Author: The Greenery, Inc.

The Greenery is an industry leader in the area of autonomous mowers and our company has learned a lot through the process of incorporating them into our landscaping procedures. Recently, Janet DeNicola, The Greenery’s Chief Technology Officer, had the opportunity to share her thoughts and experience with robomowing with peers at the 2022 Lawn and Landscape Technology Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Janet sat on a panel entitled “Analyzing Autonomous” discussing this cutting edge technology in the landscape industry and the impact it is having on productivity, revenue and employee morale.

Janet was excited to discuss her insights on the topic with other industry professionals. She was able to share The Greenery’s process of purchasing and implementing these mowers, challenges faced and where she believes the technology is going in the future.

Janet’s co-panelists included Michael Mayberry, the CTO at Level Green and Ben Collinsworth from Yellowstone Landscape.

Collectively, the panel addressed the idea that for years, autonomous mowers were always just a “couple years away” from making their mark in the industry. But the reality is that these mowers are now widely used in North America by commercial and residential landscape companies. The panelists all agreed that autonomous mowing could actually enable crews to do more work and increase productivity.

For The Greenery, implementing autonomous mowing wasn’t the hard part, but adopting it into the company’s procedures was a little more challenging.

“Just as change is inevitable in life, we will continue to see change in the landscaping industry to provide an opportunity for our operations to become more efficient and leaner, and to produce a better-quality product for the clients,” says Janet. “How we manage our expectations and set the stage for success makes all the difference with how new things are adopted by the company. There is a big difference between implementation and adoption. Our employees are our greatest asset; as we help everyone to adopt the changes, the results will speak for themselves.”

Janet feels that there is always a learning curve doing things for the first time, particularly things that use new technology. She believes it is important to set realistic expectations and start off slow in a controlled environment for best results. 

“Getting the team excited and comfortable about the new developments are extremely important for success,” says Janet.

The Greenery started considering robotic mowers in 2017, and the first one went out into the field about 2 years later, Janet told the attendees. Through her research, prior to purchasing, The Greenery was focused primarily on safety, but price also factored into the equation. Once the process was worked out, The Greenery worked on rolling them out on a widescale.

Janet shared that in the end clients should be very satisfied with the result. Whereas traditional mowing crew comes by once a week, automowing is done three times a week – leading to very well maintained lawns. The clients will also be pleased with the quieter, less intrusive robomowers.

Neighborhoods are often quick to adopt the idea of robomowers as it gives the perception that the community is more environmentally friendly and forward thinking. Putting The Greenery logo on the mowers has been an added bonus for branding the company – a suggestion that Janet shared with the attendees.

The panel encouraged attendees to all go back to their market and figure out which properties they service might be good candidates to try out autonomous mowers – keeping an eye on the future and where the industry is headed.

The Greenery, Inc. continues to transform the landscape industry with the benefits of our robotic mowers for our landscaping clients. In addition to robotic motors, the Greenery stays in the forefront by incorporating new technology in the field like battery operated equipment and PGRs as well as with the most current, best in class, software to run operations and integrated support systems.
The Greenery’s battery operated robotic mowers are now used at many of our resort properties and HOAs that require quiet, nondisruptive service such as near tennis courts, swimming pools, bocci courts, hotel rooms and spas. We also use them to support our strong safety measures on difficult steep sloped areas and on lagoon banks.

As Chief Technology Officer at the Greenery, Inc., Janet leads the vision to implement the technology-related strategic operations for The Greenery including both internal systems and client-facing technologies. She has implemented and integrated internal platforms to simplify the processes and provide better visibility to field data as well as supporting operations to improve products and services. Janet serves on the 2022 Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference Advisory Board. 

To learn about the benefits of robomowing, read The Greenery’s blog from 2021: https://thegreeneryinc.com/4-ways-robotic-lawnmowers-improve-your-lawn-and-your-life

To read Lawn and Landscape’s article about the panel, click here: https://www.lawnandlandscape.com/article/adding-autonomous-to-your-services/

To see other insights from the conference, check out this video from Lawn and Landscape: https://www.lltechconference.com/.

Landscape Management recently released its 2022 List of Top 150 revenue generating firms in the green industry. Based on the revenue of 2021, last year proved to be another year of exponential growth for our industry. This growth is evident in the revenue numbers represented in this year’s Landscape Management list from firms across the country.

