Landscaping Services

The 114,800 landscaping services firms in the US provide planting, fertilizing, mowing, leaf and snow blowing, edging and trimming, construction, cleaning, and pest removal services for commercial and residential customers. Landscaping for commercial properties makes up 53% of industry sales. Residential areas account for 33% of sales, but are often the sole focus of small landscaping firms.

Ongoing Equipment Costs

Landscaping firms need money to purchase, maintain, and repair quickly depreciating equipment.

Worker Documentation

Landscaping services rely on unskilled, low-wage workers to keep overhead low.

Aug 20, 2026 - Smart Irrigation Becomes the Norm

• Turf Magazine reports that smart irrigation controllers are becoming essential as customers seek convenient, app-based control and contractors look to improve service efficiency. Modern systems emphasize simple operation, easy installation, modular expansion, weather and flow sensing, automated alerts, and remote troubleshooting. Contractors can use mobile apps to transfer system access, map irrigation zones, diagnose problems before service calls, and adjust watering based on rainfall and local conditions. For lawn and garden equipment manufacturers, growing adoption of smart irrigation could increase demand for connected controllers, sensors, modular components, and other technology-enabled products while encouraging manufacturers to prioritize interoperability and ease of use. Contractors also benefit from carrying fewer controller models, reducing truck inventory, shortening service visits, and offering customers more proactive support.
• The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has updated its Decarbonizing Specifications guide to help landscape architects reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance biodiversity, and meet the organization's goal of zero-emission projects by 2040. The revised guide adds or updates sections covering playground and sports equipment, exterior maintenance, synthetic surfacing, site furnishings, vegetated roofs, paving, soils, plants, turf, and other specifications. Developed by the ASLA Climate and Biodiversity Action Committee, the resource outlines seven design principles and 24 specification areas intended to support lower-emission design and construction decisions. The broader climate plan calls for increased carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection, touting the economic benefits of eco-friendly spaces, and more equitable climate and biodiversity investments.
• Some landscapers may see softening demand for new landscaping projects as home improvement spending eases. Home remodeling spending growth is expected to slow through mid-2027, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report released in July by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. Homeowner spending on improvements and repairs is expected to increase by 2.1% to $517 billion in the third quarter of 2026, compared with Q3 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2026, remodeling spending will again rise by 2.1% from Q4 2025 to $520 billion. Spending growth will then slow to 0.7% in the first quarter of 2027, reaching $524 billion. In the second quarter of 2027, year-over-year spending is forecast to rise just 0.5%, dropping to a total of $519 billion. Remodeling, permitting, and building product sales have remained flat recently, and remodeling activity growth is projected to remain sluggish absent a rebound in US home sales.
• According to Landscape Management, landscaping contractors who adopt autonomous mowing report gains in labor efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction as robotic equipment becomes more practical for commercial use. Early adopters say autonomous mowers help address labor shortages by shifting employees from repetitive mowing to higher-value work such as trimming, landscaping enhancements, irrigation, and sports field preparation. Companies also report faster job completion, improved route efficiency when deployments are carefully planned, and growing customer demand for robotic mowing. Contractors caution that successful adoption requires upfront investment, employee training, data analysis, and thoughtful route planning. While many landscapers remain hesitant, users interviewed by Landscape Management believe autonomous mowing is approaching a tipping point and will become a competitive advantage as the technology continues to improve.

Industry size & Structure

An average landscaping service has 8 employees and generates $1 million in annual revenue.

• The US has about 114,800 landscaping firms that employ 911,100 workers and generate about $130.7 billion in annual sales.
• 86% of firms have fewer than 10 employees.
• Some companies operate as franchises, but most are operated independently.
• Segments include commercial, residential, construction, pest extermination, and design.
• Large companies include TruGreen, BrightView, Davey Tree Expert, Lawn Doctor, and US Lawns.