An Unlikely Friendship
Harold Eugene “Gene” Jenkins, Carl’s son, grew up in this farming lifestyle. In 1945, after serving in the Navy during World War II, Gene returned to Florida to work with his friend Roy Rood as a tree crane operator at Wilson Palm Gardens. In 1946, Roy started ROOD Landscape, and Roy and Gene would work together. Roy Rood’s professional landscape company thrived in Palm Beach and Martin counties.
The Early Years
Friendly competitors, Roy Rood and Gene Jenkins remained friends, supporting each other’s efforts and enjoying strong mutual respect, until Gene’s death in 1986. Roy Rood, considered a force of nature in South Florida landscaping innovation, retired in 2000 and passed away in 2011 at the age of 92—but not before he became mentor to his friend’s son, Harold Eugene Jenkins II, for fifteen years.
When Harold and his wife Susan assumed ownership responsibilities for the business in 1987, Harold was only 26 years old but considered an expert in the landscape contracting industry. Together, they changed the business model to focus on softscape installations for residential homes, using best practices for design, installation and maintenance, and hiring licensed workers that are willing to earn certifications from FNGLA (Florida Nurserymen’s, Growers and Landscape Association).
We continue to lobby the Florida legislature to require licensing and certification for all landscape contractors and encourage standardization of landscape practices, especially in areas that impact waterways and the environment.
Community Involvement
Jenkins Today
At the helm today is Erin Jenkins Banas whom worked her way from the bottom up in the business with part-time and summer jobs under the tutorage of her parents and foremen.
Erin is a certified arborist, horticultural professional and landscape inspector. She joined the family business full time in 2009 specializing in the maintenance, spray and tree trimming division. Along with her brother, she now runs the day-to-day operations of the business.
Certifications
The Jenkins staff holds over 50 combined certifications and licenses from Florida Nurseryman, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA),the International Society of Arborists (ISA), and Best Management Practices (GI-BMP). All our Fertilizer Applicators and Landscape & Maintenance Foremen hold commercial fertilizer licenses from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FSACS).
All Jenkins employees are offered company-paid opportunities to advance professionally through certification programs and education.