New platform Legacy Lawns launches with 5 unified brands

Legacy Lawns, a new national lawn care platform company, launches with five strategic partnerships — King Green, Purple Care, Georgia Lawngrowers, Coastal Turf and Perm-O-Green.

“We didn’t start Legacy Lawns because the industry needed another platform,” says Jennifer Jorge, co-founder and CEO. “We started it because too many great companies disappear the moment the founder steps away. That shouldn’t be the ending of a good story.”

The idea for Legacy Lawns was born from a collaboration between industry leaders and King Green, a family-owned lawn care company founded in 1987 by Charlie King. King Green grew into a second-generation business under Jorge’s leadership.

“King Green has always been about people — our customers, our employees and the communities we serve,” King says. “I am grateful to have stumbled into lawn care at a young age, to have raised my family in this industry and to have seen the industry grow and expand into something greater than anything I could have imagined. Now it’s time for the next generation of leadership to take it into the next chapter that is Legacy Lawns. Alongside my daughter, there are incredible leaders from this industry, growing and scaling Legacy Lawns the right way, and having fun while doing it.”

“King Green is our foundation,” Jorge adds. “It’s where I learned that success isn’t just revenue — it’s how your people feel coming to work, and how customers feel when they see your trucks pull up.”

Legacy Lawns partners with lawn care, pest and turf businesses — often companies that have served their communities for 20 years or more. Each brand keeps its name and leadership. All employees remain with their respective companies, bringing Legacy Lawns’ workforce to more than 200 team members nationwide.

“We’re not in the business of erasing legacies,” says Benjamin Allen, co-founder and chief systems & implementation officer. “We’re in the business of honoring them. Owners pass us the torch knowing their people, their customers and their reputation are in good hands.”

Benefits for those companies joining Legacy Lawns include enhanced employee benefits and continuing education to technology, marketing, finance and agronomic support.

Kian Capital and its portfolio company, Diamond Landscaping, have hired Anson Martin as CEO of Diamond Landscaping.

Martin has 17 years of experience leading founder and private equity-backed businesses. Backed by an engineering background, Martin specializes in strategic growth and M&A, operational expansion and data-driven decision making. Most recently, Martin served six years as CEO and board president of Burroughs, a PE-backed multi-location technology-enabled industrial services company providing service in all U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

“I’m thrilled to join Diamond Landscaping at such an exciting moment in the company’s evolution,” Martin says. “Brian, along with our other incredible founders, has built a highly differentiated platform defined by exceptional service quality, deep customer relationships and a strong culture. As we grow, our focus will be on supporting the broader platform as it continues to scale, while preserving the local expertise that makes this business exceptional. I’m excited to work alongside our talented team to build on this foundation and expand our impact across premium markets.”

Diamond Landscaping serves high-end residential clients in markets across the U.S. Kian partnered with the platform in December 2021, and the company has since completed a multitude of strategic growth initiatives. Diamond Landscaping ranks No. 46 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list.

“As Diamond Landscaping’s founder, I’m incredibly proud of what the team has created over the last thirty years and excited to see the company enter its next chapter,” says Diamond Landscaping Founder Brian Diamond.

Sod Solutions adds Australian Turf Solutions

The first turfgrass to be introduced through Australian Turf Solutions will be Cobalt Hybrid St. Augustine, marketed in Australia as Cobalt Hybrid Buffalo grass.

Sod Solutions has added Australian Turf Solutions to its network of international associates.

Owned and operated by Jessica and David Micallef, Australian Turf Solutions builds on more than 30 years of turfgrass production experience through Abulk Turf Supplies, a family-owned company based near Windsor, NSW, that supplies Sydney and surrounding regions.

The first turfgrass to be introduced through Australian Turf Solutions will be Cobalt Hybrid St. Augustine, marketed in Australia as Cobalt Hybrid Buffalo grass. Developed by Texas A&M AgriLife breeder Ambika Chandra using embryo rescue technology, Cobalt represents a hybrid St. Augustine variety. Cobalt's shade tolerance, winter color and wear tolerance make it an ideal choice for landscapes, commercial turfgrass and home lawns throughout Australia.

Cobalt establishes quickly in sod production, offering efficient farm turnover and high-quality harvest characteristics. Ideal planting windows and production cycles will be provided directly to licensed growers. Initial Cobalt production at ATS will begin in 2026.

“Sod Solutions is excited to work with Australian Turf Solutions as we continue expanding our international footprint,” says Tobey Wagner, Sod Solutions president. “Jessica and David Micallef bring deep industry knowledge, high-quality production, strong relationships, leadership and a shared commitment to sustainable turfgrass innovation. Together, we look forward to delivering high-performance grasses that address Australia’s environmental priorities.”

Equip Expo to start two-city rotation in 2029

The annual trade show will be in Orlando in 2029, 2031 and 2033, but will remain in Louisville in 2030 and 2032.

Equip Exposition has revealed plans for a two-city rotation beginning in 2029, as the show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Oct. 10-12, 2029, with shows in 2031 and 2033. The trade show will be in Louisville in 2028, 2030, and 2032.

