Akehurst Landscape Service

What Akehurst Landscape Service does

Akehurst Landscape Service Inc. is a 6th-generation, family-owned commercial landscaping company headquartered in Joppa, Maryland, founded in 1876 and operating three depots across the state (Joppa, Glen Burnie since 2008, Pikesville since 2015). The company provides four core service lines to commercial, institutional, and HOA clients: (1) recurring grounds maintenance (mowing, pruning, bed care, mulching, turf care, irrigation maintenance, stormwater device service, seasonal color rotations, storm response); (2) landscape enhancements and design/build installation (planting, drainage, hydroseeding/sod, hardscape-adjacent work); (3) commercial snow and ice management (plowing, de-icing, sidewalk clearing, blizzard plans, zero-tolerance programs) — positioning Akehurst as one of the largest commercial snow contractors in the Mid-Atlantic; and (4) irrigation installation, repair, and seasonal care. Technology stack is conventional horticultural: professional-grade equipment and certified operational practices (SIMA, OSHA 10/30, IPM, Maryland fertilizer/pesticide applicator licensing) rather than software-driven differentiation.

The business model is overwhelmingly subscription/recurring: quote-based annual contracts with property-specific line-item service frequencies, dedicated account managers per client, and seven-year service-record retention for liability protection. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales through three territory-based business developers (North, West, South) and a team of at least six account managers; the website's "Request Commercial Landscaping Quote" form and Google Reviews presence serve as digital top-of-funnel. Customer segments span commercial/industrial properties, HOAs, retail centers, warehouses/distribution, medical facilities, churches, government institutions, and (secondarily) schools. The company has pivoted decisively to commercial-only since John C. Akehurst's 2014 presidency — closing residential services and, in 2020, the Interiorscape Department due to COVID-driven office occupancy decline. The company has never raised external capital, funding all growth organically, and currently employs 101–250 people under the leadership of John Akehurst (President/CEO), William Akehurst (VP & CIO), and Jay Tarleton (CFO).

Name

Akehurst Landscape Service

Legal name

Akehurst Landscape Service Inc.

Website

https://akehurst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Akehurst Landscape Service is a 6th-generation, family-owned commercial landscaping company founded in 1876 in Joppa, Maryland, providing recurring grounds maintenance, landscape enhancements, snow and ice management, and irrigation services to HOAs, retail, medical, warehouse, and government clients across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Landscaping Services

NAICS

Landscaping Services (561730), Landscaping Services (56173), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance (BPABADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance (IMAIAIAA), Seasonal Color, Planting & Horticultural Services (BPABADAL), Commercial & HOA Irrigation Services (Large-Scale Systems) (HSAIAEAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial landscape services
• Grounds maintenance
• Snow and ice management
• Landscape installation
• Irrigation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Joppa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Commercial Grounds Maintenance: Recurring grounds maintenance services including mowing, pruning, bed care, mulching, weed control, turf care, tree and shrub maintenance, irrigation maintenance, and storm emergency response. This is a recurring service model with ongoing contracts for commercial properties.
2. Landscape Installation and Enhancement: One-time and project-based landscape design, installation, plant renovations, outdoor meeting/seating areas, drainage solutions, hydroseeding/sod, reforestation, and site furnishings for commercial development.
3. Commercial Snow and Ice Management: Seasonal snow and ice removal services including plowing, de-icing, sidewalk clearing, snow hauling, and zero-tolerance programs. Services are contracted annually with seasonal demand.
4. Irrigation Services: Installation, repair, and seasonal care of irrigation systems to ensure proper hydration and sustainability for commercial landscapes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Akehurst Landscape Service delivers commercial grounds maintenance, landscape enhancements, commercial snow and ice management, irrigation services, and commercial development installation exclusively to commercial, institutional, and government clients. The company operates three locations across Maryland (Joppa, Glen Burnie, and Pikesville), serving properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with dedicated account management and site-specific service strategies.

