The Lawn Care Grow Show

Answering Every Call: How Cortez Lawn Care Grew a Full-Service Operation in San Antonio

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:00:24 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Christopher Cortez of Cortez Lawn Care in San Antonio, Texas about how he turned a one‑man mowing operation into a multi‑truck, full‑service lawn and landscape company by saying “yes” to customer needs and then figuring out how to deliver. Christopher shares how his team now handles everything from weekly mowing, edging, and cleanups to tree trimming, xeriscaping, sod and plant installs, concrete work, fencing, pressure washing, and even parking lot striping and handicap sign installs for commercial clients. He explains why he insists on visiting every job in person with a measuring wheel and the right specialist (masonry, irrigation, etc.) to build accurate bids, how years in construction help him estimate dump trips, labor hours, and materials, and why his crews are divided so some focus on commercial maintenance while others handle more complex project work. You’ll also hear how he grew from worrying about surviving six months to landing larger commercial contracts, what he’d do today to get his first 10–20 accounts (hint: get your Google presence right so customers call you), and the simple habits—answering the phone, being transparent on timing and pricing, making payment easy—that have earned him a stream of five‑star reviews and a phone that “vibrates all day.”

What you’ll learn on this episode:

The range of services Cortez Lawn Care offers, from basic mowing to xeriscape, tree work, concrete, fences, and parking lot striping
How Christopher structures his six‑person team so some handle commercial upkeep while others rotate through project work
His in‑person estimating process: measuring wheel, trade‑specific partners, and detailed bids built in an app instead of guessing from photos
Why he believes you can’t be a “one‑trick pony” if you want to grow—and how he decides which new services to add
The mindset shift from hoping to get “a couple residentials” to pursuing and winning larger commercial contracts
What he’d focus on if starting today: building a strong Google and local online presence so leads come to you instead of door‑knocking
The crucial role of responsiveness in this industry and why he treats every incoming call as a potential game‑changer
How making things easy for customers—clear communication, flexible payment options, and photo updates—naturally leads to great reviews

From Overgrown to Outstanding: Building a Curb‑Appeal Focused Lawn Business

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:00:37 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Jonathan Bohnstadt of Positive Lawn Care Solutions in Collinsville, Illinois about how he’s built a curb‑appeal‑driven lawn business that specializes in full cleanups and weekly maintenance while championing entrepreneurship for the people who work with him. Jonathan shares how his company focuses on making properties “look as good as they can from the street” through weekly and bi‑weekly mowing, trimming, overgrowth removal, hedge and bush care, and one‑time full‑yard cleanups, and how he recently added snow removal to turn a seven‑month season (April through September) into a year‑round revenue stream. He explains why he tracks every incoming call and contact in spreadsheets so he can market winter services to past and prospective clients, how he’s grown from solo operator in 2017 to working alongside his nephew while still bringing in acquaintances for work and using those jobs to teach them the basics of running their own business. You’ll also hear his philosophy on trading the certainty of a paycheck for the freedom of signing your own checks, the mindset shifts and after‑hours paperwork that come with that choice, and how clear, honest communication with customers is the foundation behind his stack of five‑star reviews.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

What Positive Lawn Care Solutions actually does: full cleanups, trimming, overgrowth removal, and weekly/bi‑weekly mowing
How Jonathan stretches an April–September mowing season by adding snow removal and winter work
Why he meticulously tracks every call and contact so he can market both summer and winter services to the same audience
His journey from solo operator (since 2017) to working with his nephew and short‑term helpers while mentoring them toward entrepreneurship
Jonathan’s take on the trade‑off between a traditional job and running a business—and why he still believes “signing your own checks” is worth it
The additional, often unseen work of business ownership: bookkeeping, tracking expenses, and adapting to challenges on the fly
How a 20‑mile service radius around Collinsville helps him stay efficient while still reaching enough homes to grow
The communication practices he credits for his reviews: being transparent about what he’ll do, setting expectations clearly, and staying in touch throughout each job

