Selecting the Right Landscaping Company: More Than Just Mowing the Grass
Landscaping is one of the most visible services a condominium or homeowners association provides. Residents and visitors immediately notice whether the grass is maintained, bushes are trimmed, leaves are removed, and common areas look clean and well cared for. Selecting the right landscaping company should therefore involve more than comparing monthly prices. A reliable landscaper should provide consistent, systematic, and complete property care.
C Kent
8/18/20264 min read
Obtain at Least Three Proposals
Before selecting a landscaping company, the Association should obtain at least three proposals from licensed and properly insured vendors.
Base the proposals on the same scope of work so the Board can compare them meaningfully. Consider:
Monthly or annual cost
Frequency of service
Areas included in the contract
Mowing, edging, and trimming
Bush and shrub maintenance
Tree and branch maintenance
Leaf and debris removal
Cleanup after every visit
Additional-service pricing
Insurance requirements
Communication procedures
Contract term and termination provisions
The lowest proposal is not necessarily the best value. A slightly higher price may be worthwhile if the company provides reliable scheduling, good supervision, responsive communication, and consistently clean results.
Establish a Consistent Service Schedule
Landscaping should be systematic, not unpredictable.
If the contract calls for service every two weeks, the Association should know the expected service day or have a clearly established schedule. A landscaper who arrives on random days makes it difficult for management to inspect the work and determine whether contractual services are actually being performed.
Consistency also helps the landscaper develop familiarity with the property.
A good landscaping company should work through different areas of the community systematically rather than focusing primarily on mowing the most visible sections.
Landscaping Means More Than Cutting Grass
One common mistake is evaluating landscaping service primarily by whether the lawn has been mowed.
Proper landscape maintenance should address the property's overall appearance.
Depending on the contract, regular service should include:
Mowing and edging grass
Trimming bushes and shrubs
Removing dead or dry portions of bushes
Raking and removing leaves
Picking up fallen branches
Cleaning landscape beds
Rotating attention among different areas of the property
Removing clippings and landscaping debris
Leaving sidewalks and common areas clean after service
A landscaping crew should leave the property looking better than it looked when they arrived.
Pay Attention to Weather Conditions
Professional judgment is also important.
Cutting grass during or immediately after heavy rain can create poor results, damage turf, leave ruts, create excessive clippings, and make the property look messy.
Weather sometimes requires a landscaping company to adjust its schedule. The important distinction is communication. If service must be postponed because of rain, management should be informed and provided with a reasonable rescheduled service date.
Watch for Signs of Poor Performance
Problems often begin gradually. One missed service may become repeated missed visits. Poor cleanup may become routine.
Warning signs can include:
Poor communication. Calls, emails, or concerns from management repeatedly go unanswered.
Skipped services. The contractor fails to appear during scheduled service periods.
Random scheduling. A biweekly service contract becomes unpredictable, with crews arriving on different days without notice.
Poor weather judgment. Grass is cut during unsuitable rainy conditions simply to complete the route.
Incomplete maintenance. Grass is mowed, but crews repeatedly ignore bushes, dry vegetation, leaves, and other areas.
Messy cleanup. Cut grass, leaves, branches, or other debris are left behind.
Property damage. Crews damage fences, irrigation components, lighting, signs, walls, vehicles, or other Association property and fail to report or properly address the damage.
These are not merely cosmetic concerns. Repeated service deficiencies may indicate that the contractor is not meeting the Association's expectations or contractual obligations.
Include a Practical Termination Provision
The Association should pay close attention to the termination language before signing a landscaping agreement.
A 60-day termination provision may be preferable to a long-term, restrictive commitment, while a 30-day termination provision can provide even greater flexibility when negotiated appropriately.
The Association should understand whether termination is permitted without cause, only for cause, or under specific circumstances, and what notice and cure requirements apply.
A Board should avoid discovering after serious performance problems arise that the Association is locked into an unfavorable contract for many additional months.
Document Problems Before They Become Disputes
Management should maintain records of landscaping performance.
If the landscaper misses a scheduled visit, leaves debris, damages a fence, or repeatedly fails to trim an area, document the issue with dates, photographs, emails, and service records.
For example:
Scheduled service → Property inspection → Deficiency identified → Photograph/document → Notify contractor → Establish correction deadline → Verify completion.
Documentation provides accountability and gives the Board useful information when evaluating whether to continue the relationship.
Always Have the Contract Reviewed by the Association's Attorney
Before signing a landscaping agreement, send the proposed contract to the Association's attorney for review.
An experienced association attorney may identify provisions that deserve additional attention, including:
Automatic renewal clauses
Difficult termination provisions
Excessive notice requirements
Insurance and indemnification provisions
Responsibility for property damage
Scope-of-work ambiguities
Price increases
Additional-service charges
Notice and cure requirements
Dispute provisions
Management and the Board can evaluate landscaping quality and operational needs, but the attorney should advise the Association on the contract's legal implications.
A Good Landscaper Works Systematically
The best landscaping companies do not simply arrive, mow the grass, and leave.
They understand the property as a whole. During regular service cycles, they systematically address lawns, bushes, landscape beds, dry vegetation, leaves, branches, and other areas requiring attention.
Over time, every area of the community should receive appropriate care.
Equally important, the crew should clean up after itself. The crew should collect cut grass or properly disperse it, remove branches, rake leaves, and leave sidewalks and common areas clean.
The goal is not merely to demonstrate that landscaping service occurred. The goal is for residents to see a property that is consistently clean, maintained, attractive, and professionally cared for.
Final Thought
Selecting a landscaping company is ultimately about consistency, accountability, communication, and quality of work.
Obtain at least three comparable proposals. Define exactly what services are expected. Establish a predictable schedule. Inspect the work. Document recurring problems. Negotiate reasonable termination provisions. And before signing the agreement, have the Association's attorney review the contract and identify potential red flags.
A good landscaping contract establishes expectations—but a good landscaping company demonstrates its value every time the crew leaves the property.
