Landscape Marketing Strategies for 2026: Proven Tactics for Stability and Growth.

Updated September 2025

Owners of landscape and outdoor living companies juggle more than most realize — from scheduling crews and ensuring flawless execution to keeping clients delighted in a highly seasonal and competitive industry. Marketing often feels like one more spinning plate.

But here’s the truth: marketing isn’t just about filling next week’s calendar. Done right, it creates predictable growth, stable revenue, and even long-term company value. In fact, with private equity interest rising, your marketing infrastructure has become as much of an asset as your contracts, fleet, or team.

This 2026 guide is built for you, the owner who wants clarity, consistency, and confidence in growth. We’ll walk through 11 proven strategies, highlight results from real companies, and show how marketing can move from a cost center to a competitive advantage. Keep in mind, its the comprehensive system that drives everything forward, rather than any individual part. Read more about the system here.

How Much Should a Landscape & Outdoor Living Company Spend on Marketing?

Most companies invest 3–5% of annual revenue in marketing. Residential-focused firms often spend closer to 4–5% because they depend on a steady influx of leads, while commercial and design-build firms typically land around 2–3% since contracts and referrals reduce dependency on inbound marketing. Growth-focused companies sometimes push higher for a period, but the real objective isn’t to hit a number — it’s to prove ROI and then scale what works..

Aligning Spend with Goals and Timing

Benchmarks are useful, but percentages only tell part of the story. The more important question is: what do you want your marketing to achieve, and when? The SBA often cites 8% of revenue as a small-business marketing benchmark, but in the lawn, landscape, and outdoor living industry, 3–5% is the realistic range. Residential companies lean closer to 5%, while commercial-focused firms often land around 3–4%. Owners who expect transformational growth while budgeting only 0.5% of revenue are setting themselves up for disappointment. Ambition has to be matched with investment.

Timing is just as critical as percentages. If a $2M company wants to aggressively increase leads for tree pruning over the next 30 days, that’s a short-term Google Ads play with immediate budget allocation. If the same company wants to grow design-build contracts, they’ll need consistent, year-round investment in SEO, nurturing, and brand visibility, because those buying cycles often run three to six months.

Think of it as a layered system. Google Ads and LSAs deliver short-term results by pushing seasonal services, balancing out a lost project, or capturing demand that already exists. Meta Ads provide mid-term positioning, building awareness now for services you want demand for in two to four months while retargeting visitors from SEO, Google Ads, or email. SEO is the long-term asset — the visibility that compounds over time and ensures your company is present when prospects start their research months in advance.

Companies should also make sure revenue and projections are on the table when setting budgets. If your company expects to hit $4.5M this year instead of $4M, your marketing spend should scale accordingly.

The bottom line: percentages give you a benchmark, but alignment between spend, goals, and timing is what ensures your dollars translate into predictable growth.

Build Scalable Marketing Infrastructure for Growth & Exit Planning

Marketing isn’t just about filling this season’s schedule — it’s about creating systems that scale with your company. In fact, private equity and M&A buyers consistently prize companies with predictable, repeatable marketing pipelines because they signal stability, lower risk, and future profitability.

That kind of scalability comes from infrastructure:

• Attribution systems that prove exactly where revenue comes from.

• CRM integration that ties leads to contracts and prevents lost opportunities.

• Consistent pipelines that balance seasonality and maintain momentum year-round.

For owners considering growth, succession, or even eventual exit, investing in marketing infrastructure has a dual payoff: it drives revenue today and raises valuation tomorrow.

Related reading: Future-Proofing Growth: Mastering M&A and Private Equity in Lawn, Landscape, and Outdoor Living.

Best Landscape Marketing Channels in 2026

Some channels drive immediate results, others build authority over time. The best owners balance both.

12 Marketing Strategies Driving Growth for Landscape and Outdoor Living Companies in 2025 and Beyond.

1. Invest in Local SEO, AI Optimization & Google Business Profile

1. Invest in Local SEO, AI Optimization & Google Business Profile

Search still dominates how prospects find companies like yours. Google remains the starting point for most buyers looking for a landscape or outdoor living partner. But increasingly, AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Bing Copilot are influencing decisions too. The balance in 2026 isn’t about one replacing the other — it’s about making sure your company is visible in both.

That requires entity-driven SEO: building clusters of content around your services (pools, hardscapes, snow, maintenance), your service areas, and your expertise. By doing this, you help both Google and AI platforms recognize you as a trusted entity. A design-build company might publish detailed guides on pool permitting and seasonal stone care, while a snow contractor might create resources around HOA compliance.