Mowing to More: How a Fort Worth Solo Operator Built a Steady 80/20 Lawn Business

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:00:26 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Bobby Conley of Lawn More in Fort Worth, Texas about how he turned years of part‑time mowing into a steady, repeatable business that’s now about 80% recurring lawn maintenance and 20% higher‑ticket project work. Bobby explains how he keeps his core service simple—weekly and bi‑weekly mowing, edging, hedge and shrub trimming, light tree work, and seasonal cleanups—while slotting in landscaping projects, flower bed makeovers, and design work mainly in the fall and winter when grass growth slows. He shares how he first built his customer base with low‑budget tactics like flyers and business cards, then layered on a basic website, social media, and paid online marketing to bring in consistent leads, and why COVID briefly slowed demand when people were home doing their own yards before things rebounded and “took off” again. You’ll also hear his plans to add licensed irrigation work in response to customer requests, how he upsells existing mowing clients into pruning and tree jobs by simply pointing out what he can help with, and his advice to new owners on combining a solid online presence with on‑property conversations to fill an initial route.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

What Lawn More offers today: recurring lawn maintenance, hedge and tree trimming, flower bed design, and general landscaping
How Bobby balances his work mix at roughly 80% mowing and maintenance and 20% projects that fit best into fall and winter
The simple marketing steps he used to get started: flyers, business cards, and then graduating to a website and social media
How adding online advertising and maps listings now keeps the phone ringing with fresh leads
The way he identifies and offers add‑on work (hedges, trees, bed cleanups) to existing mowing customers without being pushy
How COVID briefly shifted demand as more homeowners did their own yards, and why business surged again afterward
Why he’s considering getting an irrigation license to meet frequent customer requests and expand his service lineup
Bobby’s advice for new lawn care owners in 2026: invest early in your online presence, market locally, and price projects by complexity, not just hours

Dialing In Route Density: How Leaf Green Lawn Care Grows Smart in Chicago

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:00:26 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Emilio Gallegos of Leaf Green Lawn Care in Chicago about how he’s building a tight, profitable operation by combining recurring lawn care with carefully selected landscaping projects—and then ruthlessly tightening his service area for maximum route density. Emilio shares how his team focuses on core services like mowing, fertilization, lawn treatments, and seasonal cleanups, then layers in higher‑value work such as new garden bed installs, planting, sod replacement, and small retaining walls (kept to three courses and under to stay efficient and sub out the heavy structural work). He explains why, after initially taking anything within a 40‑minute drive, he now concentrates on a few “pod” neighborhoods from Garfield Ridge near Midway up through Berwyn and La Grange, even having hard conversations with legacy clients who fall outside that radius so he can serve a clustered 20‑property day in minutes instead of burning profit on gas and windshield time. You’ll also hear how he and his brother are growing slowly but intentionally, using a mix of branded truck wraps, location‑specific routes, and clever “instant quote” door hangers with QR codes and pre‑filled pricing to win new customers without feeling pushy.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

The services Leaf Green Lawn Care offers, from weekly mowing and treatments to sod installs and small retaining walls
Why Emilio targets a 65/35 split between recurring lawn care and one‑time landscaping projects to balance cash flow and profit
How tightening his service area from 40‑minute drives to a few dense “pod” neighborhoods boosted efficiency and reduced fuel costs
The process (and script) he uses to gracefully let go of out‑of‑area clients when routes get too spread out
How he and his brother are hiring slowly and selectively to protect quality, even when demand is high
The role of branded trucks and strong local visibility in generating calls without huge ad spend
A behind‑the‑scenes look at his “instant quote” door hangers—complete with QR codes and pre‑priced mowing, mulch, and cleanup options
Emilio’s advice for new owners on getting their first 10–15 clients using door knocking, simple leave‑behind offers, and low‑pressure, value‑first conversations

