell or bring in partners.

This emerging model, he explains, is about strategically partnering and leveraging capital to scale, rather than simply exiting the business.

This trend centers on a desire to achieve significant growth without the limitations of a one-customer-at-a-time approach, explains Harkness. He notes this “buy-and-build” strategy involves seeking external capital, which can encompass various forms of debt or equity.

“Now what we have are owners in their 30s and 40s who are scaling quicker. They’re seeing an opportunity to have multiple pay days or liquidity events and still own and drive the business,” he says. “The difference is, they’re not using their own checkbook. They’re working with a partner that has unlimited capital and resources without personal liability.

“It’s not about selling your business,” Harkness adds. “It’s about scaling up and executing a different growth strategy with partners and capital resources that 10 to 15 years ago just weren’t thought about in the industry.”

Myth No. 2

You’re ready to sell

According to M&A insiders, a commonly held belief among most owners is that they’re prepared to sell their business. But this often proves wrong.

Many business owners, including those in the green industry, often approach selling their companies impulsively, typically seeking buyers only after achieving a desired EBITDA (or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization). This key financial metric directly reflects a company’s profitability and operational performance. Think of it as a snapshot of raw earning power, vital for valuation, comparison, negotiation and forecasting.

Problems arise when a business hits its EBITDA target, but the owner hasn’t conducted any of the foundational preparatory work to sell, says Jay Jung, the principal and founder of Embarc Advisors based in West Hollywood, Calif. His firm provides high-level financial expertise to small and midsize companies. Notably, Embarc Advisors counts The Grounds Group, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based commercial property maintenance firm, among its clients.

A successful business sale demands considerable lead time — typically six to 24 months or longer — to optimize the operation for an exit, Jung says. He equates it to prepping a house for sale.

Jay Jung

“If I’ve had this home for 50 years before I sell it, then I might want to redo the kitchen, clean up the bathroom, fix any foundational issues and repaint. Then, toward the end, I would stage it, maybe do some landscaping and then sell it,” Jung says. “And that’s how you maximize the bang for the buck. But a lot of business owners don’t do that.”

According to Jung, rushing to market means sellers often leave low-hanging fruit — untapped value — on the table. Therefore, strategic preparation is critical for a successful M&A outcome, a process for which the private equity industry has largely defined the playbook.

“If private equity wants to sell or exit an investment in two years’ time, then they’ll start doing things differently,” he says. “They’re going to maximize EBITDA. They’re going to maximize the metrics the buyer is going to look for. They’re going to start trimming some of that fat, and they’re going to really run the business to maximize the deal value. And that can take some time.”

At Gro-Masters, Tootle says he would have approached the sale process differently if given the chance by proactively cleaning up the company’s financials and aggressively optimizing EBITDA. He firmly believes that such meticulous preparation, which could have involved different decisions regarding cash flow management or specific financial entries, would have significantly enhanced Gro-Masters’ valuation.

“Clean your books up, because your value is going to be based on your EBITDA,” Tootle says. “And if your books don’t show it, and you can’t produce the appropriate paperwork to prove it, then that doesn’t count. When you’re talking about multiplication factors of whatever X-times EBITDA, every dollar that falls to your bottom line pays you that many more dollars. So, really have a mindset to build your books.”

Myth No. 3

The bottom line is the bottom line

While income statements, balance sheets, debt-to-equity ratios and working capital all play important roles in any successful M&A deal, sellers must also factor in significant intangibles.

Bryan Christiansen

In recent years, Lake Bluff, Ill.-based Mariani Premier Group has actively participated in the M&A market, completing 30-plus acquisitions. CEO Bryan Christiansen notes that Mariani consistently targets businesses with strong fundamentals, such as revenue growth, healthy margins and an established, balanced portfolio.

Beyond financials, Mariani also seeks companies with strong leadership and a professional ethos for high-end, quality work.

