Quick answer
A landscaping contract should attach the scope, plant list, schedule, payment schedule, change-order terms, warranty, permit responsibility and insurance certificates. If it is a one-page agreement with a total and a start date, it is not enough.
The contract is the project
A landscaping project has more moving parts than most home services: plants are alive, weather is uncertain, and the work happens outdoors where existing conditions are hidden. The contract is how you and the contractor agree on what happens when reality intervenes.
Attachments that matter more than the signature page
Scope of work
Written, measured and specific: square footage of beds and hardscape, dimensions, what is removed, what stays. A scope that says “landscape front yard” is not a scope.
Plant list
Botanical name, cultivar, container size, quantity and spacing. Include a substitution clause: who approves a substitute, and whether the price can change.
Site plan
Even a simple sketch with north, house, property lines, beds and hardscape. For a large project, a scaled plan.
Schedule
Start window, duration, milestones and a weather clause. Landscaping schedules move; the contract should say how and by how much.
The clauses to read twice
Payment schedule
Deposit, progress payments and final payment. Tie progress payments to completed phases, not calendar dates. Hold a final payment until the punch list is done and cleanup is complete.
Change orders
How a change is priced, who approves it and whether work can proceed before a signed change order. A written change order should state the price and the schedule impact.
Warranty
Plants, workmanship, irrigation and hardscape. Specify the period, what voids it, and whether labor is included. A one-year plant warranty that excludes watering is common; a lifetime workmanship warranty is not.
Permits and code
Who pulls permits, who pays fees, and who is responsible for inspections. For walls, grading, electrical and some irrigation work, this is not optional.
Insurance and indemnity
Require general liability and workers’ compensation certificates. For large work, ask to be named as additional insured. The contract should state that the contractor indemnifies you for damage caused by the work.
Damage and utilities
Who repairs irrigation lines, downspouts, fences or lawns damaged during the work. Who calls 811 before digging. What happens if a utility line is hit.
Cancellation
The cancellation window, the refund of the deposit, and the cost of materials already ordered. State law may set a minimum; read the clause.
Dispute resolution
Mediation, arbitration or court. A clause that requires arbitration in another state is a warning sign.
A checklist you can copy
- Legal names of homeowner and contractor
- Property address and scope
- Plant list with sizes and quantities
- Square footage and dimensions
- Soil, mulch and amendment volumes
- Hardscape materials, base and edge
- Irrigation zones and controller
- What is excluded
- Start window and duration
- Weather and delay clause
- Payment schedule and deposit
- Change-order process and rates
- Permit responsibility
- Insurance certificates attached
- Warranty terms
- Cleanup and disposal
- Cancellation and dispute terms
- Signatures and date
Before you sign
Read the contract out loud, or have someone else read it. Ask about anything you do not understand. A contractor who is annoyed by questions is a contractor who will be annoyed by problems.
Take photos of the site before work starts, including access routes and anything fragile. Keep the signed contract, change orders, receipts and photos in one folder. If a dispute starts, that folder is the case.
Next: how to choose a landscaper.
FAQ
Do I need a written contract for landscaping?
Yes, for any project beyond a small maintenance visit. A written contract protects both sides on scope, schedule, payment and warranty, and it is the document you rely on if the work goes wrong.
What is a reasonable deposit for landscaping?
10–30% is common, especially when custom stone or large plants must be ordered. Avoid paying more than a third before work begins, and tie progress payments to completed phases.
Can I cancel a landscaping contract?
Many contracts include a cancellation window, often three business days, and state law may add one. After materials are ordered or work starts, cancellation usually involves paying for committed costs. Read the clause before signing.