Leveling Up Without Burning Out: Gateway Lawn’s 30-Year Growth Lessons

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:00:35 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with John Mikes of Gateway Lawn & Landscape Inc. in Edwardsville, Illinois about what three decades in the green industry teach you about growth, route density, and quality of life. John shares how his company now runs focused commercial mowing routes alongside commercial and residential landscape install and maintenance crews—including patios, walls, and boulder work—within a tight 20‑mile radius east of St. Louis so windshield time doesn’t eat profits. He explains why about 75% of their work is commercial, why residential landscapes still get extra time and attention (with no money down until the homeowner is happy at the final walkthrough), and how his wife’s “personal gardener” service keeps long‑time clients’ beds and plantings looking like park‑like retreats. You’ll also hear why he intentionally downsized from 25 employees back to a small, long‑tenured team, how “learning to say no” to the wrong properties protects routes and margins, and his advice to new operators: in the beginning, you have to hustle—knock doors, hang flyers, and be hungry.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How Gateway Lawn & Landscape structures its crews for commercial mowing plus commercial and residential landscaping
Why John keeps his service area to roughly 20 miles to protect route density and reduce unprofitable windshield time
The reasoning behind a 75% commercial / 25% residential mix—and why residential landscape installs still get white‑glove treatment
How a “no money up front, pay when you’re happy” policy builds homeowner trust on landscape projects
Why John intentionally shrank from 25+ employees back to a small, stable team and what that did for his quality of life
How he’s retained key team members for 8–15+ years by taking care of his people so they’ll take care of the customers
The importance of saying “no” to jobs that don’t fit your routes, crew capacity, or business model
John’s playbook for getting your first accounts in 2026: door knocking, door hangers, and old‑fashioned hustle to land customers who stay for decades

From Burnout to Booked Out: How “That Lawn Guy” Built a 50‑Client Route in St. Louis

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:00:47 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Mark Rodriguez of That Lawn Guy LLC in the St. Charles area of St. Louis about how he walked away from a decade in middle management at a senior living facility and turned a part‑time side hustle into a full‑time solo lawn care business built around freedom, relationships, and smart marketing. Mark shares how he focuses on core services—weekly mowing, light tree and hedge trimming, brush and cleanup work, small grading and elevation fixes—and brings in trusted local help on bigger jobs, while staying personally hands‑on with every yard. He explains how he built his first 10–15 clients through friends, family, and word of mouth, then completely changed his pipeline this year by adding a simple 15‑second video ad, a basic website, and profiles on Google, Nextdoor, Facebook, and Instagram—going from almost no new calls to four or five leads a day. You’ll also hear how he structures his schedule so he can take his daughters to school, text customers proactively when he needs to shift a visit, and use bundled monthly packages for hedge trimming, bed clean‑outs, and weeding to raise revenue without feeling “salesy” to price‑sensitive homeowners.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How Mark transitioned from dining services director to full‑time solo lawn care operator after burnout and a layoff
The services That Lawn Guy focuses on today: mowing, light tree and hedge trimming, brush cleanups, and small grading work
How he built his first client base through friends, family, and referrals before ever spending a dollar on advertising
The exact low‑cost marketing moves that now generate 4–5 calls a day: Google Business Profile, simple website, social media, and a short video ad
Why strong communication—calling or texting clients when schedules change—lets him design his own workday while keeping trust high
How he uses “bundles” (monthly pricing that includes mowing plus seasonal hedge and bed work) to increase income and make pricing easier for clients
The service area he covers in the Greater St. Charles region and why he’ll travel a bit farther for the right long‑term customer
Mark’s advice for new owners in 2026: start with people you know, do excellent work, ask for reviews, then reinvest in simple ads that keep your phone ringing

Design-Build in Silicon Valley: How FLOR Landscaping Scales Premium Outdoor Spaces