While economics and mathematics are crucial, the art often lies in identifying the right people, ensuring cultural fit and a commitment to seeing processes and procedures through to completion. (Photo: jockermax / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)

“Most importantly, we ensure that partner companies are aligned with our guiding principles of taking care of our customers, respecting and empowering our employee base and are dedicated to continued learning and improvement,” Christiansen says. “We’re building the ultimate peer group that shares a commitment to excellence through idea generation, collaboration and sharing of best practices. Cultural fit is paramount to Mariani’s success.”

Acquisitions are a unique and individualized process, says Kurt Bland, CEO of Bland Landscaping. His fast-rising Apex, N.C.-based commercial landscape company is backed by Comvest Private Equity. He stresses that during due diligence, buyers will place a company’s culture and team dynamics under their microscopes.

Dealmaking, according to Bland, is a complex blend of science and art, demanding that numerous boxes must be checked during due diligence. While economics and mathematics are crucial, the art often lies in identifying the right people, ensuring cultural fit and a commitment to seeing processes and procedures through to completion.

“The owner has to be willing to open up,” he says. “If they refuse to share information, financial results, customer lists, employee census … you just can’t get through due diligence without that information. A prudent buyer is not going to invest in something that they haven’t been able to perform their due diligence.”

Most buyers recognize the inherent value of a target company’s intangibles, even as they introduce a standardized, best-in-class operational mindset to the acquired business.

“We’ve learned that when you force companies to completely assimilate, they lose what made them successful in the first place,” Christiansen says. “We look for strong teams where people genuinely care about the work and each other.”

Myth No. 4

You know your true worth

According to M&A experts, small business owners often underestimate or incorrectly calculate their company’s true financial value and worth. This typically occurs because they either lack objectivity or simply don’t possess the systematic know-how required for accurate valuation.

Initial business valuations often fall into one of two common traps. Owners sometimes develop an unrealistic valuation — one that exceeds what the market will genuinely bear — driven by their deep emotional connection and significant personal investment in the business. Conversely, a business can be undervalued if its total financial metrics are incomplete, overlooked or incorrectly calculated, leading to a missed opportunity for the seller.

Bland attributes much of this to what he calls the “deep-pockets fallacy,” the mistaken belief that private equity-backed firms will overpay for businesses due to their seemingly endless access to capital. While it is true that private equity firms command significant financial resources, Bland emphasizes that they operate strictly within economic realities.

Consequently, while it might seem appealing to maximize a business’s perceived value, Bland stresses that its actual, sustainable worth is ultimately limited by what can be effectively managed and carried forward.

“You cannot pay more for a business than what that business can create in cash flow to satisfy the repayment of the purchase price, whether it was purchased with borrowed money, saved money or retained earnings,” he says. “The economics of it in a free market are such that you can’t pay more for something than what that something can return on the investment that you’ve made.”

EBITDA is a critical metric that frequently arises in M&A discussions. Its prominence is well-deserved, as it plays a pivotal role in both business valuation and the rigorous due diligence process. EBITDA enables potential buyers to accurately assess a target company’s operational profitability and its capacity to generate cash flow, unburdened by the complexities of financing structures or varying accounting methodologies. When precisely calculated, EBITDA offers sellers and buyers a transparent view of a company’s financial well-being, thereby facilitating more astute decision making throughout the transaction.

Kurt Bland (right) with
David Koehn of Koehn Outdoor in Jacksonville, Fla. Bland acquired Koehn in October. (Photo: Bland Landscaping)

However, Jung believes most small businesses miscalculate their true EBITDA. Therefore, he suggests obtaining a Quality of Earnings (QoE) report,

❄️ Stay cool without cranking the AC. These tips will help you beat the heat and lower your energy bill.