In 2021, the total revenue of the Landscape Management top 150 list once again set a record at $14.3 billion…up almost $1.7 billion from the previous year.

The Greenery, Inc. is proud to be ranked #30 on Landscape Management’s list. The company’s revenue was up 18% from 2020. Landscape Management also broke the list down further with The Greenery ranking #7 in the Southeast, #20 in Commercial landscaping, #8 in Mowing & Landscape Maintenance, and #23 in Turf & Ornamental Care. 

“The hard work of our employee owners and dedication of our loyal customers helped The Greenery achieve record breaking revenue in 2021,” says Lee Edwards, CEO of The Greenery, Inc. “Being recognized among the country’s top firms is exciting for everyone on our team.”

Landscape Management sought submissions from landscape companies in the magazine, on their website, via email and over the phone from January through May. Companies submitted their details through an online form. All LM150 information is self-reported. Editors at Landscape Management compiled the results and created the list.

Lawn & Landscape’s 2022 list of the industry’s top 100 largest companies included The Greenery at #30 with an 8% increase in revenue from the previous year. The company also moved up one spot from the 2021 list.

“To be ranked among the country’s top firms during such uncertain times is extremely exciting,” says Ben Campsey, The Greenery’s CFO. “It is definitely a collaborative effort by all of our employee owners that has allowed The Greenery to have such success.”

Overall, the lawn care and landscape industry flourished despite the uncertainties of the past several years. Landscape firms saw an 8% revenue growth from 2020 to 2021. That’s an increase of $400 million.

A common theme among all of the top producing lawn care and landscape companies seems to be a strong company culture. The self reported data included statements from employees expressing that among the uncertainty, a strong workplace culture helped them to feel more secure.

“I believe that our family-like workplace culture as well as the strong foundation we have built around The Greenery’s core values has helped our company succeed even during a global pandemic,” says Lee Edwards, The Greenery’s CEO.

At The Greenery, our core values are important to us.

• Culture of Safety – Our people are our most valuable asset
• Employee Owned – We all have an ownership mentality
• Quality, Production and Service – Our commitment to our clients
• Community Responsibility – Strong community ties provides sustainability for our company and our people.
• Continuous Pursuit of Improvement – To be the best landscape company in the markets we serve
• Growing Tradition – Product, Company, Personally, Professionally…We continue to develop our people, our company culture and innovative spirit.

While each year presents its own set of challenges, The Greenery is confident that we can continue to grow and succeed in the markets we serve with our dedicated team of employee owners working hard each day to enhance people’s lives through beautiful landscaping.

It’s an exciting time to work at The Greenery, Inc. We are adding employee owners at leadership positions in many of our branches across the Southeast – in Hilton Head Island, Florida and Greenville, SC.

At our Hilton Head Commercial Branch, we recently welcomed Gary Ostroski as the Branch Manager and he has been doing a fantastic job since joining The Greenery team. As Branch Manager, Gary is responsible for the success of the Hilton Head commercial business unit including business development, account management, people development and operational excellence. He also continues to develop long-term relationships and communicate on a regular basis with The Greenery’s valued clients of Hilton Head Island.

Gary has a Bachelor of Science in marketing from York College (PA) and an MBA from UMASS-Amherst. He brings a wealth of experience to this position working in the green industry since he was 16 years old. After graduating from college, he worked in commercial landscaping – filling leadership roles at two of the nation’s largest landscape firms. Gary relocated to Hilton Head this year with his wife, Mindy, and their infant daughter. The couple is enjoying the beach lifestyle and are excited to enjoy their first summer in the Lowcountry.

This spring, The Greenery’s Florida markets welcomed John Anderson as Regional Operations Manager for Greater Jacksonville, Amelia Island and Daytona. As Regional Operations Manager, John oversees all operations for The Greenery’s Florida markets. He also helps with business development, employee owner development, safety and customer satisfaction.

John has an AS degree in Ornamental Horticulture from SUNY Morrisville. He brings with him over 25 years of experience in landscape company management and has also worked as a consultant with Envisor Consulting. When he’s not working, John enjoys all outdoor activities including golfing, hunting, and fishing.

Martex Services, a Division of The Greenery, Inc., recently promoted Jon Korman as the Branch Manager at the Amelia Island/Greater Jacksonville branch. Jon oversees commercial landscape business development and account management, at high operational standards. He also continues to develop long-term relationships and communicate on a regular basis with our valued clients of Amelia Island/and the Greater Jacksonville area.

