Why December Is the Best Month to Lock In a Landscaper

December is when most commercial properties shift their attention to budgets, contract renewals, and operational planning for the year ahead. What many property managers don’t fully realize is that December offers a strategic advantage when selecting a landscape partner. The decisions made this month determine service quality, pricing stability, and the property’s performance for the next 12 months.

December is when capacity is still available—but not for long

Landscape companies with strong operational discipline plan their spring routes early. By January and February, high-performing firms begin to hit capacity, especially for weekly maintenance routes. Securing your landscaper in December ensures your property is placed on the optimal route with the right crew, rather than squeezed into leftover capacity after budgets finalize.

Pricing is more stable and more predictable in December

When landscape contracts are finalized in December, pricing reflects the coming season’s known variables: labor outlook, material costs, water restrictions, fuel expectations, and planned route density. By January or February, these variables shift—and late buyers often pay more because contractors must accommodate additional strain on scheduling, staffing, and routing.

December decisions secure the best crew alignment

High-performing landscape companies assign their strongest crews to long-term, well-planned routes. When contracts are finalized in December:

• You secure your preferred crew

• The operations team can build a stable, predictable route

• Efficiency improves all season

• Service consistency increases dramatically

  This proactive approach reduces turnover, improves communication, and builds crew familiarity with your property.

December allows early planning for enhancements and irrigation upgrades

Properties that secure their landscaper early enter spring with a plan—not a reaction. December is the perfect time for:

• Annual enhancement planning

• Irrigation optimization strategies

• Water budgeting

• Soil health programs

• Seasonal color planning

• Long-term plant replacements

  By the time spring hits, your property is already operating with a strategic roadmap instead of hurried last-minute decisions.

Your landscaper can walk the property without snow or spring rush

December provides a unique window where:

• Leaves are down (revealing structure issues)

• Snow hasn’t yet covered everything

• Crews have availability to perform deep audits

  This allows for the most accurate assessment of turf health, drainage issues, plant stress, irrigation risk areas, and enhancement possibilities.

December avoids the January bottleneck most PMs face

Most property managers finalize contracts in January. This leads to:

• Slow response times

• Delayed proposals

• Shortened walkthrough opportunities

• Limited route availability

• Less favorable pricing

  December eliminates this competition and moves you to the front of the queue.

The biggest advantage: building your 2025 strategy early

Landscape management is not a set-and-forget service. It’s a year-round asset requiring planning, risk mitigation, and alignment between your goals and your landscaper’s operational model. When you select your provider in December, you gain:

• A detailed 12-month landscape plan

• A proactive irrigation and water management strategy

• Early enhancement budgeting

• A stable crew assignment

• Higher quality throughout the year

• December is the month where the smartest properties build the strongest foundation for the upcoming season.