'Green' Landscaping Companies Get Boost from County Certification

Seven landscaping businesses based in Montgomery County were the first to be recognized as part of the county's Green Landscape Business Certification Program. It's an extention of the general green business program that previously only dealt with office-based companies, according to a release from the county government.

The honor came complete with a gentle advertising nudge to potential customers displayed on 25 Ride On buses. “Make Sure the Grass is Greener on Your Side of the Fence. Use a Montgomery County Certified Green Landscape Business,” the ad reads. 

The goal is to get companies that either sell gardening supplies, like garden centers, or outsource experts to design and plant gardens to be more environmentally friendly. The companies chosen for the program do things like limiting the use of pesticides and fertilizers, conserving water and utilizing rain gardens that collect and filter stormwater. 

“Using green landscaping practices not only helps the County achieve our stormwater management requirements, which are among the most stringent in the country, but also helps improve air quality, reduce the use of chemicals in the environment, decrease use of gas and oil, and enhance water quality," said County Executive Isiah Leggett (D).

"Adopting just a few green landscaping practices allows individuals to truly make a difference as environmental stewards."

The businesses that were chosen:

• The Abundant Backyard of Silver Spring
• A.I.R. Lawn Care of Rockville
• Backyard Bounty of Silver Spring
• The Brickman Group, Ltd. of Clarksburg
• Gracefully Green, LLC, of Rockville
• Green Scene Landscaping, Inc., of Silver Spring
• Kit Gage-Gardener’s Advisers of Silver Spring

In order to be certified, businesses must meet some of the requirements in four broad categories: Air quality, energy efficiency, waste management and procurement, integrated pest management and plants, water and soil and organizational commitment, and office operations. Small businesses pay $100 and businesses with more than 25 full-time staff pay $250. These businesses may be recertified in three years.