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 06:00:27 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Exequio De La Mora of FLOR Landscaping in San Jose, California about how he built a 25‑person, full design‑build outdoor living company in the heart of Silicon Valley by obsessing over communication, logistics, and client experience. Exequio explains how FLOR specializes in complete exterior transformations—pavers, concrete, porcelain, outdoor kitchens, lighting, planting, and mulch—while deliberately staying out of pools and house remodels, and how a separate DBA, FLOR Property Services, handles select commercial and residential maintenance accounts rooted in his family’s lawn care background. He breaks down their tight geographic focus within about 25 miles of downtown San Jose, why they’ve started trimming distant commercial work to keep projects within 20 minutes of the shop, and how internal roles (sales, operations, project managers, coordinators, three‑person field crews) are structured to keep foremen on site full‑time while the office team handles procurement and scheduling. You’ll also hear his philosophy of “overcommunicate, confirm, confirm, confirm,” how that translates into fast responses, proactive coordination with other contractors, and realistic expectations about project manager availability, and his advice to younger contractors on getting their first 10–15 clients using social media, door hangers, and at‑cost jobs that build a five‑star reputation.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How FLOR Landscaping built a design‑build model that does “everything outdoors except pools and the house”
The separation between FLOR Landscaping (design/build) and FLOR Property Services (commercial and select residential maintenance)
Why they tightened their service area to roughly 20 minutes from downtown San Jose and began shedding far‑flung accounts
How Exequio structures his leadership team: sales, operations manager, project managers, coordinator, and foremen‑led three‑person crews
What “responsive scheduling and clear communication” looks like in practice, from instant callbacks to on‑the‑fly trenching help for GCs
How overcommunicating and setting expectations with clients smooths inevitable construction changes and builds long‑term trust
Exequio’s path from growing up in his father’s lawn care business to running a 25‑plus‑person design/build operation by age 27
His playbook for getting started today: talk on camera even before you have jobs, hit neighborhoods with door hangers, do some work at cost, and ask directly for honest five‑star reviews.

Specializing to Win: How Vintage Lawn Service Scales Maintenance and Profitable Extras

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 06:00:30 +0000

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Jacob Romkee of Vintage Lawn Service in San Jose, California about how he and his brother built a high‑review, maintenance‑focused lawn company straight out of high school by thinking like subscription entrepreneurs instead of “Chuck in a truck.” Jacob shares why they intentionally centered the business on recurring weekly and bi‑weekly mowing and trimming, then layered in higher‑margin one‑time services—cleanups, irrigation repair, aeration, and lawn renovation—only after they had two full routes of dependable maintenance that kept cash flowing even in the slow winter months. He breaks down exactly how they’ve collected hundreds of five‑star reviews in just a few years using a simple, scripted walkthrough question (“Is there anything here that would stop you from leaving a five‑star review?”), why they obsessively track feedback metrics, and how that social proof fuels steady growth without racing to the bottom on price. You’ll also hear Jacob’s playbook for getting your first 20 clients on a shoestring budget, his reasoning for adding specialized services like aeration and boiling‑water weed control where there’s almost no competition, and his philosophy that you either have time or money when you start—so you’d better use the time wisely.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How Jacob launched Vintage Lawn Service one week after graduation and grew it to two full maintenance routes
Why he chose to prioritize recurring maintenance first, then bolt on one‑time services like cleanups, irrigation repair, and aeration
The psychology‑driven question his crews ask at every walkthrough to fix issues on the spot and turn happy clients into five‑star reviewers
How to get your first 10–20 clients with almost no money using door hangers, in‑person visits, and low‑risk lead platforms
Why specialized services like core aeration and lawn renovation can pay off equipment costs in weeks and face far less price competition
An inside look at a potential “boiling water + foam” weed‑killing service that is pet‑ and kid‑safe yet premium‑priced
Jacob’s warning about competing on price with low‑ball operators—and how to position your business so you never have to
His long‑term view on growth: add specialty offerings your existing clients already want, while letting strong reviews and word of mouth compound over time

