A Property Manager's Guide to Landscaping Contracts

If you manage an apartment building, HOA, or commercial property in Central PA, your landscape contract is one of the highest-touchpoint services on the property. Residents and tenants see the results every day. Here's what a solid contract should include.

Scope of work — get it in writing

A vague scope is where every problem starts. A good contract spells out:

• Mowing frequency (weekly April–October, bi-weekly shoulder seasons)
• Trimming and edging — around every walkway, sign, fence, and structure
• Blow-off of all hard surfaces after every visit
• Mulch installation — spring, specify color, depth (2–3"), and yardage
• Bed weed control — how often, chemical or manual
• Shrub pruning schedule — typically 2x per year
• Spring cleanup and fall leaf removal — with a clear cutoff date
• Snow response if included, with a trigger inch amount

Pricing structures

• Flat annual with monthly billing (easiest to budget for)
• Per-visit (better if property size varies through the season)
• Time and materials (only makes sense for one-off projects)

Ask for a line-item breakdown so you can compare apples to apples across vendors.

Insurance and liability

Require a Certificate of Insurance naming your management company as additional insured. Minimum: $1M general liability and workers' comp. No exceptions.

Red flags

• No written scope
• Refuses to add your company as additional insured
• Owner is the only worker and there's no backup plan
• Bids 30%+ under everyone else
• No references from other multi-family or commercial properties

What we do differently

For commercial and multi-family clients in the Harrisburg area, we offer transparent monthly contracts, a single point-of-contact (Fili), and full insurance coverage. If you're rebidding your property, we'd love to walk it with you. Get in touch or call (717) 889-6802.