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 11:00:24 +0000

❄️ Stay cool without cranking the AC. These tips will help you beat the heat and lower your energy bill.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 17:36:53 +0000

Seth’s Cut: Office reflections and industry shake-ups

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 19:25:11 +0000

Well, hello there! It’s been a while since I’ve written this page. I hope you knew that your pal Seth hadn’t left the magazine — a review of any of the recent LM Gallery pages surely was proof of this. But, in terms of this intro column, it’s good to be back.

Seth Jones

We interrupt our usual programming for a good reason. As I tippy-tap away at the keyboard, LM Editor-in-Chief Scott Hollister is swinging out of his shoes somewhere on the back nine of a beautiful golf course in Park City, Utah, playing in the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s annual Louisville Golf Classic.

That’s a tournament I try not to miss … I had an especially memorable round in that tournament when it traveled to the Bahia Beach Golf Course in San Juan, Puerto Rico. But this year, with so much travel stacked up early in my summer, I asked Hollister to take the trek.

I’m glad I did. Even though I love playing golf and calling it work, this allowed me to catch up with the real work back in the office, including writing this page. Writing a monthly column for LM is one of the things I miss the most about my previous role, but I still have plenty of fun each issue. For example, the always-fun LM Gallery, which displays all the people and places we see between issues. I also always enjoy sitting down with a star of the industry and profiling them in my regular department, Five Questions. For this issue, I chatted with Noe Loarca of Avanza Landscaping and Maintenance.

And while I like to have fun at my work (and I hope it shows in the magazine), this issue is all about business. It’s our first-ever Mergers and Acquisitions Guide, which I’m sure will become an annual tradition.

For this month’s cover story, we called in Mike Zawacki, the former editor of Inside Business Magazine and Snow Magazine, to dive in deep on the topic. Mike has won several awards for our magazine, including a “best in show” Gardner Award from the Turf and Ornamental Communicator’s Association for an article he wrote for us last year, “Electrifying the landscape industry.” Mike’s article focuses on five myths of the M&A world.

M&A is a hot-button topic. I feel like whenever it comes up, strong opinions usually follow. I remember asking someone who had recently sold their business, “When did you first start thinking about selling your business?” Their reply was, “The same day I started it.” And then I’ve had many people tell me that they loathe private equity in the industry and hope to never sell their business. They hope the business stays in the family for generations to come.

I know of a company that started locking their front door because private equity representatives were literally barging in uninvited, claiming they had a scheduled appointment with the owner.

Wherever you stand on the M&A topic, one thing is clear: It’s changing the industry. It’s making companies work harder to stand out from their competition.

It’s a trend Loarca talked to me about in our Five Questions Q&A. He said his customers have higher expectations than they did before. And he’s glad they do, because he sets his company apart from others by striving to be a luxury service provider.

“Across the board, landscaping companies are finding ways to improve,” Loarca told me. “I tell people, you can go to McDonald’s, or you can go to Ruth’s Chris. They both serve beef, but you get two very different products and two very different levels of service.”

I think Noe’s right. However you take your steak, I hope your customers appreciate your sizzle.

The post Seth’s Cut: Office reflections and industry shake-ups first appeared on Landscape Management.

☀️ Whether you’re sprucing up the patio, upgrading your gardening gear, or looking for lawn games to keep the fun going, Prime Day is the perfect time to score big on backyard essentials!

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:02:09 +0000

☀️ Whether you’re sprucing up the patio, upgrading your gardening gear, or looking for lawn games to keep the fun going, Prime Day is the perfect time to score big on backyard essentials!

Mariani Premier Group continues expansion with MD Landscaping acquisition

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Mariani Premier Group has acquired MD Nursery and Landscaping, a firm based in Driggs, Idaho. The move extends Mariani’s reach into eastern Idaho and the Jackson Hole, Wyo., market; regions known for luxury residential development and unique landscape challenges.