Jon received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina – Wilmington and a Masters of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. He is a Registered Landscape Architect as well as a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. Jon has worked with Martex Services since 2014 and has worked in the green industry in several capacities his entire career. Jon lives on Amelia Island with his wife and two sons. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, surfing, gardening and traveling with his family.

At our upstate branch…The Greenery welcomed Julie Harris as the new Business Developer for the Greenville-Spartanburg office. Julie is responsible for networking and building relationships with potential clients to generate opportunities for company growth in Greenville-Spartanburg and the surrounding areas. She is excited to help The Greenery grow and expand in this market.

Julie has an AAS Degree in Horticulture from Upstate NY, certifications from Cornell University in Turf Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Prior to joining The Greenery, she worked more than 30 years in the horticulture industry including positions in operations, sales, and management. In addition to her role at The Greenery, Julie enjoys spending time with family – camping, hiking, fishing, and kayaking. And of course, she loves to garden!

The Greenery, Inc. is so excited to welcome these new members to our team. Interested in becoming one of our employee owners? Visit our careers page to apply today!

Have you ever wondered how Commercial Landscape companies like The Greenery, Inc. choose what plants to use on commercial properties? While we do want plants that are aesthetically pleasing to our customers – there is a lot more to the selection process than just coordinating colors and textures. Some of the key factors that we consider are the climate of the region as well as soil, fertilization requirements, water, and drainage for the property.

At The Greenery, we rely on a guide called “plant hardiness zones” as well as our many years of expertise in the markets we serve to help make our shrub selections and other plant decisions. This helpful guide created by the USDA specifies which plants will fare well in certain geographic regions based on the average temperature and rainfall. (Although no one can fully predict Mother Nature – so it is simply used as a guide.)

Across the U.S., there are 13 different planting zones. These zones were created by analyzing the average extreme minimum temperatures in each geographic area – focusing mostly on what plants can survive winter temperatures in each region. Some states, such as Florida, can have multiple planting hardiness zones. They have 4 zones!

Our team of experts has the knowledge and experience for coastal Georgia, South Carolina and Florida planting zones to make the best choices for our clients’ commercial properties.

If there is a plant that a client requests on a property that our horticulture experts know is not the best choice – we are happy to provide multiple alternatives that can give a similar look and is appropriately suited to that particular planting zone.

Beyond the planting zones, it is also imperative to choose the correct spot for each plant on your property to assure success. Our experts take into consideration the sun exposure of each location before selecting plants and shrubs for that area. And there are many other factors as well – such as soil type, drainage, slope, and height of the plants.

With so many considerations – it’s important to make sure you trust your landscaping needs to experts that are familiar with your area and its unique qualities. The Greenery has been working in the Southeast for almost 50 years!

If you are looking for Commercial Landscape Maintenance Services for your property from a company that is knowledgeable and reliable click here to request a quote from The Greenery today.

The country is in the midst of the “great resignation” with people leaving their jobs at alarming numbers. Meanwhile, this month at The Greenery – we have 12 employees celebrating more than 10 years with us. While no company is immune from turnover, The Greenery has a unique culture that creates a sense of family encouraging people to want to make working at The Greenery a career and not just a job.

In a recent discussion with Jerry Ashmore, Director of Workforce Development and Safety at The Greenery, he spoke about the aspects of The Greenery that help create that “family” atmosphere that draws people to a career with the company that spans years.

“The culture of a company is the ‘soul’ of the organization,” says Ashmore. “At The Greenery, I believe our culture is very unique and special.”

According to Ashmore, the most important thing at The Greenery is safety. The emphasis on the well-being of each employee owner demonstrates that the leadership at The Greenery truly cares about its employees as individuals and not just the bottom line.

Another important aspect of The Greenery culture is FUN. This is cultivated through numerous activities throughout the year at the various branches. Some of the activities and events for The Greenery’s staff have included:

• Bowling in Bluffton
• Cookouts at various branches
• Pizza parties
• Kona Ice truck and food trucks
• Safety rodeos
• Team building activities
• Chili Cook offs
• Community Service Projects
• Halloween party with games and costumes at the Hardeeville branch and HHI office
• Christmas parties at the various branches with games. (Santa even visited some of the offices.)

