Scientific Plant Service
Scientific Plant Service is a privately held Maryland plant healthcare company, founded in 1957 and owned since 1975, that provides IPM-based lawn, tree/shrub, pest, aquatics, and athletic field services to residential and commercial/institutional clients across Central Maryland and Northern Virginia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Scientific Plant Service does
Scientific Plant Service, Inc. (SPS) is a Maryland-based, privately held plant healthcare company founded in 1957 by University of Maryland entomologist Frank J. Burke, and owned since 1975 by Ken Mays. The firm specializes exclusively in chemical and biological plant healthcare, having abandoned mowing, pruning, and mulching in 1978 to focus on lawn care, tree and shrub care, pest control, aquatic management, and athletic field management across Central Maryland and Northern Virginia. Its service portfolio is built around integrated pest management (IPM) protocols, soil-test-driven custom fertilization, exclusive use of POLYON controlled-release fertilizers, a proprietary 12-24-24 deep root blend, and specialized mechanical equipment including Redexim Charterhouse VERTI-DRAIN deep-tine aerators and a Verti-Top synthetic turf cleaning system.
SPS serves two primary customer segments: residential property owners (lawn, tree/shrub, deer/flea/tick/mosquito/rodent/mole programs delivered as recurring subscriptions) and commercial/institutional clients including schools, colleges, athletic facilities, corporate campuses, and government agencies (EPA, Social Security Administration, MTA). Programs are sold via free on-site evaluations, phone-based quotes, and online forms, and are delivered by Maryland Department of Agriculture certified applicators and licensed arborists certified in MD, PA, and VA. The company also acts as a specialized subcontractor to peer landscape contractors such as Akehurst, McHale Landscape & Design, G.W. Shaneybrook, and others, extending its geographic reach into Southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and DC suburbs.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring multi-visit annual programs (e.g., Basic 1-2-3 Weed & Feed with season-long guarantees), per-visit specialized services, and commercial contracts. The company has grown organically and through tuck-in acquisitions of competitor routes (Maryland Lawn Keeper, Arbormasters, R.A.R. Landscape Services) over multiple decades, while maintaining a flat organizational structure of 11-50 employees operating from an owned headquarters in Baltimore's Bare Hills Business Park. There is no external institutional investment, and the company remains an independently operated, founder-to-employee-owned regional services business.
Scientific Plant Service firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scientific Plant Service
- Legal name
- Scientific Plant Service, Inc.
- Website
- https://spsonline.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Scientific Plant Service is a privately held Maryland plant healthcare company, founded in 1957 and owned since 1975, that provides IPM-based lawn, tree/shrub, pest, aquatics, and athletic field services to residential and commercial/institutional clients across Central Maryland and Northern Virginia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scientific Plant Service industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Landscape Healthcare Services
- NAICS
- Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tree & Shrub Fertilization & Plant Health Care (PHC) (HSAIAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization) (HSAIADAD), Pruning, Deadheading & Plant Health Maintenance (Non-tree) (HSAIAFAI)
Keywords
Where Scientific Plant Service is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Scientific Plant Service business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Residential Lawn Care Services: Recurring lawn care programs including Basic 1-2-3 Weed & Feed, grub control, disease management, and cultural practices. Programs delivered through scheduled service visits with season-long guarantees.
- Tree and Shrub Care Services: Deep root fertilization, ornamental programs, preventive disease treatments, high-pressure applications, and sprayless treatments for trees and shrubs. Includes annual care programs and as-needed services.
- Athletic Field Management: Full-service natural and synthetic athletic turf management including aeration, custom spraying, fertilization, grading, sodding, infield maintenance. Serves schools, colleges, and municipal facilities.
- Aquatics Management: Professional aquatic management for ornamental ponds, farm ponds, lakes, and detention ponds including algae control, vegetation management, and phragmites control.
- Pest Control Services: Deer repellent, flea and tick control, mosquito control, mole control, and rodent control services for residential and commercial properties.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Customized care programs based on property evaluation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Scientific Plant Service product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scientific Plant Service is a Maryland-based landscape healthcare company that delivers on-site lawn care, athletic field management, pest control, aquatic management, tree and shrub care, and snow management services to residential and commercial/institutional clients across central Maryland and Northern Virginia. Its offerings are built around integrated pest management (IPM), POLYON controlled-release fertilizer programs, licensed arborist diagnostics, and specialized application equipment.
Product overview
Scientific Plant Service is a lawn care and landscape healthcare company serving central Maryland since 1957. The company operates as a service-based business offering a comprehensive portfolio of integrated landscape management solutions organized into distinct service categories. Core offerings include Lawn Care (with sub-services Basic 1-2-3 Weed & Feed, Crucial Cultural Tools, Grubs and Insects, Nutrient Management & Soil Testing, and Turf Disease Control), Aquatic Management (Algae Control, Phragmites Control, Vegetation Control, Canada Geese Control, Shades and Dyes), Athletic Field Management (Natural Turf and Synthetic Turf maintenance), Shrub & Tree Care (Deep Root Fertilization, Ornamental Program, Preventive Disease Treatments, High Pressure Applications, Sprayless Treatments), and Pest Control (Deer Repellent, Flea and Tick, Mosquito, Rodent, and Mole Control). The company differentiates itself through exclusive use of POLYON controlled-release fertilizers, specialized equipment (VERTIDRAIN deep-tine aerators, JOHN DEERE AEROCORE, Verti-Top synthetic turf cleaners), and IPM-based approaches. Services are backed by licensed arborists and certified diagnosticians serving Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lawn Care Comprehensive lawn care programs built around Maryland soils, grass types, and weather patterns, including POLYON-based fertilization, crabgrass and broadleaf weed control, grub and turf insect management, soil testing, and turf disease treatment. Targeted at residential homeowners and commercial properties with season-long guarantees on qualifying programs.
