← Back to Blog·Trade Guides·9 min read·February 20, 2026

How to Write a Landscaping Proposal That Wins the Job [2026 Guide]

Landscaping is one of the most competitive trades out there. Every market has dozens of companies fighting for the same residential and commercial accounts. The difference between winning and losing often comes down to one thing: who presents the most professional proposal.

Homeowners hiring a landscaper are making a visual decision about their property — the most valuable asset most people own. They want to see professionalism before you touch a single plant. Your proposal is the first project they see from you. Make it count.

Types of Landscaping Work (And When You Need a Proposal)

Quick quote is fine for:

•One-time mowing or cleanup

•Small mulching jobs

•Simple plant replacements

•Existing maintenance clients adding a service

Formal proposal is necessary for:

•New landscape installations ($1,000+)

•Hardscaping (patios, retaining walls, walkways)

•Recurring maintenance contracts

•Commercial property bids

•Any competitive bid situation

•Irrigation system installation or redesign

What Every Landscaping Proposal Should Include

1. Property Assessment

Start with what you observed. This shows you actually looked at the property and aren't giving a cookie-cutter bid.

Example: "The front yard (approximately 2,400 sq ft) currently features overgrown foundation plantings, sparse lawn coverage with significant bare spots, and outdated edging. The rear patio area has an existing 12×12 concrete pad in fair condition. Soil appears to be clay-heavy with poor drainage along the east side of the property."

2. Design Vision or Plan

For installation projects, describe what the finished product will look like. Homeowners are buying a vision, not a list of plants.

"The proposed design creates a welcoming front entrance with layered plantings that provide year-round color and texture. Low-maintenance native perennials will border the walkway, with evergreen foundation shrubs providing structure and winter interest. The new sod lawn will be graded for proper drainage away from the foundation."

If you create landscape designs or sketches, include them or reference them in the proposal.

3. Detailed Scope of Work

Break down every task by phase:

Site Preparation:

•Remove existing overgrown shrubs and dispose of debris

•Grade and level front yard area for proper drainage

•Amend soil with compost (specify quantity)

•Install landscape fabric in planting beds

Planting:

•Install 6 foundation shrubs (specify species, size)

•Install 24 perennials in front border (specify species)

•Install 3 ornamental trees (specify species, caliper)

•Lay 1,800 sq ft of sod (specify type — Bermuda, fescue, etc.)

Hardscaping:

•Install 120 sq ft paver walkway (specify material)

•Install aluminum landscape edging (specify linear feet)

Finishing:

•Apply 4 yards of hardwood mulch to all planting beds

•Install drip irrigation in planting beds

•Adjust existing sprinkler heads for new lawn area

•Full cleanup and debris removal

4. Plant and Material Specifications

Landscaping clients care about what's going in their yard. Specify:

•Plant species, variety, and container size (e.g., "3-gallon Knockout Rose, red")

•Sod type and source

•Mulch type and depth

•Paver brand, color, and pattern

•Stone or gravel type and quantity

5. Maintenance Plan (If Applicable)

For recurring maintenance contracts, define exactly what each visit includes:

•Mowing (frequency, cutting height)

•Edging and trimming

•Blowing (driveways, walkways, patios)

•Weed control (beds, cracks)

•Fertilization and weed treatment schedule (quarterly, bi-monthly)

•Seasonal services (leaf cleanup, aeration, overseeding)

•What's NOT included (tree trimming above X feet, irrigation repair)

6. Pricing Breakdown

Itemize by category:

•Plants and materials

•Labor (installation)

•Equipment rental (if applicable — skid steer, dingo, etc.)

•Delivery fees

•Disposal/dump fees

•Irrigation materials and labor (if applicable)

How to Price Landscaping Work

Common Residential Pricing

Lawn Maintenance (per visit, average residential lot):

•Mow, edge, trim, blow: $40 - $80/visit

•Weekly service (monthly rate): $160 - $320/month

•Bi-weekly service (monthly rate): $80 - $160/month

Installation Work:

•Sod installation: $1.50 - $3.00/sq ft (installed)

•Mulch installation: $45 - $75/cubic yard (installed)

•Planting (shrubs, per plant installed): $50 - $150 depending on size

•Planting (perennials, per plant installed): $15 - $40

•Tree planting (2-3" caliper): $300 - $800 per tree (installed)

Hardscaping:

•Paver patio: $15 - $30/sq ft (installed)

•Paver walkway: $20 - $40/sq ft (installed)

•Retaining wall: $25 - $50/sq ft face area (installed)

•Gravel patio or path: $8 - $15/sq ft (installed)

Irrigation:

•New sprinkler system (average lot): $3,000 - $6,000

•Drip irrigation for beds: $1.50 - $3.00/linear ft

•Sprinkler repair (per head): $50 - $150

Pricing Strategy

Landscaping pricing should account for:

•Materials at cost + 20-30% markup

•Labor at $35-65/man-hour (varies by market and skill level)

•Equipment costs (fuel, maintenance, replacement)

•Overhead: 15-25% (insurance, vehicle, marketing)

•Profit: 10-20%

For maintenance contracts, aim for $1/minute as a baseline. If a property takes 45 minutes for a 2-person crew, that's $90/visit minimum.

Sample Landscaping Proposal: Front Yard Renovation

Project: Complete front yard renovation including plant removal, soil amendment, new plantings, sod installation, and paver walkway.

Materials:

•6x Dwarf Yaupon Holly (3-gal): $240

•12x Autumn Sage (1-gal): $144

•12x Black-Eyed Susan (1-gal): $108

•2x Crape Myrtle (15-gal, 2" caliper): $380

•Bermuda sod, 1,800 sq ft: $720

•Belgard Dublin Cobble pavers, 120 sq ft: $600

•Paver base and sand: $240

•Aluminum edging (200 LF): $280

•Hardwood mulch (6 yards): $240

•Soil amendments and compost: $180

•Landscape fabric (4 rolls): $80

•Drip irrigation supplies: $320

Materials Subtotal: $3,532

Labor:

•Demolition and removal of existing plants: $400

•Grading and soil preparation: $600

•Paver walkway installation: $1,200

•Plant installation: $500

•Sod installation: $720

•Irrigation installation: $480

•Mulching and finishing: $300

•Cleanup and disposal: $200

Labor Subtotal: $4,400

Other:

•Debris hauling and dump fees: $250

•Equipment rental (skid steer, 1 day): $350

Other Subtotal: $600

Project Total: $8,532

5 Landscaping Bid Mistakes to Avoid

1. No plant guarantee. Most professional landscapers guarantee plants for 1 year. If you don't, the client will go with someone who does.

2. Underestimating soil work. Bad soil kills plants and lawns. If the property needs significant amendment, grading, or drainage work, price it in. Skipping it means callbacks.

3. Seasonal pricing gaps. Material costs and availability change seasonally. Include an expiration date on your proposal (30-60 days).

4. Vague maintenance contracts. "Weekly maintenance" means different things to different people. Define every service, frequency, and exclusion.

5. Not showing the vision. A list of plants means nothing to most homeowners. Describe what the finished product will look like. Even better, include a rough sketch or reference photos.

Generate Your Landscaping Proposal in 60 Seconds

BidSnap generates professional landscaping proposals with detailed plant lists, itemized pricing, project timelines, and terms. Describe the project and download a branded PDF.

Try the free landscaping proposal generator — no signup required.