“We work hard but we like to laugh together,” says Ashmore. “It builds camaraderie.”

In addition to the benefits of a “family” feel, safety and fun – The Greenery offers some other outstanding benefits. Employees are offered health insurance, dental and vision insurance, PTO that is accrued based on longevity, 401K and Roth IRA for retirement. Perhaps the most enticing benefit is the eligibility to become an employee owner through the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

The Greenery’s employee owned teams have the opportunity for personal and professional growth. And when the time comes for the employee to retire – the stock they have earned benefits their retired life as well.

“Everyone wants to belong to something,” states Ashmore. “And when you own part of it, then you take more pride in it.”

Countless studies have shown that workplace culture is a significant driver of employee happiness and often a deciding factor on how long they stay with a company. “The longevity of so many of our employees speaks to the strength of the culture,” believes Ashmore. “It’s more like a family and we genuinely care for people over profits.”

It’s the same family focus that Berry Edwards established when he founded the company back in 1973. And almost 50 years later – that focus remains the same.

“It’s not the ‘corporate machine’ that many companies in the service industry are today,” explains Ashmore.

At The Greenery, our employee owners are the backbone of the company and we value their commitment to excellence that is evident through the work that they do.

Looking for a career with a trusted Commercial Landscaping company? Want to join our team? Visit The Greenery’s career page for a list of opportunities to work here.

Safety is the highest priority at The Greenery, not just for our employees, but also for our clients and their properties. Beyond creating beautiful visual impact for your landscaping areas, safety is always on our radar to ensure that people walking around or using your properties are as safe as possible.

When you own commercial property, you want to ensure it’s safe, appealing, and comfortable for the people who use it. One of the best ways to do this is through landscape enhancements from a reliable commercial landscaping company like The Greenery. Here are a few ways we can help make sure your property lives up to your standards.

Lighting

Expertise is critical in lighting design and installation around your property. A reliable landscape company understands how lighting can affect pathways, parking lots, and driveways to make them easier to see and access. Visibility is key to safety where people walk, gather, and drive. Properly installed lighting can make all the difference in keeping your spaces safe.

Landscape Maintenance

Proper Maintenance of your property, including both landscaping and hardscape areas, not only keeps it safe, but looking great too. Keeping grass, shrubs, and trees trimmed and out of walkways and driveways can improve the look and feel of your property. Reducing obstacles and trouble spots helps to ensure the safety of those on your property. Regular maintenance of your landscape is important to help keep these issues from getting out of hand.

Why You Need a Professional

Your job is running your business. A trusted landscape advisor, who understands lighting, landscaping and hardscapes, can partner with you to help keep your investment well-maintained and safe.

The Greenery, Inc. has decades of experience consulting on commercial properties. We can help find solutions for even the most complex of properties. Contact the team of experts at The Greenery today to find out more.

There are many considerations to keep in mind when shopping around for the right landscaping company. You want to choose a company that is respected in your community, with a good track record of quality service and communication. An often overlooked, but important consideration to keep in mind, is employee longevity. Here’s why:

Valuing Employees Encourages Quality Work

Would you rather work with a company that goes through employees like sand through a sieve or one that has employees that have been with the company for years? Employees stay with companies that value them. This value is apparent in training, benefits, and the potential for promotion and advancement. When individuals feel valued, they’re more loyal and willing to stay with the organization. This commitment to the company leads to commitment to quality in their work. You benefit from that quality.

Employee Retention Benefits the Customer

Employee retention might not seem like an obvious quality to look for in a landscaping company, but it should be. When employees stick with a company, they gain valuable experience over time. They become experts at the work they do. With a landscaping company, you want that expertise in the work they do for you. Instead of having rookie landscapers doing the work, you want someone who knows what they’re doing.

When landscape company employees’ skills sets grow as the business grows, it leads to greater client benefits. The longer they do their jobs, the better they are at them. Hiring a landscape company like The Greenery, Inc., where employee retention and longevity are a priority, will yield the best results for your landscaping project.

Employee Owned

The Greenery cares about growing the careers of our employee-owners. As a 100% employee-owned company, all employees at The Greenery, from the senior management team to the crews in the field, earn ownership in the company. Employee ownership gives everyone a vested interest in the quality and services our company provides and the overall success of our company. Distinguishing The Greenery from other lawn care companies, employee-ownership also fosters an environment that draws some of the most talented people in the industry to our company. 

