Veteran landscaping company in financial collapse: millions in debt
The renowned landscaping company Ameri-Pride, operating for 35 years in Florida, has filed for bankruptcy protection following massive debts of up to $10 million.
The company Ameri-Pride Pest Control Services (operating under the brand Prime-Scape Services) has filed an official petition for bankruptcy protection and reorganization under Chapter 11 (Subchapter V). The company has been providing landscaping, landscape maintenance, and property maintenance services in the Tampa Bay area since 1991.
The petition was filed on August 21, 2026, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Florida and was signed by the company's president, Timothy D. Lockhart. Court records reveal a concerning picture of a deep gap between the company's assets and its financial liabilities.
According to the filed documents, the company's estimated assets range from only $0 to $50,000, while its liabilities are estimated at a dramatic sum of between $1 million and $10 million. Among the prominent creditors with unsecured claims are banks and financial institutions such as Bay First Bank, Lendistry, Rapid Finance, and FC Market Place LLC.
The Chapter 11 process allows the company to continue its ongoing operations while formulating a plan to restructure debts and reach a settlement with creditors under judicial supervision. The company serves educational institutions, hospitals, local councils, property managers, and residential complexes in four central Florida counties.
This filing comes following a wider wave of difficulties in the U.S. landscaping industry, after other companies in the field, such as Wright Scapes and Copper Ridge Landscape, also filed for bankruptcy during 2026.
