This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for a landscaping company.
The global landscaping industry generates about $350 billion in annual revenue in 2025 and keeps expanding on the back of urbanization, sustainability, and technology adoption.
As you plan a landscaping company, focus on the segments, regions, and cost structures that are growing fastest and delivering the best margins.
If you want to dig deeper and learn more, you can download our business plan for a landscaping company. Also, before launching, get all the profit, revenue, and cost breakdowns you need for complete clarity with our landscaping company financial plan.
The landscaping services market stands near $350B in 2025, with a medium-to-high growth outlook (roughly 6–11% CAGR over the next decade). Asia-Pacific leads growth, while U.S. demand remains the single largest revenue base.
Margins vary sharply by segment: recurring maintenance delivers stability but lower gross margins, while design/build and hardscaping drive higher project-level profitability when bidding and scheduling are disciplined.
| Topic | Key takeaway | Numbers to remember (2025 unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| Global market size | Large, diversified, and still expanding worldwide | ~$350B global revenue |
| Growth outlook (5–10 yrs) | Solid medium-term expansion with upside in APAC | ~6.2%–11% CAGR; up to ~$657B by 2035 |
| Largest national market | The U.S. drives scale and consolidation trends | $184–186B, ~5.7–7.5% CAGR |
| Fastest-growing region | APAC driven by urban housing and infrastructure | ~7.4% CAGR; China ~8.3%, Australia ~8.5% |
| Revenue mix | Commercial outweighs residential globally | ~60% commercial / ~40% residential (U.S. often ~70/30) |
| Segment mix | Maintenance dominates volume; design/build drives margin | Maintenance ~43–45%; Design/Build ~25–40%; Hardscape ~15–25% |
| Sustainability | Eco-friendly services accelerating from a strong base | ~$40B sustainable segment; ~10% CAGR |
| Tech adoption | Automation, smart irrigation, and software raise productivity | Robotic mowing, drones, AR/VR, IoT watering |
| Industry structure | Highly fragmented with a handful of national leaders | Top 50 ≈ 20% share; BrightView ~>$2.8B revenue |
| Labor | Persistent shortages push wages and scheduling risk | ~1.3M U.S. workers; ~80% firms report hiring difficulty |
| Post-pandemic demand | Outdoor living spending remains above 2019 levels | Garden/landscape sales and tickets still elevated |
| Key risks | Labor, input costs, regulation, weather/climate | Water/pesticide rules; severe weather interruptions |
How big is the global landscaping industry right now?
The landscaping industry generates about $350 billion in annual revenue in 2025.
This includes design, installation, maintenance, irrigation, hardscaping, tree services, and related offerings across residential and commercial properties. The U.S. is the single largest national market inside this total, providing a strong base for new landscaping companies.
You should benchmark your local serviceable obtainable market against these global and U.S. reference points to size your launch realistically.
You’ll find detailed market insights in our landscaping company business plan, updated every quarter.
Always localize your estimates with population density, housing starts, and commercial inventory.
How fast will landscaping grow in the next 5 to 10 years?
The industry is expected to grow at roughly 6.2% to 11% CAGR over the next decade.
Across scenarios and sources, projections indicate steady volume expansion, with upside in regions investing heavily in residential development, drought-resilient landscapes, and municipal green infrastructure. A $657 billion outcome by 2035 is plausible if high-growth regions and sustainability trends persist.
For your landscaping company, this means planning capacity (crews, equipment, software) for multi-year growth rather than single-season peaks.
It’s a key part of what we outline in the landscaping company business plan.
Calibrate hiring and capex with a rolling 12–24-month pipeline.
Which regions and countries are growing the fastest?
Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region for landscaping services.