For employees at The Greenery, working here is more than just a job – it’s a lifelong career. In fact, our company recently celebrated the retirement of an employee that worked at The Greenery for more than 40 years! Standing in the photo with The Greenery CEO, Lee Edwards, are the three retires who made a career with our company. The Greenery is so grateful for our dedicated employees.

Contact The Greenery today to talk to one of our employee owners about how we can help you with your landscaping needs.

The Greenery, Inc. strives to be more than just a premiere landscaping company. We value our community, and each year we seek a project to “give back” to the communities we serve. In the past, we have completed projects on Hilton Head Island in Bluffton and Beaufort. It’s always a rewarding experience for all involved.

This year, as the country recognized the 20th Anniversary of September 11^th, more than 2 dozen employees from The Greenery and their families gave back to an organization that serves veterans located in Ridgeland, SC. 

On the morning of September 11, we worked to install sod, plantings and mulching at Operation Patriots FOB (OPFOB), a non-profit retreat facility for combat veterans. 

Working alongside OPFOB’s volunteer group, the goal was to enhance the property with beautiful landscaping to help prepare their grounds for an upcoming benefit concert.

At 8:45 AM, everyone paused to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11 at the flagpole.

 OPFOB operates on a 268-acre recreational property in Ridgeland where combat Veterans and their families are invited to participate in recreational peer-to-peer experiences creating a brighter outlook on their future. The organization believes that every combat veteran has a purpose beyond their call of duty and they are committed to helping the vets discover it.

In October, The Greenery will return to OPFOB to install 10 large memorial live oak trees.

We are grateful for the support of Tony Nimmer of Nimmer Turf for the donation of all the sod materials and the generosity of Witmer Jones Keefer, Ltd. for providing the landscaping plans.

You might ask what is FOB? FOB stands for Forward Operating Base. It is defined as a secure place that supports goals and objectives of military personnel.

For more information about Operation Patriots FOB, visit opfob.org or follow @operationpatriotsfob on Facebook.

The Greenery, Inc. is an employee-owned company serving regions throughout South Carolina, coastal Georgia and Florida. Since 1973 they have provided comprehensive commercial landscaping services including installation and maintenance, hardscapes and irrigation. 

Every July, thousands of people descend upon Beaufort’s Waterfront Park for a week of festivities known as the Beaufort Water Festival. It is one of the largest events in the Lowcountry that takes place right here in Beaufort, SC. Each year since 1956, the event has grown, drawing visitors from all over the country to enjoy the beauty that Beaufort’s waterfront park has to offer.

The Greenery, one of the leading landscape companies in South Carolina and the Southeast, has supervised the landscape and lawn care for the Beaufort Waterfront Park since 2011. Each year, our crews work hard to make the turf and the landscape of the park look breathtaking for the festival and its visitors.

Visitors enjoy the arts & crafts booths, the annual raft race, the bocce tournament, the concerts, and the nightly themed dinners. During the festival, thousands of people pound the waterfront park turf with hundreds of thousands of footsteps, strollers, and even vehicles. By the time the festival ends with the Commodore’s Ball, the Blessing of the Fleet, and the Parade of Boats – the turf has taken a torturous beating.

“This turf was heavily damaged and looking very rough (seen below) after two weeks of traffic from the Beaufort Water Festival,” said Miles Graves, Regional Manager of The Greenery Commercial Landscaping Companies. “Our team made a miraculous turn around in just two weeks! Awesome job in pre and post event planning and execution.”

Brandon Duitsman, the Branch Manager of The Greenery in Beaufort, along with his dedicated crew, got to work immediately to repair the damage done to the turf along the waterfront.

For the 2 weeks of the festival, the irrigation in the waterfront park is turned off. Between the hot summer temperatures and the foot traffic from all the people attending the festival, the Bermuda turf is subjected to very high stress. As soon as the festival ended, The Greenery crew turned the irrigation back on and started the process of healing the turf. On Thursday July 29, our Plant Health Care team applied a turf fertilizer and instantly watered the turf so the fertilizer would soak into the soil and not sit on top of the grass and burn it. The results of the expert services from The Greenery are evident in the following photos.

The turf bounced back beautifully and all it took was proper irrigation management, some fertilizer and attention to detail, along with the expertise and hard work that The Greenery crew puts into each job. We are already looking forward to next year’s Water Festival and hope you will join us!