Landscape Management (LM) magazine just released its “LM150 rankings: The industry’s top 150 revenue-generating firms.” The annual survey assesses the value of “landscape and lawn care companies,” and in 2024, it was sponsored by Aspire Software, John Deere, and Weathermatic. You can view the entire list as well as read summaries and learn about the survey methodology by clicking on this hotlink:
https://go.osu.edu/lm-value
The LM150 rankings have been published annually since 2009 and for the first time, the combined revenues of all companies in 2024 toped $20 billion. Equally important, survey results reveal this portion of the Green Industry continues to enjoy healthy annual growth. Quoting from the online LM report, “The total of $21,101,241,223 in 2024 represents an increase of nearly 14 percent over last year’s figure of $18,592,575,311 … which was up 14 percent compared to the totals in 2022 … which increased almost 14 percent from what was reported in 2021 … well, you get the picture.”
There Are Some Limits
The LM150 rankings do not include significant portions of the “Green Industry.” For example, businesses involved in nursery production as well as retail sales, such as garden centers, are not included. Companies providing lawn care are included, but not golf courses, sod farms, turfgrass seed production, etc. The survey also does not capture the economic impact of businesses providing support services specific to the Industry, such as companies that sell fertilizers, pesticides, equipment, etc.
Ohio Shines
Drive the interstates crossing Ohio this summer, and the economic impact of our state’s agricultural industry is on full display. Although the LM150 does not capture the value of the entire Green Industry in Ohio, the results spotlight the economic impact of another important segment of agriculture in our state that is often on full display, but commonly flies below the public’s radar.
Six Ohio companies are listed in the LM150 with combined revenues of $2.44 billion. Two of the companies were ranked in the top 20. The six companies experienced an average growth rate of 7.67% between 2023 and 2024.
The employee-owned (since 1979) Davey Tree Expert Company, based in Kent, OH, is much more than a tree care company. The company’s website [ https://www.davey.com/ ] lists tabs for Residential, Commercial, Utility Solutions, and Environmental Consulting. The company was ranked #2 on the list of 150 businesses in the U.S. with revenues in 2024 of $1.84 billion: a 9% increase over 2023.
Divisions Maintenance Group (DMG), based in Cincinnati, OH, notes on its website [ https://divisionsmg.com/ ] that “We provide facility maintenance for customers across the country." The company was ranked #16 in the U.S. with revenues in 2024 of $2.8 million.
Schill Grounds Management, based in North Ridgeville, OH, was ranked #31 in the U.S. with revenues in 2024 of $1.3 million. Their website [ https://www.schilllandscaping.com/ ] states, “Trusted Commercial Landscaping for Every Season.”
Central Ohio was also well represented in the LM150 rankings by Fairwood Brands [ https://www.fairwoodbrands.com/ ], based in Columbus; EMI (Environmental Management Inc.) [ https://www.landscapepros.com/ ], based in Dublin; and Hidden Creek Landscaping [ https://www.hiddencreeklandscaping.com/ ], based in Hilliard. The combined revenues for the three companies in 2024 were $1.88 million, and they saw an average increase of 11% over 2023.
We seldom highlight specific companies in BYGL Alerts. However, the LM150 rankings demonstrate that we should be proud of a segment of our Ohio Green Industry that is seldom front and center in the minds of the public. Yet, the work performed by these companies is on full display whenever you admire well-managed landscapes, both commercial and residential.