At the same time, your Google Business Profile (GBP) remains one of the most powerful tools. Keeping it current with photos, posts, categories, and reviews signals relevance and reliability. One company that optimized its GBP and built service-area landing pages doubled conversions in under six months — proof that search visibility is still the primary driver of steady leads.

SEO is a long-term play, but it compounds. And when paired with AI-readiness (content structured for entity recognition, schema markup, conversational Q&A), you ensure your company is discoverable wherever buyers are searching. Just ask Premier Gunite Pools, who turned entity-driven SEO into multi-state dominance without multiple office locations.

Winning in 2026 requires more than technical optimization—it means knowing what homeowners are actively searching for. Search volume data reveals where demand is shifting: sustainable landscaping searches are up 38% since 2019, commercial landscaping keyword searches have surged +228% since 2021, and nuanced declines, like the drop in “Outdoor Living Spaces,” highlight the need for precise keyword targeting.

Companies that align SEO content with these insights—creating localized service pages, educational blogs, and seasonal campaigns—will be better positioned to capture leads and outpace competitors.

Read more: How to SEO Your Landscaping Company to Rank in ChatGPT and Other AI Search Tools.

2. Run Targeted Google Ads & Local Service Ads (LSAs)

SEO is foundational, but sometimes you need results quickly — to push seasonal enhancements, spotlight lighting upgrades, or balance out revenue when a project falls through. That’s where Google Ads and LSAs step in.

Paid search is powerful because it captures buyers with high intent. Someone searching for “outdoor kitchen contractor near me” or “commercial landscape maintenance bids” is already looking to hire. By targeting those terms, you put your company in front of decision-makers at the exact moment they’re ready.

LSAs add another layer of credibility with the Google Guarantee badge, which often translates into higher close rates. But success doesn’t come from throwing more money into ads — precision is what drives ROI. That means campaigns built around tightly defined service areas, refined with negative keywords to eliminate wasted spend, and supported by call tracking to connect every lead back to revenue.

When dialed in, results can be dramatic. One company reduced its cost per lead by 50% simply by tightening targeting and adding attribution. Another, Jan Fence, scaled ad spend from $1,200 to $36,000/month while keeping CPL below $26 — turning PPC into a reliable, predictable revenue engine.

For owners who need the phone ringing immediately, Google Ads and LSAs are the lever to pull. Just make sure attribution is in place so you know which dollars are working.For owners who need the phone ringing immediately, Google Ads and LSAs are the lever to pull. Just make sure attribution is in place so you know which dollars are working.

Review HALSTEAD’s approach to Google Ads here.

3. Run Paid Media Campaigns with Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram)

If Google captures intent, Meta creates demand. And in 2026, Meta Ads are one of the best ways for owners to proactively put their company in front of the right audience.

The most effective campaigns go beyond broad targeting. Radius campaigns ensure your ads appear only in the neighborhoods where your services are profitable. Lead form ads flow directly into your CRM or nurture system so prospects hear back quickly. Retargeting ads follow up with people who already visited your website or clicked an email, keeping your brand top of mind. You can even design audiences to zero in on high-end homeowners based on income, home value, or interests, then use lookalikes to expand reach to people who resemble your best clients.

The payoff is real. One company filled its spring schedule in just two weeks with a seasonal “Lock in Early” campaign. Another closed a $75K patio project from a lead gen ad that followed with email nurturing. Those aren’t one-offs — they show how Meta Ads, when integrated into a funnel, move people from curiosity to contract.

When combined with SEO for authority and Google Ads for immediate intent, Meta Ads complete the modern marketing trifecta: long-term visibility, short-term demand capture, and proactive demand creation.

Review HALSTEAD’s approach to Facebook and Instagram Ads here.

4. Build a High-Converting Website

Your website is often the first impression a prospect has of your company — and in 2026, that impression needs to do more than look good. Homeowners, property managers, and developers expect clarity, proof, and a seamless path to the next step. A “pretty but passive” website is no longer enough.

Too many companies treat their site like a static brochure. But in reality, your website should function like a 24/7 sales rep: qualifying visitors, answering objections, and guiding them toward action.

If your site loads slowly, looks outdated, or buries important information, you’re signaling the wrong message before a prospect ever speaks to your team. As Halstead notes in 6 Clear Signs Your Lawn and Outdoor Living Website Needs Updates, things like clunky navigation, thin service pages, or lack of mobile optimization are clear red flags that cost you opportunities.

A modern, high-converting site should deliver:

• Mobile-first speed and design that works flawlessly on any device.
  
  Clear calls-to-action segmented for residential vs. commercial buyers.
  
  Proof of trust: reviews, certifications, association memberships, and guarantees.
  
