Mission Statement

As a full service lawn care, landscape, and grounds maintenance contractor servicing the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati tri-state area, our core intention is to create environments that meet our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations. We strive to provide the highest quality service and workmanship in a timely manner, while enhancing the beauty and value of every client’s property.

Merkle Lawn Care Company, Inc. truly encompasses a “customer-oriented” approach to landscaping by offering clients the opportunity to be involved in every step of the project. From the onset, we emphasize continuous customer service and communication as we are committed to your long-term satisfaction. Our experienced, professional staff and supervisors provide technically sound designs with quality installation and maintenance. As a testament to the success of the “customer-oriented” approach, the majority of our business comes from client referrals and past customers.

“It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money- that’s all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do…”
– John Ruskin

Company History

Keith Merkle started the lawn care business while in middle school, running his operation out of his parents’ shed. He specialized in lawn maintenance and fertilization primarily in Campbell County. Upon graduating from college in 1984, he formed Keith Merkle Lawn Care as a sole proprietorship. While continuing to develop and expand the business, Keith’s brother, Doug Merkle, began working in the company during the summers and joined full time upon completion of college in 1989. In 1990 the company was converted to an S-Corporation and the name was changed to Merkle Lawn Care Company, Inc.

In the early 1990’s the business began expanding to include lawn care services in Kenton County, Boone County and surrounding areas, as well as developing into a residential and commercial landscape and design/build/maintenance firm working throughout the tri-state. In the mid 90’s the company started bidding and performing right-of-way mowing and field mowing with various Kentucky counties, local municipalities and the State of Kentucky. Merkle Lawn Care has continued to expand since the mid 90’s, with hardscapes & paver work, water features, tree care/tree pruning/tree removal, tree & shrubbery fertilization, irrigation, landscape lighting, pest control, drainage work and various other specialized services. We have made it our mission to hire educated, certified, experienced and trained employees who specialize in the various divisions of our company. As our business continues to grow, Merkle Lawn Care strives to be an all-inclusive service provider for all of your outdoor grounds and landscaping needs.

Over the years, Merkle Lawn Care Company, Inc. is proud of our service projects ranging from small homeowner renovations to extensive commercial projects. Large or small, the same core values resonate from every job; commitment to customer service, quality workmanship and overall customer satisfaction. We continue to refine our skills and education to meet the landscape industry standards and requirements; but equally important, preparing us to offer you the best in lawn care and landscape design.

Staff

Keith Merkle, President

Keith Merkle formed the company as a sole proprietorship in 1984 after graduating from the University of Kentucky. He began the company by performing lawn care services in his hometown area while still in middle school. Keith has hands-on experience and knowledge in all aspects of the company – operations, customer relations, project bidding, equipment maintenance, and administrative oversight.

Doug Merkle, Vice President

Doug began working for the company during the summers from 1985 to 1989. He then joined the company fulltime after graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1989. Doug’s areas of concentration are sales, marketing, scheduling of job assignments and coordinating the work of the lawn and landscape employees.

Jake Wuestefeld, Vice President

Jake joined Merkle Lawn Care in the spring of 2010. Jake is a University of Kentucky graduate in Horticulture who has a wealth of knowledge from his prior experience as a vendor in the industry and his work at various other lawn care operations. Jake is the contact for our corporate account operations and sales, as well as overseeing various other projects for the company.

Katie Potraffke, Sales & Account Manager

Katie came to Merkle Lawn Care in 2015 as a horticulturalist with 8 years of experience with turf and plant health. Katie holds a degree from Cincinnati State in Landscape and Horticulture. Katie oversees both commercial and residential clients and their properties. She handles everything from Grounds Maintenance, Design & Install, Tree Removal/Trimming, Drainage & Etc.

Chad Moorman, Sales & Hardscape Manager

Chad came to Merkle early 2020 bringing years of experience specializing in paver patios, walkways, retaining walls and etc. 

Andrew Merkle, Secretary and Treasurer

Andrew is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, Gatton College of Business & Economics with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Geography. Andrew had worked countless summers for Merkle Lawn Care, rejoining full time in the fall of 2015, after previously working as a Registered Representative for Fidelity Investments. Andrew serves as Secretary and Treasurer overseeing all financial, legal and tax work. He is also responsible for Human Resources including employee policies, payroll and benefits.ign.