by Liz Stansfeld
Plants, problem-solving, and respect for people may not always go together, but Jerry Naiser has managed to combine them into both his personal life and a highly successful and much-respected horticultural business, Real Green Pest and Lawn Care.
Growing up in an agricultural community, horticulture has always been in Jerry’s blood. As a boy he recalls running through the corn fields and spending time at both his grandparents’ and great grandparents’ farms. But he did not begin his career in horticulture until, in the late 1980s, he called an arborist to his home to treat and trim his trees. He quickly realized that the tree care company and its so called specialists were neither knowledgeable nor professional. In fact, it was evident that they knew less about trees than he did. With a natural talent for problem-solving, Jerry decided to set up his own business, where the emphasis would be on providing his clients with knowledgeable and certified specialists, sound diagnostic advice and customized solutions, all at an affordable price. Now 31 years later Real Green Pest and Lawn Care has maintained this same philosophy: Respect the environment, identify and solve customers’ horticultural challenges, deliver proven environmentally friendly solutions in a timely manner, and charge a fair price. His company slogan – Expect More, Get More.
Jerry’s love of the outdoors does not end there. Over the last 30 years he has obtained numerous certifications, licenses, written and published articles on plant health care, been called on as an expert witness in both civil and criminal cases, and even hosted his own radio show, “The Real Lawn and Garden Show” that aired on Sundays. He has also found time to design, landscape, cultivate and tend his own garden, where he grows a myriad of different plants ranging from vegetables to vines, citrus fruits to antique roses, and much more. He also designed and installed a state-of-the-art irrigation system, disappearing fountains, lighting and seating areas. Little wonder that his garden was featured on the Inside Austin Gardens Tour.
Jerry, himself a Master Gardener with TCMGA, sees his sponsorship of the 2020 Tour as a way of giving back to the many volunteers who contribute to TCMGA. Volunteers, he says, are not only the life blood of TCMGA, but their ideas and philosophy align with his. This appreciation and respect for people is as important to him as his love of horticulture, and is evident in the way he runs his company. He treats his employees with the same care and reverence that he treats his customers, providing in-house training classes, numerous and generous employee incentives and a congenial and relaxed working environment.
Now, with numerous certifications to his name, over eighty employees, and one of the most respected plant care businesses in Central Texas, Jerry has brought a new standard of professionalism to the industry. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of Real Green Pest and Lawn Care’s business comes from repeat customers and referrals. Nor should it come as a surprise that in 2019 the company received both the much-coveted Austin American-Statesman’s Best of the Best award and the Austin Chronicle’s Readers Choice Award. He also received the Texas Turfgrass Associations Green Thumb of the Year award for his work at the Texas Governor’s Mansion.
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