ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. Lawns capped its 25th anniversary year in 2011 with growth exceeding a record 250 franchises in its commercial landscape-management network.

With 24 new franchises added last year, the company continued double-digit expansion in operations highlighted by a 58 percent increase in the total number of franchises since 2006, the company announced.

“U.S. Lawns’ family of franchisees continues to grow, bringing quality commercial landscape management services to businesses and property owners now in all 48 contiguous states,” said Ken Hutcheson, U.S. Lawns president. “Our professionals – from San Diego and Bismark, N.D., to Hartford, Conn., and Miami  – have the knowledge and the resources to handle just about anything nature throws at us.”

The company recently announced major expansion plans into the Midwest and West, including California, offering exclusive franchise territories to new and existing operators. One component of the expansion is a special no-money-down offer for conversions.

The newest group of U.S. Lawns franchisees recently completed training at the company’s home office in Orlando. The sessions consisted of classroom and field training in all areas of commercial landscape management. As well, U.S. Lawns assigned regional franchise advisors (RFA) to each owner-operator. An RFA works closely with each franchisee during start-up and provides ongoing, one-on-one training in business planning.

U.S. Lawns’ newest franchisees are:
•    Tony Diaz, Anniston, Ala.
•    Peter and Christa Silveira, Boston
•    Joseph Densieski, Riverhead, N.Y.
•    Josh Nance, Monroe, N.C.
•    Bill and Kelsy Wells, Terra Haute, Ind.
•    Matt McClafferty, Cincinnati

Entrepreneur magazine last year ranked U.S. Lawns as the nation’s fastest-growing landscaping management company.