Choosing a landscaping company for your strata isn’t just about who has the greenest trucks or the fanciest website (although… those help).

The real magic happens in the contract.

A good strata landscaping contract:

Sets clear expectations
Prevents awkward “we thought you were doing that” conversations
Protects your budget
And dramatically reduces surprise invoices (everyone’s favourite kind of surprise 🙃)

Whether you’re reviewing a proposal or re-negotiating an existing agreement, here’s a complete, plain-English checklist of what a solid strata landscaping contract should include and what to watch out for.

1. Clear Scope of Work (AKA: What’s Actually Included)

This is the single most important part of any landscaping contract.

Your contract should clearly spell out:

Lawn mowing (frequency & area
Edging and trimming
Hedge pruning
Weed control
Leaf cleanup
Garden bed maintenance
Litter and debris pickup
Seasonal Work
Spring clean-ups
Fall clean-ups
Winter service
Mulching
Fertilization schedules

👉 Pro tip: If it isn’t written down, it isn’t included. “General maintenance” means wildly different things to different landscaping contractors.

2. Frequency & Schedule (Because “Regularly” Is Not a Schedule)

Words like regularly, as needed, or periodically are red flags 🚩

Your contract should specify:

Weekly / bi-weekly / monthly visits
Seasonal frequency changes
Time windows (e.g. weekdays, mornings only)
Weather-related flexibility

3. Pricing Structure (No Landscaping Roulette, Please)

A good strata contract clearly explains how pricing works.

Look for:

Flat monthly rate vs itemized pricing
What’s included in the base price
What triggers extra charges
Hourly rates for additional work

💡 Green flag: Transparent pricing with defined add-on rates
🚩 Red flag: “Additional work billed as required” (translation: surprise invoices)

4. Exclusions (The Fine Print That Actually Matters)

A professional contractor will clearly state what is NOT included.

Common exclusions:

Tree removal over 15ft
Emergency storm cleanup
Irrigation repairs
Pest control
Major plant replacements

This protects both sides and avoids frustration when something unexpected pops up (because it always does).

5. Communication & Reporting (No Ghosting Allowed)

Strata councils and managers don’t want daily emails…
…but they do want clarity.

A good contract includes:

Primary point of contact
Response time expectations
How issues are reported
Site reports or visit notes
Photo documentation (when relevant)

📸 Bonus points for before-and-after photos. Councils love those.

6. Health, Safety & Insurance (The Boring Stuff That’s Actually Very Exciting)

Your contract should confirm:

Liability insurance coverage
WCB coverage
Safety compliance
Responsibility for damages
Equipment safety standards

If this section is missing or vague, that’s a hard stop.

7. Term Length & Renewal Terms

Watch closely here 👀

Look for:

Contract length (1 year? 2 years? 3?)
Automatic renewal clauses
Notice periods for cancellation
Termination for cause vs convenience

🚩 Red flag: Long terms with short cancellation windows
✅ Green flag: Fair notice periods and flexibility

8. Performance Reviews & Accountability

Great contracts don’t just hope for good performance they plan for it.

Helpful inclusions:

Annual or seasonal reviews
KPI's or performance benchmarks
Remediation timelines
Escalation processes

This keeps the relationship professional, proactive, and drama-free.

9. Enhancement & Improvement Work

Maintenance keeps things alive.

Enhancements make things beautiful 🌿

Your contract should clarify:

How improvement projects are quoted
Approval process
Timeline expectations
Warranty on plants and workmanship

This avoids confusion when councils start dreaming bigger (as they should).

The Ultimate Strata Landscaping Contract Checklist

Before signing anything, ask yourself:

✔ Is the scope crystal clear?
✔ Are visit frequencies defined?
✔ Is pricing transparent?
✔ Are exclusions listed?
✔ Are quality standards measurable?
✔ Is communication structured?
✔ Is insurance confirmed?
✔ Are termination terms fair?

If you’re answering “ummm…” to more than one of these, it might be time for a second look.