Founded in 1991, MD Nursery and Landscaping has established itself as a staple of the Teton County community. The company, led since 2020 by Mike Hammond and Brian Haynie, employs approximately 260 associates and offers services ranging from landscape construction and irrigation to custom fencing and specialized excavation for both residential and government clients. Its retail nursery and florist serve as a community hub, providing plants, gifts and decor.

For local clients, the partnership is expected to bring expanded resources and expertise while maintaining the personalized service MD Nursery and Landscaping is known for.

Bryan Christiansen, CEO of Mariani Premier Group, said the partnership is “an ideal step for further expansion into the Mountain Region.”

Mike Hammond, co-owner of MD Nursery and Landscaping, emphasized the opportunity to “elevate quality” while staying true to the company’s values.

As Mariani Premier Group continues its national expansion, this integration works to shape the landscape services market in the Mountain West, according to Mariani. Industry professionals and clients alike can expect new service offerings and operational efficiencies in the coming year.

The post Mariani Premier Group continues expansion with MD Landscaping acquisition first appeared on Landscape Management.

Exclusive: Duranta secures $7 million seed round

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Duranta, a software platform built for landscapers and lawn care professionals, announced a $7 million seed round led by top Silicon Valley firm Base10.

(Photo: Duranta)

Duranta empowers the professionals shaping the outdoor world to succeed by providing modern tools that help them attract customers, deliver exceptional service, and manage their operations efficiently. AIdan, the company’s flagship innovation, is a proprietary AI model that automatically analyzes every property detail—including lot boundaries, hardscapes, and greenery—to instantly deliver precise maintenance service estimates. AIdan is complemented by an intuitive suite of design tools, enabling landscapers to effortlessly create and visualize outdoor installations.

“Our vision is to help landscapers and lawn care professionals build a more beautiful world,” said Samuel Adeyemo, Duranta’s co-founder and CEO. “And it is already working: we have customers who stopped traveling on site for estimates, and who have closed large contracts using Duranta’s tools.”

Duranta, headquartered in Seattle, Wash., is founded by a team of engineers who previously built Aurora, a cleantech software platform in the U.S. The team also brings experience from technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Airbnb, Figma and Datadog.

With this new capital, Duranta will accelerate product development and expand its engineering team, ensuring landscapers and lawn care professionals have access to top-tier technology designed specifically for their needs.

The post Exclusive: Duranta secures $7 million seed round first appeared on Landscape Management.

The MiniZ 400: 900# of Electric Lifting Power Built for Tight Spaces

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Photo: First Green

When professional landscapers need to navigate narrow gates and confined areas, the MiniZ 400 from First Green Industries delivers the solution. This fully electric mini skid steer combines zero-emission operation with whisper-quiet performance, eliminating the restrictions that come with gas-powered equipment.

At just 31″ wide, this compact powerhouse accesses residential backyards, indoor jobsites, and noise-sensitive environments where traditional equipment can’t go. But don’t let the size fool you—the MiniZ 400 features zero-turn capability, robust hydraulic systems, and all-day battery life to handle demanding workloads.

Modern landscaping crews benefit from reduced maintenance, zero fuel costs, and the ability to work in previously restricted areas. From mulch installation to material transport, site preparation and grading, this electric mini skid steer tackles challenging projects without compromising on power or productivity.

Transform how your crew approaches confined-space work with equipment designed for today’s environmental and operational demands.

Learn more

The post The MiniZ 400: 900# of Electric Lifting Power Built for Tight Spaces first appeared on Landscape Management.

Coxreels to custom build products for unique applications

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:51:09 +0000

Landscape professionals seeking equipment tailored to their unique needs now have expanded options, as Coxreels announces the ability to custom-build hose, cord and cable reels for specific applications. While the company already provides thousands of standard products, this offering allows customers to specify exact requirements when a standard solution isn’t a perfect fit.

Coxreels stated the company has custom design abilities and manufacturing flexibility from its 100 years in the hose, cord and cable reeling industry that allow for this beneficial offering.

