Tyler Applegate was born and raised in Charleston, Illinois where he started his first real job in the construction business at the age of 15. After graduating high school, he spent the next four years working for a commercial and residential painting business. After obtaining an associate degree in management, he transitioned to southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He started in Landscape design and after some experience and getting a foothold he went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Plant and Soil Science.
Upon leaving the university, he took an internship in the golf industry and settled down to work for the Tournament Players Club network that owned 23 golf courses throughout the nation. With that came much diverse experience in different regions and climates. After working in the states of Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Arizona it was time to get off the road and settle somewhere to further deepen his roots in the green industry.
Tyler took a job with Avant Gardening and Landscaping in Madison, WI in the year 2002. During his tenure with Avant he worked in every department, including their retail outlet and within their nursery. He developed Avant’s turf care program, directed the snow removal department and cinched up the business in the toughest of economic times by becoming the general manager. From there, Tyler worked for 5 years in Birmingham, AL at a 1920’s Donald Ross designed golf club.
One of the most important times of his life was in 2009 while his wife was pregnant. During that time, they visited and explored beautiful Western North Carolina. It was after that trip that included touring the Biltmore gardens and the Botanical gardens they knew they would end up living here to raise their child.
The Applegate family arrived in WNC in 2016. After meeting the core of B. H. Graning Landscapes, the rest is as they say…history.