- Shrub and Tree Care
Quantifiable outcome
- 7-15% home value increase with healthy landscape
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Scientific Plant Service
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Scientific Plant Service technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Scientific Plant Service partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- R.A.R. Landscape ServicesminorAcquired client list in 2004 when R.A.R. Landscape Services transitioned their business.
- Maryland Lawn Keeper, Inc.coreTook over lawn care route in 2001 through agreement with retiring owner. Expanded service territory and customer base.
- Memorial Stadium / CFL StallionscoreSolicited in 1994 to manage Memorial Stadium, opening door to sports turf management field. Expanded to serve numerous athletic facilities from high schools to colleges to municipal properties.
- Maryland Department of Natural ResourcescoreWorked with MD DNR in Cecil and Harford Counties on wetlands restoration, riding wetlands of woody growth to restore marsh habitat for Bog Turtle conservation.
- ARC of BaltimorecoreLong-term partnership since the 1970s. ARC provides landscape maintenance training for citizens with developmental disabilities. SPS treats properties ARC manages including Social Security Admin (Woodlawn), EPA @ Ft. Meade, MTA properties. SPS serves as lead sponsor of ARC's celebrity golf tournament.
- Akehurst Landscape Service, Inc.coreSince mid-1970s, Akehurst contracts SPS for pesticide applications on various maintenance contract sites in Baltimore and Harford Counties. Ongoing relationship for lawn care, tree & shrub, and aquatic services.
- G.W. Shaneybrook & SonminorLong-standing relationship since late 1970s. Grounds management services partnership continuing with current generation of family business.
- McHale Landscape & Design, Inc.corePremier contractor partnership for Southern MD and Eastern Shore services, expanding to DC suburbs. SPS performs specialized services for McHale's landscape contracts.
- Alpha MaintenanceminorLandscape maintenance contractor partnership for property services in Baltimore and Harford Counties.
- Delmarva Grounds MaintenanceminorGround maintenance contractor partnership for services on managed properties.
- Outside Unlimited, Inc.minorLandscape maintenance services partnership.
- Rhine Lawn Care & LandscapingminorHoward County landscape contractor partnership for property services.
- EPA (Ft. Meade)coreEPA facility at Ft. Meade is among the company's client base, receiving landscape healthcare services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Scientific Plant Service competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Weed Man USA:
- Bartlett Tree Experts: Bartlett is a premier tree care company offering arboriculture, plant health care, and tree/shrub services with multi-state coverage and certified arborists, directly comparable to SPS's tree and shrub care specialization and deep root fertilization services.
- SavATree: SavATree provides tree, shrub, and lawn care services with a science-based approach including integrated pest management and plant health care programs. Directly comparable to SPS's IPM-based plant healthcare model and certified arborist staffing.
Broad incumbents
- Davey Tree Expert Company: Davey Tree is one of North America's largest tree care companies offering residential and commercial tree care, plant health care, and landscape services. Comparable to SPS in plant health care philosophy but operates at significantly larger scale across more geographies.
- TruGreen: TruGreen is the largest national residential lawn care company, offering fertilization, weed control, and pest management services directly comparable to SPS's core lawn care programs, though at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Scientific Plant Service social profiles
Digital presenceScientific Plant Service financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scientific Plant Service leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Scientific Plant Service funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scientific Plant Service M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scientific Plant Service
What does Scientific Plant Service do?
Scientific Plant Service is a Maryland-based landscape healthcare company that delivers on-site lawn care, athletic field management, pest control, aquatic management, tree and shrub care, and snow management services to residential and commercial/institutional clients across central Maryland and Northern Virginia. Its offerings are built around integrated pest management (IPM), POLYON controlled-release fertilizer programs, licensed arborist diagnostics, and specialized application equipment.
Is Scientific Plant Service a public or private company?
Scientific Plant Service is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Scientific Plant Service founded?
Scientific Plant Service was founded in 1957. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Scientific Plant Service based?
Scientific Plant Service is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Scientific Plant Service make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Residential Lawn Care Services are the primary driver. The others are tree and Shrub Care Services, athletic Field Management, aquatics Management and pest Control Services.
Who are Scientific Plant Service's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Weed Man USA, Bartlett Tree Experts and SavATree. Broad incumbents are Davey Tree Expert Company and TruGreen.
Does Scientific Plant Service have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scientific Plant Service.
What industry is Scientific Plant Service in?
Scientific Plant Service's product category is Landscape Healthcare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIAGAG, Tree & Shrub Fertilization & Plant Health Care (PHC), with a secondary code of HSAIADAD, Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization). Its NAICS code is 115112 and its SIC code is 700.