The company stated it aims to enable landscape businesses to source reels engineered for specialized or challenging uses. This custom-building capability is particularly valuable for operations with unique equipment setups or demanding job site conditions. Coxreels also stated it designs, builds and supports all of its products in the U.S.

The post Coxreels to custom build products for unique applications first appeared on Landscape Management.

Quali-Pro launches new turf insecticide for grub and turf pest control

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:58:19 +0000

Quali-Pro is introducing Contrado SC Turf Insecticide, a new product formulated to control turf insects with just one application, according to the company.

Logo: Quali-Pro

Contrado SC has 18.4 percent chlorantraniliprole and is labeled for both systemic and foliar activity, targeting pests such as white grubs, turf caterpillars and others. The activity of Contrado can extend the period of control for annual bluegrass weevils (ABW) when used after an early spring application of Suprado. As a non-neonicotinoid insecticide, it can be used in resistance management and rotational programs.

Key product characteristics:

One application delivers season-long control of grubs, according to Quali-Pro.
Effective against billbugs, turf caterpillars, crane fly larvae, ABW and others.
Systemic and foliar protection ensures strong plant uptake and surface defense.
Ideal for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and rotation programs.
Non-neonicotinoid — supports resistance mitigation and pollinator stewardship.

Use sites include golf courses, turfgrass, lawns, recreational turf, landscapes, interior plantscapes, commercial ornamental plant nurseries, greenhouses and sod farms.

Quali-Pro stated Contrado SC is intended for insect control in turf and can be used in programs that prioritize performance, flexibility and sustainability.

The post Quali-Pro launches new turf insecticide for grub and turf pest control first appeared on Landscape Management.

Sperber Landscape Companies acquires Brookstone in Seattle

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:45:34 +0000

Sperber Landscape Companies has acquired Brookstone Landscape and Design, a commercial landscape provider based in the greater Seattle area. According to the company, this strategic move strengthens Sperber’s position in the Seattle market, a key region in the rapidly growing Pacific Northwest commercial landscape industry.

Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife team Tim and Ethnie Hawkins, Brookstone began as a full-service landscape provider offering design, installation and maintenance services to both residential and commercial clients. Over the past decade, the company has evolved into a primarily commercial-focused maintenance operation.

“We’re always looking for great companies led by great people,” said Richard Sperber, founder of Sperber Landscape Companies. “Brookstone stood out to us from day one. Tim and Ethnie built something truly special. Their commitment to doing the right thing — for their customers and their team — is exactly what we value at Sperber.”

With this acquisition, Sperber expands its service footprint in the Pacific Northwest while continuing its mission to partner with landscape companies that reflect its people-first culture. Brookstone’s team, reputation and local expertise will remain at the heart of its operations, now supported by Sperber’s national resources and operational strength, according to Sperber.

“This transition aligns the values and ideals of two really good companies,” said Tim Hawkins, owner of Brookstone Landscape and Design. “This transition gives us the ability to provide even more advancement and growth opportunities to our people. Partnering with Sperber elevates our vision for employee development, customer care and long-term growth. While our core remains the same, this opens up exciting possibilities for all of us to grow and improve in how we serve, support and succeed.”

Brookstone will continue to operate under its name with the added strength of Sperber’s nationwide network.

The post Sperber Landscape Companies acquires Brookstone in Seattle first appeared on Landscape Management.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 17:30:53 +0000

PBI-Gordon: Q4 Plus Turf Herbicide

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Photo: PBI-Gordon

Q4^® Plus Turf Herbicide for Grassy & Broadleaf Weeds from PBI-Gordon combines four powerful active ingredients into a convenient, pre-mixed formulation that kills crabgrass and a variety of broadleaf weeds, such as foxtail, chickweed, clover, and dandelion. Because Q4 Plus is an “all-in-one” broad-spectrum herbicide, it eliminates the need to tank-mix multiple single-active ingredient (AI) products.

