PLANET bestows National Landscape Awards of Excellence

The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) held its annual awards presentation and dinner, hosted by Caterpillar, during the Green Industry Conference (GIC) in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 23.

The program recognizes the best work in commercial and residential landscape design, installation and maintenance, plus the best in interior plant work and in safety and sustainability.

This year, the National Landscape Awards of Excellence, were given to more than 100 projects in the following categories: 24 Grand, 53 Merit, and 25 Recognition.

Four Judges Awards also were presented at the ceremony. Lambert Landscape Co. received two Judges Awards—one in the residential design/build category and the other in the commercial installation category. John Mini Distinctive Landscapes received a Judges Award in the landscape management category and Bartlett Tree Experts received a Judges Award for its project, tagged Care for the Trees, at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

John Mini Distinctive Landscapes also won the Audience Choice Award, which is voted on by those in attendance during the presentation.

“PLANET is very proud to honor all the amazing work that our members do,” PLANET President Jim McCutcheon said. “Being able to highlight this talent helps shine a light on our industry.”

In addition, seven companies received the Sustainable Company Award, recognizing businesses that protect and conserve resources, reduce waste, prevent pollution and promote an ethic of environmental sustainability within their workplace. Winners of the Sustainable Company Award included:

• Greener Pastures, Dallas;
• Earth Groomers, Toms River, N.J.;
• E.A. Quinn Landscape Contracting, Glastonbury, Conn.;
• Signature Landscape Services, Redmond, Wash.;
• Del Conte’s Landscaping, Fremont, Calif.;
• James Martin Associates, Vernon Hills, Ill.; and
• Schill Grounds Management, North Ridgeville, Ohio.

Furthermore, as part of the 25th Anniversary GIC Corvette Sweepstakes, PLANET bestowed a Chevrolet Corvette to Hank Williams, of Sunscape Landscaping in Austin, Texas.