Start with the decision
Look for landscaping businesses whose experience matches the actual package, then confirm their service area and availability. Start by separating planting, ground preparation, irrigation and aftercare. A general trade label is not enough to tell you whether a company is suited to all three.
This guide is for business-to-business project planning in the United States and Canada. For the wider trade context, visit the landscaping resource hub.
Build a shortlist around the work
| Package to discuss | Information to share | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Planting | planting schedule and approved locations | Are selections and substitution approvals complete? |
| Ground preparation | soil and grading information for the package | What condition will the preceding trade hand over? |
| Irrigation and aftercare | irrigation interfaces and follow-up requirements | Who owns water access and ongoing care? |
Download the landscaping find contractors worksheet (CSV)
Fill in the response, owner or source, and date checked. Keep unresolved items visible. The file contains planning prompts only; it does not calculate quantities or make an approval decision.
Put the checklist to work
- Prepare a short brief describing experience with the landscape package, site access and coordination around finished construction. Include location and intended timing without disclosing confidential client details.
- Seek businesses through relevant trade networks, project contacts and suitable directories. Confirm that a company serves the actual location; an online listing is not evidence of capacity.
- Ask who would handle bulk grading, soil supply, irrigation, hardscape and maintenance after installation. Keep responsibility gaps visible before inviting a detailed quotation.
- Record each business’s response, its source and the date. Mark unanswered questions as unconfirmed rather than treating them as a pass.
A scope gap worth discussing
Illustrative example — not a Build Accord client project
A planting quote includes installation but excludes establishment care. Agree who carries the follow-up work before comparing it with an offer that includes that period.
Apply this to your decision: A small, documented list of businesses worth inviting to the next conversation, with open questions assigned to a project-team member.
Using this in the US and Canada
For a project in the United States
Record the state, local jurisdiction and actual service area. Confirm the project location and the scope of the business’s authority with the responsible project team. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a starting point for business licensing resources.
For a project in Canada
Record the province or territory, municipality and actual service area. Use Canada’s permits and licences resources to locate relevant checks, including the linked BizPaL service. Confirm requirements for the actual activity and location.
For either market, state the currency, units and deadline time zone. This worksheet is general planning guidance, not a determination of licensing, procurement eligibility or technical compliance.
The next useful step
Continue with landscaping subcontractor prequalification questions. For the other side of the conversation, see the landscaping bid proposal guide.
Build Accord coordinates introductions between construction project teams and trade contractors. An inquiry starts a discussion of fit and availability; it does not guarantee a contractor, an invitation to bid or an award. These guides are not a listing of currently available crews or projects.