HighGrove Partners Acquires Orlando-Area O&A Landscaping

What happened

HighGrove Partners, an Atlanta-based commercial landscaping company, announced on August 25, 2026 that it had completed its acquisition of O&A Landscaping, which is headquartered in the Greater Orlando area of Florida. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The seller

Carl Osborn and Rob Allis founded O&A in 2006. The company provides landscape maintenance, enhancement, arbor care and irrigation to clients throughout Central Florida, and it also does hardscapes and landscape lighting. It specializes in commercial properties and is based in Longwood.

Both founders spoke in the release. "Carl and I set out nearly two decades ago to build a company grounded in reliability and craftsmanship," Allis said, calling the move to HighGrove "the right next step." Osborn said "the cultural fit was clear from our first conversations" and that O&A's team and clients "stand to benefit from the resources and support HighGrove brings to the table."

The buyer

HighGrove was founded in 1989. Agellus Capital, a Clayton, Missouri private equity firm founded in 2024, acquired it in November 2025. At the time HighGrove ran four locations in metro Atlanta, offering commercial landscape maintenance, irrigation, arbor care and enhancement, with Jim McCutcheon as chief executive and Erin McCutcheon as chief financial officer. HighGrove describes its goal as being "the trusted, all-in-one landscape partner for clients across the Southeastern United States."

"Welcoming O&A into HighGrove marks an exciting step forward for the presence we are building in Florida," McCutcheon said. "As we expand across the Southeast, Florida will continue to remain a key market for us."

Jeff Aiello, co-founder and managing partner of Agellus, called O&A "exactly the caliber of business we look for as we expand HighGrove," and said the firm was "glad to have played a part in bringing these two companies together."

How HighGrove has built in Florida

HighGrove's move into Florida started in April with Synergy Landscapes of Tampa, which David Kravetz founded in 2005. Synergy serves commercial customers across Tampa Bay and Central Florida. McCutcheon called that deal "an exciting opportunity to expand our service offering into Florida." In May, HighGrove added Lawn Enforcement Agency, which Mike Troiano founded in 1994. LEA is headquartered in Gainesville, runs locations in Gainesville, Bunnell and Ocala, and serves North and Central Florida.

Synergy, LEA and O&A follow one pattern. Each was built by its founder and founded in 2006 or earlier, each release lists irrigation alongside landscape maintenance or management, and each names Central Florida among the areas it serves. Neither Synergy nor LEA is headquartered in the Orlando area.

The founders' own words follow a pattern too. Osborn said "Jim's experience and guidance made this a straightforward decision for me." In May, Troiano said "Jim's industry experience, leadership, and mentorship over the years made this important decision a very easy one for me." Owners weighing an approach like this one can read our guide on selling a landscaping business to private equity.

What this means for Central Florida landscaping owners

For a founder-run commercial maintenance company in Central Florida, HighGrove is no longer an Atlanta company looking in from out of state. It is a buyer with operators in Tampa, Gainesville, and the Orlando area, all acquired within five months. Osborn's and Troiano's accounts put the platform's chief executive at the center of the decision. That makes the person who would run the combined business worth vetting as closely as the price.

OffDeal is an advisory firm that helps lower-middle-market business owners sell with confidence. Reach out to learn more about our expertise with landscaping businesses in Florida.

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Source: Business Wire - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260825990495/en/HighGrove-Partners-Acquires-OA-Landscaping-Further-Expanding-its-Florida-Commercial-Landscaping-Footprint