Scaling Evergreen Landscapes: From Teen Mower to 15-Person, Year-Round Operation

Sun, 31 May 2026 06:00:26 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with David Romanoff of Evergreen Landscapes in Skokie, Illinois about how he grew a one-mower neighborhood gig into a 15-person, full-service lawn, landscape, and snow operation serving Chicagoland within a two-hour radius. David shares how he started as “David’s Lawn Care” in high school, then came back from three years studying in Israel, invested his savings in a first truck, and stacked formal training in botany, horticulture, pruning, and design at the Chicago Botanic Garden to build a company that now handles residential and commercial maintenance, turf care, enhancements, and snow removal. He breaks down how Evergreen separates its work into clear departments—mowing, turf science, pruning, planting/softscape, tree work via arborists, hardscape via subs, and winter snow with both owned equipment and subcontractors—so each crew can specialize and stay efficient, while most core staff stay on the team year-round. You’ll also hear how he thinks about slow-and-steady growth, trusting and empowering employees, and winning reviews: do excellent work, listen for genuine compliments, then make it easy for happy clients to share their experience online.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How David grew from “one mower and a few neighbors” to a 15-person landscape and snow company
Why Evergreen rebranded from David’s Lawn Care and now balances 60% maintenance with 40% enhancements and construction
How they structure the business into departments: mowing, turf care, pruning, planting/softscape, arborist partners, and hardscape subs
What goes into high-quality turf care beyond mowing: fertilizers, weed control, grub control, fungicides, and timing
How they run snow removal as an emergency service using a mix of owned plows/equipment and subcontractor capacity
Why David offers winter positions to most of his summer staff to avoid retraining new crews every spring
His philosophy of “slow and steady wins the race”: adding crews, equipment, and service area only as systems and people are ready
A simple, low-tech way to get five-star reviews consistently: deliver great work, listen for praise, and send a direct review link right then

From High School Side Hustle to Two Crews: Diamond Lawn Care’s Fast Track Growth

Fri, 22 May 2026 18:31:20 +0000

In this episode of The Lawn Care Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Aiden Sullivan of Diamond Lawn Care in Wentzville, Missouri about how he turned mowing his parents’ yard in high school into a fast‑growing maintenance and landscaping company serving St. Charles County and beyond. Starting in 2022 with a handful of neighborhood lawns, Aiden now runs two trucks, multiple trailers, a full‑time crew of three plus part‑time help, and maintains 90–100 lawns a week alongside two to three landscape jobs per day. He shares how he’s expanding from core services like mowing, fertilization, mulch, trimming, and spring cleanups into drainage work, French drains, and small retaining walls, while learning to step out of the field and run two crews from the driver’s seat of the business instead of the mower. Aiden opens up about the real challenges of scaling at his age—documenting jobs clearly so crews know exactly what to do and what tools to bring, pricing projects after a few painful underbids, and finding dependable help in a competitive suburban St. Louis market—plus how strong communication and five‑star service have kept customers coming back for every new project they dream up.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How Aiden grew from mowing his parents’ yard in high school to managing ~100 weekly lawns and multiple crews
The services Diamond Lawn Care offers today, from mowing and fertilizer to drainage solutions and small retaining walls
What changes when the owner stops riding on a crew and starts managing two trucks and teams from the office
How he’s learning to estimate landscape projects (materials, man‑hours, overhead) after underquoting some early jobs
Why clear job notes, checklists, and tool lists are critical so crews don’t waste time running back for forgotten equipment
The hiring reality in his area and why he’s considering seasonal guest‑worker programs to solve labor shortages
How tight routing in St. Charles County and careful service‑area limits keep his mowing operation efficient
The role of reviews, relationships, and “do‑it‑right” quality in turning first‑time mowing clients into long‑term full‑service customers

Transforming Tiny Brooklyn Backyards with Steel Frames, Ipe, and Smart Design

Sat, 16 May 2026 20:30:23 +0000

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Adam Seim of Urban Exteriors in Brooklyn, New York about how he turned a background in finish carpentry, cabinetry, and metalwork into a niche business renovating tight, hard‑to‑access backyards behind 100‑plus‑year‑old brownstones.

