Landscaping companies
Compare local landscapers and lawn care companies in your city. 23,285 pros listed in 5,158 cities across 51 states.
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
What landscaping & lawn care pros do
Pick the job you need rather than the trade, if you already know it.
Landscaping & Lawn Care by city
What landscaping companies do
Landscaping covers three kinds of work, and most companies lean towards one:
- Design: a plan for planting, hardscape, grading and lighting.
- Installation: planting and sod, hardscape (patios, walls, paths, rock and stone), irrigation, drainage, outdoor lighting.
- Maintenance: mowing, edging, pruning, bed care, leaf cleanup, seasonal colour — usually on a contract. See lawn care for mowing and turf.
Say which you want when you ask for a quote. A maintenance crew and a design-build firm are different businesses.
Landscaper, landscape designer or landscape architect?
A landscaper or landscape contractor builds and maintains. A landscape designer produces planting and layout plans — many states do not license the title. A landscape architect is a licensed professional in every state, and is the one to hire for grading and drainage on a large site, work that needs stamped drawings, or public and commercial projects.
Licences: a worked example
Licensing differs by state, so use California as an example of what to check. There, work of $1,000 or more (labour and materials) needs a contractor’s licence — the threshold rose from $500 on January 1, 2025 — and the exemption below it does not apply if the work needs a permit or the person employs anyone on it (CSLB). California also limits the down payment on a home improvement job to $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less (CSLB). Your state’s contractor board will have its own rules.
Weed and pest control on lawns and beds is a separate licence question. Federal law requires certification for restricted-use pesticides, and EPA notes that many states require certification for any commercial pesticide application (EPA). Ask whoever sprays your yard for their applicator licence.
Call 811 before digging
Before anyone digs — for planting, edging beds, fence posts or irrigation — utility lines need marking. 811’s guidance is that anyone who plans to dig should contact 811 or their state 811 center a few business days before digging, and that this applies to planting a garden or a tree (811). Ask your contractor who makes the request.
How to choose a landscaping company
- Look at photos of finished work like yours, and ask for a reference you can visit.
- Get a written proposal with plant sizes and species, materials, quantities, irrigation, cleanup and a warranty on plants.
- Check the contractor licence where your state requires one, and ask for proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation.
- For maintenance contracts, get the visit schedule and the tasks included in each season, and check how to cancel.
- Agree a payment schedule tied to stages of work, not a large payment up front.
What affects the cost
- Size of the area and how much of it changes.
- Hardscape vs planting — stone, pavers and walls cost far more per square foot than beds.
- Plant sizes: a larger tree or shrub costs more but fills in years sooner.
- Site work: grading, drainage, soil, access for machinery, removal of what is there.
- Irrigation and lighting.
- For maintenance: yard size, frequency and what is included each visit.
Landscaping & Lawn Care cost guide: the factors pros price on →
Common questions
- Do landscapers need a licence?
- It depends on your state and the size of the job. California, for example, requires a contractor’s licence for work of $1,000 or more, and anyone applying pesticides commercially generally needs a state applicator licence.
- What is the difference between a landscape designer and a landscape architect?
- A landscape architect is a licensed professional; a designer usually is not. Hire an architect for complex grading and drainage, stamped plans or commercial sites.
- What is included in a landscaping maintenance plan?
- Usually mowing and edging, bed weeding, pruning, leaf cleanup and seasonal tasks. Plans vary, so get the tasks and visit schedule in writing.
- Do I need to call 811 before landscaping?
- Yes, if anyone is digging. 811 says to contact it a few business days before digging, including for planting.
- When should I start a landscaping project?
- Design in the off-season so installation can start when planting conditions are right in your area. Good landscapers book up early in spring.
- Does landscaping increase home value?
- Well-kept landscaping helps a house sell, but how much it adds is hard to pin down and varies by market. Spend on what you will enjoy and maintain.
Related services
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- California Contractors State License Board, Industry Bulletin #24-07: AB 2622, minor work exemption (December 31, 2024)
- California Contractors State License Board, What is a contract? (no date shown; read October 2026)
- US EPA, Certification Standards for Pesticide Applicators (last updated March 6, 2026)
- 811 Before You Dig, Before you dig (no date shown; read October 2026)
Are you a landscaping pro? Get a free listing and landscaping software.