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.
Final Thought: A Good Contract = A Better Relationship
The best strata landscaping contracts don’t just protect budgets they build trust.
They reduce friction.
- They set expectations.
- They make everyone’s job easier.
- And frankly, they make the landscaping look better too 😉
If you ever want a second set of eyes on a strata landscaping contract (or want to see what a
really clear one looks like), that’s kind of our thing.
🌲
Urban Forest Landscaping
Professional, proactive, and allergic to vague contracts.