“This rotation gives our exhibitors and attendees the best of both worlds,” says Kris Kiser, president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which owns and manages Equip. “Orlando has space for our members to host dealer meetings, provides additional co-location opportunities, and offers expanded venue choice for exhibitor and attendee programming. The rotation also allows us to work with Louisville on enhancing their unique outdoor demo area — the only venue of its kind in the country.”

The 2025 show expanded to 1.2 million square feet and drew nearly 30,000 registered attendees from all 50 states and 52 countries.

“This planned two-city rotation builds on Equip’s tremendous growth trajectory. Our transformation of Equip has unlocked enormous value for both attendees and exhibitors,” Kiser adds. “We’ve created a platform where industry professionals can see thousands of products, test real-world equipment and make critical business connections.”

Equip 2026 will be held Oct. 20-23 in Louisville.

“Louisville has been our home for 42 years — this is where Equip began. We’re proud of that history, and the extraordinary Southern hospitality the city has shown our attendees over four decades,” Kiser says. “We’re excited about the changes coming to the KEC that will ultimately make the event better for attendees and exhibitors. The outdoor space truly is a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Riverview Landscapes acquires Cleveland Brothers Landscaping

This deal marks Riverview’s 21st acquistion since 2022.

Riverview Landscapes has acquired Cleveland Brothers Landscaping, a landscape company headquartered in Corinth, New York, and servicing greater Saratoga Springs. This marks Riverview’s 21st acquisition since 2022.

Founded in 1988 by Terry and Kevin Cleveland, Cleveland Brothers has more than 30 years of experience providing comprehensive landscape maintenance, hardscaping, fertilization and snow removal services throughout the greater Albany region.

Terry and Kevin will transition ownership of the business to Riverview while the rest of the team joins Riverview’s Albany branch. Curtis Tironi, Riverview’s Albany branch manager, will continue in his role while overseeing this larger combined Albany branch.

Roger Finch and Kyle Hogan, longtime Cleveland Brothers employees, will continue in their role as operations managers. As part of the transition, Riverview will relocate its current Albany branch office in Selkirk, New York to Cleveland Brothers’ existing, and significantly larger, Corinth facility.

“Albany was the first market Riverview entered, so we are thrilled to partner with our long-time, well-respected competitors at Cleveland Brothers,” says Michael Waterman, CEO of Riverview Landscapes. “Their decades of experience, strong team and client-first approach align with our values and growth strategy, and we look forward to joining forces.”

In addition to the New York region, Riverview also operates a Southern New Jersey, Northern New Jersey and New England region.

Massey Services acquires Solve Pest Pros

With this acquisition, Massey Services strengthens its presence in North Carolina.

Massey Services has acquired Solve Pest Pros of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Founded in 2023, Solve Pest Pros has been providing residential pest, mosquito and termite services throughout the area. With this acquisition, Massey Services continues to strengthen its presence in the state, where it will now serve more than 17,000 customers from seven service centers.

“We are pleased to welcome the Solve Pest Pros team members and customers in Jacksonville to the Massey Services organization,” says Tony Massey, president and CEO of Massey Services. “Solve Pest Pros has built a strong reputation for delivering comprehensive pest and termite services to a growing customer base. We look forward to continuing that commitment by providing exceptional service backed by our Total Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.”

Massey Services was founded in 1985 in Orlando. It ranks No. 35 on Lawn & Landscape's Top 100 list.

LMC Landscape Partners acquires Shinto Landscaping

LMC, backed by Trivest Partners, is expanding its footprint in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

LMC Landscape Partners, a portfolio company of Trivest Partners, has acquired Shinto Landscaping, a full-service landscape maintenance and installation company based in Boca Raton, Florida. The acquisition further expands and strengthens LMC’s operating footprint across South Florida.

Founded and operated in South Florida, Shinto Landscaping serves commercial properties and community developments throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The company provides a comprehensive range of landscape services.

As part of the transaction, Shinto’s current leadership team will continue to play an active role within LMC’s South Florida operations. LMC Landscape Partners ranks No. 33 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list.

Shinto Landscaping was previously backed by Leykar Investments. During Leykar’s ownership, Shinto executed significant operational improvements, expanded its customer base and strengthened its management infrastructure, positioning the company for its next phase of growth as part of LMC’s platform.

“We are excited to partner with LMC to better serve our customers and provide an exceptional place to work for our employees,” says Jay Leyva, CEO of Shinto Landscaping. “Our teams are strategically and culturally aligned, and this partnership will bring additional resources and opportunities to continue building Shinto for the future.”

With the addition of Shinto Landscaping, LMC’s growing family of brands now includes Woodlake Outdoor, LMC Houston, ALM Commercial Landscaping and Cutters Edge.

“Our partnership with Shinto marks an important step in strengthening our position in the South Florida market,” adds Trey Brock, LMC CEO. “Their leadership team brings exceptional experience, strong values and a proven track record of delivering outstanding service. We are excited to welcome Shinto to the LMC family.”