The Kid Who Loved Mowing Lawns: The Sunny Stripes Story
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Sunny Stripes started the way a lot of good Wisconsin stories start: a kid, a mower, and an unreasonable amount of pride in a straight line. Founder Mack Martens dreamed about building something of his own from a young age, and the thing he loved enough to build it around was mowing lawns. This is the story of how a small idea became a family-supported landscaping company based in Sheboygan — and why the name is a promise you can check from the curb.
It Started With a Kid Who Loved Mowing Lawns
Some kids count down to the weekend. Mack counted down to the next lawn.
The entrepreneurship dream came early — the itch to run something, own the result, and be the reason it was good. Plenty of kids have that itch. What made this one stick was the mowing itself: the smell of cut grass, the before-and-after, the way a tired yard looks brand new when the lines are straight and the edges are clean.
That small idea — a kid who loved mowing lawns, doing it well enough that neighbors noticed — is the whole origin. No boardroom, no franchise manual. A mower, a work ethic, and a family in Sheboygan willing to back both. Sunny Stripes is still that: family-supported, locally rooted, and built on the belief that the work should speak first.
Why "Sunny Stripes"? What the Name Stands For
The name comes from the striped finish of a properly mowed lawn — those light-and-dark bands you see on a ballpark outfield, made by laying the grass in alternating directions. If you've wondered how that works, our guide to lawn striping in Sheboygan explains the whole trick.
Here's why it's on the sign: stripes can't be faked. They only show up when the grass is cut at the right height, with sharp blades, in passes straight enough to be proud of. A striped lawn is the visible signature of care — proof from the street that somebody treated your yard like it mattered.
We named the company after the evidence.
How We Work: Built Around the Details Most Services Skip
A lot of lawn services run on "mow, trim, blow, next." Sunny Stripes was built around everything that formula skips — starting with edges, which is why our most-read article is about why lawn edging matters.
| The detail | What it tells you about the work |
|---|---|
| Crisp edges along walks and drives | Someone cared about the finish, not just the clock |
| Straight, striped mowing lines | Right height, sharp blades, full attention |
| Gates latched, clippings blown off pavement | The crew treats your property like their own |
| Work timed to the season, not habit | We follow the calendar UW-Madison Extension publishes, like its Wisconsin lawn care calendar, not a one-size route plan |
| Proactive communication | Rain delay? You hear it from us first |
We even published the checklist we think you should grill every lawn company with — including us. It's in our guide to choosing a lawn care company in Sheboygan County. Hold us to that list. We wrote it to be held to.
Curious what that standard looks like on your lawn? Request a free quote, call or text (630) 460-7320, or say hello on Facebook.
Where We're Headed
The plan isn't complicated: grow with the county, one sharp lawn at a time.
What began with mowing has grown into the full slate of services — garden beds, mulch and rock, seasonal cleanups, landscape design and construction, commercial grounds, snow and ice. Every one of them gets the same treatment the first lawns got: details first, shortcuts never.
And the map keeps filling in. We serve neighbors across Sheboygan County — Sheboygan and Kohler, the Town of Wilson, Sheboygan Falls, Plymouth, and the towns between. Different lots, same stripes.
An Invitation
If you've read this far, you're probably the kind of homeowner who notices edges. Good. That's exactly who we built this for.
Follow the work on Facebook and judge the lines for yourself. And when you're ready, request a free quote or call or text (630) 460-7320 — we'd love to put stripes on your side of the street.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sunny Stripes really family-owned?
Yes. Sunny Stripes is a family-supported business based in Sheboygan, founded by Mack Martens, who dreamed of running his own company from a young age and built it around the work he loved: mowing lawns well.
What areas does Sunny Stripes serve?
We serve homeowners and businesses across Sheboygan County. That includes Sheboygan, Kohler, the Town of Wilson, Sheboygan Falls, and Plymouth, plus Howards Grove, Oostburg, Cedar Grove, Random Lake, Elkhart Lake, and Kiel.
Why is the company called Sunny Stripes?
The name comes from the striped finish of a properly mowed lawn — the alternating light and dark bands left by straight, careful passes. Stripes only appear when the mowing is done right, so they're the visible signature of care. We named the company after the proof.
How do I get in touch?
Call or text (630) 460-7320, email carl@sunnystripes.com, request a quote through our contact page, or message us on Facebook. Quotes are free and there's never any pressure.
About Sunny Stripes
Sunny Stripes is a family-owned landscaping company based in Sheboygan, WI, serving homeowners and businesses across Sheboygan County — including Sheboygan, Kohler, the Town of Wilson, Sheboygan Falls, and Plymouth. From weekly mowing, trimming, and edging to garden beds, mulch and rock installs, seasonal cleanups, and commercial grounds care, we handle the details other crews skip. Call or text (630) 460-7320, email carl@sunnystripes.com, or request a quote online. Follow our latest projects on Facebook.