Labeled for use on golf courses, residential and commercial areas, cemeteries, sod farms, and roadsides, Q4 Plus is highly selective on cool-season turfgrasses – which makes it ideal for use on perennial and annual ryegrasses, listed bluegrasses, and fescues. It can also be used on bermudagrass and other select warm-season turf species.

The ideal application window for Q4 Plus is June, July, and August.

About PBI-Gordon Corporation

With a line of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, and other products, PBI-Gordon Corporation is a national leader in the professional turf and ornamental management industry. Based in the Kansas City metro area, PBI-Gordon has been in business for more than 75 years and is 100 percent employee-owned. For more information, visit PBIGordonTurf.com or call 800-884-3179.

The post PBI-Gordon: Q4 Plus Turf Herbicide first appeared on Landscape Management.

People on the Move: Hirings and promotions at Costa Farms, Develon, Amguard and more

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:25:30 +0000

After three decades as CEO and president of Costa Farms, Joche Smith Sr. is promoting his son, Jose (Joche) Smith Jr., to president as part of the company’s leadership transition. In this new role, Smith will oversee day-to-day operations across Costa’s domestic and international business units and lead strategic initiatives that position the company for continued growth and innovation.

Smith Sr. will continue as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, providing strategic oversight. He will also continue to lead the legal and human resources functions, with Arianna Cabrera de Oña, chief people officer and general counsel, reporting directly to him, allowing Smith Sr. to continue shaping company culture.

“Joche Jr. has an innate understanding of our customers and our mission to bring plants to every home. He’s ready to lead us forward with clarity and purpose,” said Smith Sr.

A fourth-generation member of the Costa family, Smith’s promotion marks the next chapter in the company’s long-term leadership vision. With more than a decade of experience at Costa Farms, he has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s national retail presence and enhancing its merchandising programs across major accounts. As senior vice president of sales and commercial operations, he led teams responsible for strategic planning, product placement and customer engagement, ensuring Costa’s plants reached millions of consumers in stores nationwide.

Costa Farms also announces that Juan Rodriguez, formerly director of sales for Lowe’s, has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and commercial operations, where he will lead customer-facing strategies and support cross-functional alignment across major retail accounts, as well as leading the commercial teams of category management, demand planning and marketing.

Develon North America appoints new CEO

Woohyun (WH) Kim has been appointed CEO of Develon North America and the Develon brand of heavy and compact construction equipment. Kim brings extensive experience in leadership, sales and finance to his new role, according to the company.

“I look forward to building on our success in North America and growing the Develon brand,” Kim says. “We’ve made significant progress in recent years, changing the brand and expanding our construction equipment lineup. We will continue to grow with reliable and productive heavy and compact equipment, with the help of our more than 200 dealers in the United States and Canada.”

Woohyun Kim

Most recently, Kim served as director of sales operation and programs for the Develon brand.

From January 2023 to December 2024, he was the director of commercial planning and sales operations. In that capacity, he helped lead sales planning, product management, financial planning and remarketing. Additionally, he was responsible for opening the new North American Customer Utilization Plant near Savannah, Ga.

Kim’s career with Doosan and then HD Hyundai Infracore spans 25 years in sales, business management and human resources. His roles included sales and leadership positions in Seoul, South Korea; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Atlanta, Ga. He began his career with Doosan in December 2001 as a human resources manager.

Kim graduated from Korea University in 2001.

“Woohyun’s sales and leadership positions in the past two decades will culminate in his new strategic role in North America,” said Jaeyoung Moon, head of the construction machinery business division at HD Hyundai Infracore.

Amguard makes six key hirings and promotions

Amguard Environmental Technologies, the specialty markets division of Amvac Chemical Corporation, made six new appointments aimed at reinforcing its commitment to U.S. specialty market customers. The move includes two internal promotions and four new hires, reflecting a broader industry trend of investing in technical expertise to address evolving market needs.