Urbanization, new housing, and infrastructure spending are the main catalysts. China, Australia, and New Zealand show notably high growth rates, while in the U.S., Sun Belt states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California expand quickly due to population inflows and longer service seasons.
| Region / Country | Growth driver | 2025–2030 outlook (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific (APAC) | Urbanization, public works, commercial builds | ~7.4% CAGR; rising municipal and mixed-use projects |
| China | City greening, large-scale housing | ~8.3% CAGR; emphasis on sustainable plantings |
| Australia | Outdoor living, drought-resilient landscapes | ~8.5% CAGR; smart irrigation uptake |
| New Zealand | Residential upgrades, tourism-linked properties | ~7.8% CAGR; premium maintenance contracts |
| United States (Sun Belt) | Population growth, longer service seasons | Strong multi-year growth in FL, TX, AZ, CA |
| Western Europe | Regeneration, ESG upgrades on campuses/parks | Moderate growth; higher sustainability standards |
| Middle East | Hospitality, public realm landscaping | Project-driven growth; water-efficient designs |
How is revenue split between residential and commercial clients?
Commercial clients generate the majority of landscaping revenue.
Globally, a ~60% commercial / ~40% residential split is common, while many U.S. markets skew closer to ~70% commercial / ~30% residential. For a new landscaping company, building a recurring portfolio of commercial maintenance contracts can stabilize cash flow and crew utilization.
Residential design/build remains valuable for seasonal cash surges and higher-margin projects when priced correctly.
This is one of the strategies explained in our landscaping company business plan.
Balance your book to avoid over-exposure to one customer type.
Which service segments drive the most revenue and margin?
Maintenance leads revenue share, while design/build and hardscaping often deliver higher margins.
Use maintenance to anchor recurring income, then schedule design/build and hardscape projects to optimize crew productivity. Smart irrigation and tree care can add defensible, specialized margin.
| Service segment | Typical role in a new landscaping company | Benchmarks (U.S. 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Recurring contracts that stabilize cash flow and crew hours | ~43–45% of revenue; ~10–20% gross margin |
| Design / Build | Higher-ticket projects; strong differentiator with 3D/AR design | ~25–40% of revenue; ~25–40% gross margin |
| Hardscaping | Patios, retaining walls; equipment-intensive but lucrative | ~15–25% of revenue; ~20–40% gross margin |
| Irrigation | Smart controllers, drip, retrofits; water-savings ROI story | Smaller share but growing; ~15–25% gross margin |
| Tree services | Specialized skills/equipment; emergency work premiums | ~10% of revenue; ~10–20% gross margin |
| Seasonal add-ons | Mulch, snow (where relevant), lighting, cleanup | Local/seasonal variability; upsell to existing routes |
| Enhancements | Small upgrades on maintenance sites; high hit rate | Attach rate improves margin on fixed routes |
What are the main cost drivers and typical profit margins?
Labor, fuel, equipment, materials, insurance, and compliance dominate landscaping costs.
Most new landscaping companies see net profit potential around the low-to-mid teens once routes are dense and overhead is controlled. Design/build and specialty work can reach materially higher gross margins when bidding, scheduling, and change-order discipline are strong.
| Cost / margin driver | What it means for your operations | Benchmarks / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Labor & wages | Largest controllable cost; shortages raise rates and OT | ~80% firms report hiring difficulty; invest in retention |
| Fuel & transport | Route density, truck choice, and dispatching software matter | Fuel volatility can swing job-level margins by points |
| Equipment | Capex vs leasing; uptime via maintenance plans | Standardize makes/models to simplify parts and training |
| Materials | Bulk buying and supplier terms protect margins | Track waste/shrink; bid with lead times locked |
| Insurance & compliance | Safety training reduces claims and premiums | Water/pesticide regs vary; document procedures |
| Overhead | Back-office software, yard rent, admin | Medium firms: ~$4,000–$12,500/month |
| Net margin | Managed by mix, pricing, and utilization | ~10–20% typical; specialty jobs can exceed this |
How strong is demand for sustainable landscaping?
Eco-friendly landscaping has become a major and fast-growing demand driver.
Customers and municipalities increasingly specify native plants, xeriscaping, rain gardens, permeable hardscapes, and smart irrigation for water and energy efficiency. The sustainable segment alone is around $40B and growing at roughly 10% annually.
Position your landscaping company with clear packages (audit → design → retrofit → maintenance) and document water/utility savings to win competitive bids.