  Visual depth: updated galleries, drone footage, and even video walkthroughs that make your projects tangible.
  
  Easy navigation: simple menus and clear service pathways so prospects can find what they need quickly.
  

One design-build company that restructured its site with service-specific CTAs and refreshed project galleries saw form submissions increase by 38% in just a few months. That growth wasn’t magic — it was about eliminating friction and making it effortless for prospects to raise their hand.

And here’s the hard truth: if you’re already investing in SEO, Google Ads, or Meta Ads, but your website isn’t converting traffic, you’re pouring water into a leaky bucket. The companies that win in 2026 aren’t the ones with the most traffic — they’re the ones with websites that consistently turn visits into booked consultations. 

Read more: 6 Clear Signs Your Lawn and Outdoor Living Website Needs Updates.

5. Clarify Your Message with StoryBrand

Many landscape companies talk about their services. Few make their customers the hero of the story. StoryBrand messaging continues to prove its power in simplifying communication and building trust.

Consider these clear, customer-focused examples:

Problem: “It’s hard to find landscape companies who truly get what you want for your outdoor space.”

Guide: “We help bring your vision to life with eco-friendly designs and expert craftsmanship.”

Transformation, the ultimate message: “Turn your backyard into a relaxing space you’ll love for years to come.”

Simple, empathetic copy like this differentiates your business from competitors weighed down by jargon and self-focused messaging. In an industry where homeowners face overwhelming choices, clarity is what converts. And just as importantly, clarity arms your sales team with language that removes confusion and builds confidence at every stage of the buying journey.

6. Collect & Showcase Customer Reviews

In this industry, reputation is everything. Reviews aren’t just “nice to have” — they’re the currency of trust. In 2026, buyers will often make their decision before they ever pick up the phone, and what they see on your Google Business Profile can make or break that choice.

Owners should automate review requests through email or SMS immediately after projects wrap up. More importantly, those reviews should be displayed everywhere: your GBP, your website, in ads, and even in your proposals.

Companies with 100+ GBP reviews frequently see 2× the call volume compared to competitors with fewer than 20. One outdoor living firm reported that a client signed a $60K project specifically because they said, “We chose you after reading your reviews.”

Reviews do more than validate — they compound. The more you have, the more Google rewards you in rankings, and the more prospects view you as the safest bet.

7. Leverage Referral Programs

Word-of-mouth referrals are still one of the most powerful — and cost-effective — marketing channels for owners of landscape and outdoor living companies. But waiting for them passively is a mistake. Instead, build a structured referral program that incentivizes clients, partners, or even vendors to spread the word.

For example, a lawn care company might offer $100 service credits for each new customer referral, while a design-build firm could give $500 gift cards for referrals that close on large projects. Some companies even partner with builders or architects so that shared clients receive discounts, creating a mutually beneficial pipeline.

The key is to make it easy: give clients a simple link or card to share, and acknowledge every referral promptly. Done right, referrals not only bring in new business but also deepen loyalty with your existing client base.

8. Use Social Media (Instagram & Facebook)

Social media in 2026 isn’t about likes or vanity metrics — it’s about showing up where your clients already are. Every day, homeowners and property managers scroll Instagram and Facebook for inspiration, evaluate which companies look trustworthy, and even use these platforms as their first point of customer service. If your company isn’t consistently visible, you’re letting competitors own that space.

The most effective landscape companies treat social as more than a marketing channel. They use it to bring their work to life with transformation reels and before-and-after highlights. They build trust by showing the people behind the projects and by responding quickly when someone comments or messages. And they reinforce brand authority with consistent design, tone, and storytelling that convey professionalism. This combination does more than build awareness — it shapes perception before a proposal is even requested.

Social media may not be your biggest sales engine, but it’s the connective tissue that keeps your brand top of mind. When clients are ready to act, they already feel like they know you — and that makes choosing your company the easy decision.

Read more: Leveraging Social Media as a Customer Service Channel.

9. Nurture Leads with Email Marketing

Email is one of the most underleveraged tools in this industry. Too many companies treat it as a “newsletter blast” system, but in reality, it should act as a lead-nurturing engine — guiding prospects from first interest to signed contract, and keeping existing clients engaged long after the initial project.

That distinction matters because buying cycles in outdoor living and landscaping are often long. A homeowner researching a patio in January may not be ready to sign until April. A property manager evaluating snow contracts might need weeks of board approval. If you’re not present during that decision-making window, you’ll lose the deal to someone who is.