Frank Fornari, previously OHP technical sales manager, has been promoted to director of sales, where he will oversee ornamentals and controlled environmental agriculture businesses. Sam Drahn moves up to director of technical services, expanding his technical support role to include insecticides and fungicides. Both bring experience from companies such as BASF, Valent and roles in large-scale nursery operations.

New hires include Eric Ham as Midwest technical sales manager, Joe Grippi as Southeast technical sales manager, Jeremy Sanderson as Northeast technical sales manager and Eric Rebek, Ph.D., as technical services specialist. Their backgrounds span leadership roles at FMC Professional Solutions, UPL Environmental Solutions, Bayer Environmental Science/Envu and BioWorks.

The specialty markets sector — which includes greenhouse, nursery, CEA and structural pest control — has seen increased demand for technical support and innovative solutions.

Amguard‘s expanded team positions the company to better serve its diverse customer base, including those in the golf sectors. As CEO Shayne Wetherall noted, the changes aim to deliver “exceptional service” to customers across key regions.

Davey Tree elects Joe McNeely to board of directors

Joe McNeely has been elected to the board of directors for The Davey Tree Expert Company.

Joe McNeely

McNeely served as president of the Plant Nutrient and Industrial Group at The Andersons, a diversified agribusiness, until his retirement in December 2024. He became president in July 2020 and previously served as president of the Rail Group at The Andersons from 2018 to 2020. Prior to that, he served as president and CEO of FreightCar America and had additional positions at Mitsui Rail Capital and GATX Corporation.

“Joe’s experience with leadership and his strategic approach to growth makes him an ideal addition to this board,” said Pat Covey, chairman, president and CEO of Davey Tree. “With his background in agriculture and industrial operations, Joe is familiar with the green industry along with Davey’s mission and will do great things in this role.”

McNeely earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He is a certified public accountant and a current member of the Toledo Zoo board of directors and the Illinois State University College of Business Advisory Council.

Weed Man appoints new chief marketing officer

Weed Man, an North American lawn care company, appointed Laura Baker as the company’s new chief marketing officer (CMO). 

“We are thrilled to welcome Laura to our executive team,” says Weed Man CEO Jennifer Lemcke. “Laura’s impressive background as a results-oriented leader in marketing brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Weed Man brand. She is an excellent addition to our team as we continue to drive growth and build momentum toward our vision of being a billion-dollar company.”

Laura Baker

In her previous role as the CMO of Home Hardware Stores Limited, Baker displayed a strong track record of understanding customers and stakeholders to drive sustainable revenue growth, according to the company.  Baker’s focus on brand loyalty and driving traffic to the 1,000-plus locally owned stores was pivotal in driving the Scene+ partnership and revitalizing the BeautiTone paint private brand. Before joining Home Hardware, Baker was the head of marketing for Edward Jones Canada, the senior vice president of marketing at Sleep Country Canada and led digital marketing at Tim Hortons.

“I am thrilled to join the Weed Man team,” Baker said. “The brand is a leader in the market, and I look forward to continuing to support homeowners with their lawn care needs.”

Within the past year, Weed Man has also appointed several Weed Man veterans into strategic leadership roles in the corporate team.

The post People on the Move: Hirings and promotions at Costa Farms, Develon, Amguard and more first appeared on Landscape Management.

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☀️ Tackle it now, thank yourself later. These small summer projects make a big difference, without taking over your whole weekend.

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Get the look of hardwood at a more affordable price with a stylish laminate option. It’s durable, scratch-resistant and easy to install. Want to see how it looks in your space? Use our Flooring Visualizer. ​ Looking for other ways to save? Enjoy free del

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Get the look of hardwood at a more affordable price with a stylish laminate option. It’s durable, scratch-resistant and easy to install. Want to see how it looks in your space? Use our Flooring Visualizer. Looking for other ways to save? Enjoy free del