Product overview

Akehurst Landscape Service operates as a commercial landscaping company offering a comprehensive suite of grounds maintenance, landscape enhancement, snow removal, and landscape installation services. The company operates three locations across Maryland (Joppa, Pikesville, and Glen Burnie) and focuses exclusively on commercial, municipal, and institutional clients. Core service departments include Landscape Management, and Snow and Ice Management. The company was founded in 1876 as a rose nursery and has evolved through six generations of family leadership to become a regional commercial landscaping provider serving various property types including HOAs, retail centers, warehouses, medical facilities, churches, and government institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Grounds Maintenance Full-service recurring grounds maintenance for commercial properties including mowing, bed care and mulching, weed control, turf care, tree and shrub pruning and planting, spring and fall cleanups, leaf removal, irrigation maintenance, site inspections, stormwater management maintenance, seasonal color rotations, and storm emergency response.
• Landscape Enhancements Landscape improvement services including commercial landscape design and installation, plant renovations and replacements, outdoor meeting and seating areas, seasonal color displays, colorful hanging baskets, drainage solutions, irrigation repairs, power washing, hydroseeding and sod, stormwater management device repairs, watering services, playground chip installation, field mowing, aeration and overseeding, integrative pest management, screening and fencing.
• Commercial Snow Removal and Ice Management Comprehensive winter services including snow plowing and de-icing, sidewalk clearing and de-icing, pre- and post-storm communications, blizzard plans, dedicated site managers, zero-tolerance programs, and snow hauling. Recognized as one of the largest commercial snow and ice removal contractors in the Mid-Atlantic region with SIMA-certified operations.
• Commercial Development Installation Landscape installation services for developers and general contractors including tree installations, landscape installations for property development, sodding and hydroseeding, shrub installations, irrigation installations, fine grading, site furnishings, and reforestation.
• Irrigation Services Installation, repair, and seasonal care of commercial irrigation systems to ensure proper hydration and sustainability of landscapes.
• HOA and Community Association Landscaping Landscaping services tailored for homeowners associations and residential communities including routine maintenance, seasonal color rotations, and maintenance of common areas to create safe, attractive, and cohesive outdoor spaces.
• Retail Center Landscaping Comprehensive landscaping for shopping centers, plazas, and standalone retail locations including routine maintenance, irrigation, landscape upgrades, and snow management to create welcoming customer impressions.
• Warehouse and Distribution Center Landscaping Tailored landscape services for warehouse and logistics facilities ensuring clear access, visibility, professional environment, and operational schedule compatibility.
• Medical Facility Landscaping Reliable, high-quality landscaping for hospitals, clinics, and medical office buildings maintaining safe, welcoming environments with discreet and efficient service.
• Government Institution Landscaping Landscaping services for government facilities meeting specific institutional standards and regulatory requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 65% growth in market share under current CEO
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Elite Specialty Contractors NetworkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAkehurst partners with an elite network of screened specialty contractors for services such as concrete work, paving, and grading that are outside their core capabilities. These partnerships allow Akehurst to offer comprehensive project oversight while maintaining quality control through vetted partners.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Davey Tree Expert Company: Employee-owned provider of tree care, grounds maintenance, and environmental services for utility, residential, and commercial clients nationwide. Operates overlapping offerings (especially arboriculture and IPM) but covers a much wider portfolio.
• BrightView Holdings: Largest commercial landscaping company in the U.S., offering grounds maintenance, landscape enhancements, snow & ice removal, and development services nationwide. Serves the same commercial verticals (HOAs, retail, medical, warehouses, government) and overlaps the Mid-Atlantic market, but operates at vastly greater scale and depth.
• TruGreen: Largest U.S. lawn care provider offering fertilization, weed control, and integrated lawn services to residential and commercial customers. Adjacent competitor with national scale, mainly overlapping on turf care rather than full-service commercial landscape.

Emerging players

• Bartlett Tree Experts: Specialist in scientific tree and shrub care with residential and commercial clients; partial overlap with Akehurst on tree and shrub maintenance and IPM services, though more narrowly focused on arboriculture.
• SavATree: Provider of tree, shrub, and lawn care services to residential and commercial clients across the eastern U.S. Partial overlap on horticulture, IPM, and grounds care, with comparable professional certification focus.

Direct peers

• LandCare: Commercial landscape services company providing grounds maintenance, tree care, irrigation, and snow services to commercial properties including HOAs, retail centers, and office parks. Direct overlap in service portfolio and customer verticals.
• Ruppert Landscape: Maryland-headquartered commercial landscape services company with similar mid-Atlantic footprint, providing grounds maintenance, landscape enhancements, snow & ice management, and commercial installation to enterprise clients. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping geography, service mix, and target verticals.
• U.S. Lawns: Franchised commercial landscape services network providing grounds maintenance, landscape enhancements, and snow & ice management to commercial clients nationally. Similar service mix and customer verticals, but franchise-distributed model.
• Yellowstone Landscape: Regional commercial landscape services provider offering grounds maintenance, irrigation, landscape enhancements, and snow & ice management across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Comparable mid-sized commercial focus with multi-office operating model.

Regional players

• McGill Environmental Systems: Southeastern U.S. provider of landscape and environmental services with a strong commercial focus. Comparable service portfolio but primarily a different geographic market than the Mid-Atlantic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AkehurstLand

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Akehurst Landscape Service