Strategic nurturing bridges the gap. Seasonal campaigns keep you relevant with spring clean-up reminders, fall prep tips, and winter readiness checklists. Upsells and cross-sells add lifetime value, whether it’s year-round pool care, seasonal enhancements, or multi-site upgrades for commercial properties. Automated follow-ups make sure unclosed leads don’t go cold, while segmented drip campaigns allow you to tailor messages for design-build, maintenance, snow, or pool audiences. Story-driven case studies delivered via email help prospects picture themselves in your clients’ shoes. And a progression from educational content, to testimonials, to clear calls-to-action builds trust step by step until the timing is right.

The results can be significant. One company that shifted from a “blast” mindset to a nurture-first strategy saw a 20% increase in upsells simply by delivering the right offers to the right segments at the right time.

The best part? Nurturing doesn’t just generate new projects; it keeps competitors at bay. Clients who feel consistently informed and valued are far less likely to shop around next season.

Related reading: From Click to Contract: The Email Nurturing Strategy Every Landscape Business Needs.

10. Video Marketing

In 2026, video has moved from “nice-to-have” to non-negotiable. Prospects want proof — proof that you deliver on your promises, proof of satisfied clients, and proof of the transformations your company creates. While text and photos matter, it’s video that conveys emotion, trust, and scale in a way no other medium can.

Halstead’s article on Mastering Visuals reminds us that imagery should be more than decoration — it should tell a story. Video takes that principle further by weaving motion, sound, and narrative together to create a powerful sales tool.

The most effective owners lean into three core approaches. They capture client testimonials on-site, letting customers share experiences in their own words, which builds trust far beyond a written quote. They film project walkthroughs that highlight craftsmanship and process, helping prospects visualize what it’s like to work with the team and see the end results. And they create short educational clips — from “three things to know before designing an outdoor kitchen” to “how to prepare your property for snow season” — that position them as the guide, not just another vendor.

The beauty of video is its flexibility. A single testimonial can live on your website, be shared across social media, run as a pre-roll ad on YouTube, and even be embedded in proposals. One company that launched a video testimonial series shortened its sales cycle by 30% because prospects arrived already convinced of their credibility.

Beyond conversion, video strengthens branding. A consistent visual style reinforces professionalism, while authentic, story-driven footage creates an emotional connection with viewers. When paired with written storytelling, video turns your marketing into a multi-sensory experience that builds authority and memorability.

Beyond lead generation, video also plays a role in recruiting talent—highlighting company culture, employee stories, and project showcases to attract skilled workers. Whether it’s a 15-second Reel, a testimonial on a landing page, or a project walkthrough, video marketing builds trust, increases conversions, and strengthens brand recognition across platforms.

The bottom line: if you’re not leveraging video, you’re invisible to a growing segment of buyers who expect to see proof before they ever schedule a call.

11. Network with Local Associations & Partnerships

While digital drives scale, relationships still win contracts. Associations like NALP, builders’ groups, or HOA boards are trust accelerators.

One snow management company presented at a local property managers’ event and landed a multi-site HOA contract worth hundreds of thousands annually. That single opportunity paid dividends far beyond what a digital campaign might have produced.

Partnerships with builders, architects, or property managers also create reliable pipelines of referral work. For commercial-focused companies, these partnerships are often as valuable as ads or SEO. Networking isn’t old-school — it’s evergreen. The companies who consistently show up, sponsor, and contribute are the ones that get remembered when the big contracts come around.

12. Track Metrics with Multi-Attribution & CallRail

Guessing at what’s working is one of the fastest ways to waste marketing dollars. In 2026, owners need attribution systems that don’t just count clicks but reveal which strategies generate real ROI across the entire customer journey.

Many companies still rely on “last-click” attribution — crediting the final touchpoint before a lead converts. The problem? This hides the impact of other channels like SEO, nurturing emails, or retargeting that helped shape the decision. As Halstead explains in Cracking the Code on Marketing Attribution, relying on single-touch attribution makes business owners feel like marketing is failing them, even when it’s working.

To solve this, build a multi-attribution model that captures the full picture. CallRail to track inbound calls back to specific campaigns and keywords. GA4 combined with your CRM to connect web traffic with pipeline visibility and closed deals. First-touch, last-touch, and blended attribution models to see both where awareness starts and where conversion happens.

For example, one company discovered that nearly 40% of its closed revenue came from the combination of an email sequence plus retargeting ads. Without multi-touch attribution, they would have written off email as underperforming — and lost out on a key driver of ROI.

The difference between feeling “burned by marketing” and confidently scaling your budget often comes down to attribution. When you can prove exactly which dollars work, you unlock the confidence to double down on what drives revenue and cut what doesn’t.

Read more: Cracking the Code on Marketing Attribution for Lawn, Landscape, and Snow Management Companies.