We cover this exact topic in the landscaping company business plan.
Case studies with before/after consumption data close deals faster.
Which technologies are changing landscaping operations?
Automation, smart irrigation, and specialized software are reshaping landscaping productivity.
Robotic mowers and autonomous tools reduce routine labor hours, while drones and AR/VR improve estimating and design approvals. Cloud suites manage routing, timekeeping, proposals, change orders, and job costing end-to-end.
Equip your landscaping company with essentials first (CRM + routing + time tracking), then add robotics or drones where density and site size justify the ROI.
Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our landscaping company business plan.
Smart controllers tied to weather and soil data cut water bills and win RFP points.
Who are the leading players and how concentrated is the market?
The landscaping market is highly fragmented, with a few national leaders.
BrightView is the largest with >$2.8B revenue and ~21,000 employees; the top 50 companies together hold about 20% share. Most markets remain local, giving new landscaping companies room to differentiate with service quality, speed, and sustainability.
| Company | Positioning | Scale indicator (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| BrightView Holdings | National maintenance & enhancement leader | >$2.8B revenue; ~21k employees |
| Davey Tree Expert Company | Tree care, consulting, utility vegetation | Top-tier U.S. player |
| TruGreen | Lawn care focus; residential/commercial | Large route density |
| Yellowstone Landscape | Commercial maintenance & enhancements | Multi-regional U.S. footprint |
| HeartLand | Commercial maintenance platform | Consolidation via M&A |
| Bartlett Tree Experts | Premium arboriculture services | Specialized crews/equipment |
| Mariani / Gothic Landscape | High-end design/build and commercial | Regional leadership |
What are the current employment trends and labor issues?
Landscaping faces persistent labor shortages across seasonal and skilled roles.
U.S. employment sits near 1.3 million workers, with roughly 8 in 10 companies reporting hiring difficulty. For a new landscaping company, invest early in recruiting, training ladders, and retention incentives to avoid schedule slips and rework.
Adopt scheduling buffers, standardize equipment training, and use timekeeping + GPS to lift utilization.
This is one of the many elements we break down in the landscaping company business plan.
Retention quickly becomes the cheapest way to protect margin.
How have customers changed their landscaping spending since the pandemic?
Households and businesses kept investing in outdoor spaces after the pandemic.
Garden center sales and average tickets remain above 2019 levels, and customers continue to prioritize wellness-oriented outdoor areas and functional hardscapes. For a new landscaping company, this means continued demand for enhancement projects layered onto maintenance routes.
Package outdoor living upgrades (surfaces, lighting, shade, edible beds) with clear, fixed-price scopes.
You’ll find detailed market insights in our landscaping company business plan, updated every quarter.
Photograph every project to build a proof-of-value portfolio.
What are the key risks that could slow growth?
Labor tightness, input cost volatility, regulation, and severe weather are the main risks.
- Labor shortages and wage inflation can erode job-level profitability if not priced into bids.
- Fuel and materials volatility requires surcharge clauses and supplier agreements.
- Water-use, pesticide, and climate rules create compliance costs and scope changes.
- Storms, heat waves, and flooding cause interruptions and rework; insurance costs may rise.
- Fast technology adoption may widen performance gaps between firms.
Conclusion
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.
Want to keep exploring the landscaping market?
Dive into our step-by-step guides on planning, funding, pricing, and growth for landscaping services. Each article includes practical templates and benchmarks you can use immediately.
Sources
- Grand View Research — Landscaping Services Market
- Future Market Insights — Landscaping Services Market
- Research and Markets — Landscaping Services
- Mordor Intelligence — United States Landscaping Market
- Intrigue Media — 2025 Landscaping Industry Outlook
- Zentive — Biggest Companies in Landscaping
- Workyard — Landscaping Facts & Statistics
- Garden Center Magazine — 2025 Trends
- NALP — Landscape Industry Statistics
- Allied Market Research — Landscaping Services Forecast
-Landscaping Company: Business Plan (Example & PDF)
-Landscaping: Average Revenue per Customer
-Landscaping: Customer Lifetime Value (How to Calculate)