Adam explains what makes NYC row‑house yards so challenging—no alleys, 20x40‑foot spaces, everything carried through high‑end kitchens and living rooms—and how that’s forced him to operate as much like a white‑glove service company as a contractor, with meticulous dust control, protection, and logistics.

He dives into why he prefers welded steel frames with Ipe, concrete curbs, and permeable resin‑bound stone over traditional pressure‑treated framing, how sun, shade, mildew, and freeze‑thaw cycles punish outdoor work in New York’s climate, and what “sustainable” really means when you want a deck or fence to last 30+ years instead of rotting out in ten.

What you’ll learn on this episode:

How narrow, 150‑year‑old Brooklyn row‑house backyards create unique construction and access challenges

Why Adam treats outdoor work like finish carpentry plus logistics, with dust‑collection, zip walls, and floor protection

How welded steel frames with Ipe decking and wood infill fences dramatically extend the life of exterior projects

Why climate, orientation (sun vs shade), and hyper‑local conditions matter more than product brochures suggest

What resin‑bound stone patios are, how they’re built, and where they make sense as a permeable surface

The trade‑offs between pressure‑treated lumber, tropical hardwoods, and metal when you care about sustainability

How working with high‑end clients and designers shapes material choices, detailing, and expectations

Why most of Urban Exteriors’ work comes from word of mouth and long‑term relationships that carry into winter interior projects

From a Prius to $500K: How This Chicago Landscaper Built a 5-Star Business Using Only Google Reviews

Sat, 16 May 2026 20:34:55 +0000

Daniel Opalchenski started Fresh Cutz Lawn Care nine years ago with just a Toyota Prius and a lawnmower. In this episode of the Lawn Care Grow Show, Daniel shares how he built a thriving landscaping company in Chicago without spending a dime on advertising.

*What You'll Learn:*

How Daniel went viral by hauling equipment in his Prius and turned it into free marketing

The exact Google Business Profile strategy he used to rank higher than big competitors (with 79+ reviews)

Why he intentionally limits growth to 2 crews to keep overhead low and prices fair for customers

The 50/50 balance between maintenance and landscape projects that maximizes both income and job satisfaction

How to build a sustainable business without expensive advertising by focusing on Google reviews and client relationships

Starting a lawn care business with minimal equipment (yes, even a bicycle can work)

Daniel's approach proves you don't need massive budgets or huge crews to build a successful lawn care company. His focus on customer relationships, efficient operations, and strategic Google optimization shows there's a smarter path to growth.

*Connect with Fresh Cutz Lawn Care:*

Website: freshcutz-lawncare.com

Phone: 872-888-4224

Location: Chicago, Illinois

#LawnCare #Landscaping #SmallBusiness #GoogleMyBusiness #ChicagoSmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #LandscapingBusiness #BusinessGrowth

Lawn Care Grow Show Trailer

Fri, 15 May 2026 13:25:00 +0000

Welcome to The Lawn Care Grow Show – the podcast built for lawn care professionals and landscapers ready to scale their business in 2026 and beyond.

Hosted by Mark Lamberth, a trades industry veteran and business growth strategist, this show goes deep with lawn care business owners at every stage – from single-truck startups to companies generating mid-seven figures annually.

What You'll Get:

Real conversations with successful lawn care entrepreneurs
Business growth strategies that actually work in the field
Behind-the-scenes insights into operations, systemization, and scaling
The mindset, habits, and psychology of high-performing business owners
Personal stories about balancing business with life outside of work

Whether you're running your first route or managing a multi-crew operation, each episode delivers actionable insights to help you build a more profitable, sustainable lawn care business.

New episodes drop every week. Subscribe now and join a community of lawn care professionals committed to growth.

🔔 *Subscribe* to get notified when new episodes go live

💬 *Comment* below and let us know what topics you want us to cover

🎧 Grab your coffee and let's grow together

#LawnCare #Landscaping #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Podcast