Business of the week: Coleman Sprinkler Lawn and Landscape Celebrates 35 years

by Krista Norton | May 14, 2020

Coleman Sprinkler Lawn and Landscape is celebrating 35 years in business and is our business of the week. 

The business began with Andy Coleman’s parents, Barbara, and Gary, under the name B & G Pump, which involved servicing water wells.  The sprinkler business came along when a friend and neighbor, Beulah Braddock, asked Gary if he had ever thought about putting in sprinkler systems. 

Andy explained that his dad’s response was he did not know how, but he would learn.  Gary and Barbara began installing four to five systems per year, all while she worked as the office manager for Wheatland Electric and later Gary took on the position as County Appraiser. 

“Many times, Dad would trench, plumb the sprinkler systems and mom would fill the trenches when she got off work,” explained Andy.  This was also a way his parents helped him through college. 

Although his parents installed the systems, Andy spent summers working for local farmers, Barney, Dixie, Mark and Cindy Akers.  Upon graduating college in 1993, he began teaching and coaching at Syracuse, working summers for his parents while learning more about the sprinkler business.    

“It was in 2000 that I suggested to dad that we form a partnership and expand the business to include lawn service,” said Andy.  His dad agreed and according to Andy it has snowballed from there.

With the help of his sister, Penny, they started out by mowing seven lawns, fertilizing two to three, utilizing local resident, Don Burch’s expertise and licensing for application. 

Son, Cameron, joined the business in 2015 upon high school graduation.  “I thought about going to auto body school in Goodland, but figured I would end up back here so I figured I might as well skip spending the money and come back to learn the ropes.” He explained it’s been five years and he has learned a lot. 

Andy hopes Cameron will soon take over most of the sprinkler part of the business while Andy will expand the chemical application. Since becoming certified in herbicide application, that portion of the business is growing so there is some potential there to expand.    

Currently, they have six to seven employees and mow about 100 yards weekly. “We have also been blessed with some great high school kids who work in the summer,” stated Andy.  He explained it’s nice to use retired workers since the business is seasonal, he only needs help seven to eight months out of the year, so they don’t mind working part time. 

In addition to mowing lawns, they fertilize, which includes a five-step process and grub control.  They can also help control insects and noxious weeds.  To keep lawn healthy, they can aerate and power rake, clean up flower beds and maintain the current landscaping and snow removal in the winter.   

They also do landscaping, which can include building retaining walls or flower beds.  For a lawn, they can drill grass seed, hydroseed or lay sod, depending on what the customer wants or likes. In addition to sprinkler installation, maintenance, and repairs, they can install water lines and hydrants, remove dead trees or stumps. 

To complete the landscape, they can build a privacy fence, awning, or a pergola.  They would also like people to know they can install a water feature as well and have access to specialty trees and plants. 

While they like to service their local customers first, they have serviced customers within a 60-80-mile radius.   

Coleman Sprinkler Lawn and Landscape received the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Business Appreciation Month Merit Award in 2007 and work hard to support community and school activities.