CRM: The Backbone of Every Marketing Strategy

While a CRM isn’t a “strategy” on its own, it’s the backbone that makes every marketing effort more effective. A good CRM connects all the dots — from SEO leads and Google Ads calls to Meta Ads forms and email nurture campaigns — and turns scattered activities into a cohesive growth system.

The first advantage is pipeline visibility. Instead of wondering which leads are still alive or which campaigns actually generate revenue, you can see the entire journey from first touch to closed deal. That clarity lets you invest in what works and fix what doesn’t. A CRM also ensures follow-up consistency. Automated reminders and nurturing sequences mean no lead slips through the cracks, and every prospect gets the attention they deserve, even if your team is busy.

Another key benefit is attribution clarity. When you can see that a client came in through SEO, engaged with an email sequence, and then converted after seeing a retargeting ad, you finally know the true ROI of your marketing. And as your company scales, a CRM provides the structure that keeps marketing, sales, and operations aligned, so growth doesn’t turn into chaos.

Without a CRM, even the best campaigns feel like guesswork. With one, you gain the confidence to invest strategically, prove ROI, and grow predictably.

Read more: Why Pipeline Visibility is the Secret to Predictable Revenue Growth.

Case Study Spotlight: Premier Gunite Pools – SEO Expansion

From Local Firm to Regional Pool Authority

When Premier Gunite Pools partnered with Halstead, they were already known for high-quality work in their home market — but leadership had bigger ambitions. They wanted to dominate the high-end custom pool niche across multiple states, without the heavy overhead of opening new offices.

Halstead designed a tailored SEO strategy built on entity-based optimization, state-specific content hubs, and local project showcases. By addressing local permitting questions, maintenance concerns, and project types for each market, Premier positioned itself as the clear authority for both homeowners and AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT.

The results were transformative:

• 218% increase in phone leads within two years.

• Top 3 local pack rankings doubled across service areas.

• Revenue scaled from $2.5M → $5.6M, all while expanding their reach without physical branch locations.

For Premier, SEO was no longer about keywords — it became the growth engine that expanded their brand footprint, created predictable lead flow, and doubled company revenue.

Read the full case study here.

Case Study Spotlight: Jan Fence – Paid Media Scaling

Turning PPC Into a Reliable Revenue Engine

Jan Fence came to Halstead with a familiar frustration: they were spending money on Google Ads but not seeing predictable, scalable results. At the time, their ad budget sat around $1,200/month — enough to test, but not enough to truly move the needle. What they needed wasn’t just more spend — it was structure, attribution, and confidence in ROI.

Halstead rebuilt their paid media program from the ground up, diversifying across Google Ads, Local Service Ads, Display, and YouTube. Weekly refinements on negative keywords, ad copy, and bid strategy kept costs efficient, while call tracking and attribution systems tied every lead back to real revenue. With proof in hand, Jan Fence’s leadership had the confidence to scale aggressively.

The impact was game-changing:

• Ad spend scaled from $1,200 to $36,000/month — without wasted dollars.

• 918% increase in conversions, fueling a steady pipeline of qualified opportunities.

• 790% increase in revenue, making paid media their most reliable growth engine.

Today, PPC isn’t just a channel for Jan Fence — it’s the backbone of their growth strategy, giving them predictability, confidence, and room to expand.

Read the full case study here.

Meeting Homeowner Expectations

Growth in revenue and advancing your marketing means little if businesses fail to meet the changing expectations of homeowners. Today’s clients want fast, simple, and digital-first experiences. Nearly 70% prefer text over phone calls, 45% now see online scheduling as a necessity, and 80% expect replies within 24 hours. On top of that, 70% favor digital or automated payment options. Marketing may open the door, but without the right sales process to support these expectations, opportunities slip away. By aligning sales processes with these preferences—integrating texting, online booking, automated payments, and rapid response times—landscape companies can convert more leads into booked projects and build stronger long-term relationships.

FAQs

What is Landscape Marketing?

Landscape marketing is the system of activities that helps lawn care, design-build, snow, and outdoor living companies attract, convert, and retain clients. It blends digital strategies like SEO, paid media, and email nurturing with relationship-based approaches like referrals and partnerships.

Unlike generic small-business marketing, this industry requires seasonal agility, where campaigns surge during peak seasons but remain active during slower periods. It also demands local credibility, since reviews, referrals, and visibility in local search can matter as much as budget. Finally, service differentiation is critical — design-build, recurring maintenance, and commercial contracts each call for tailored strategies. Done right, marketing makes your company the obvious choice in your local market.

What is the best way to market a landscape and outdoor living company?

Through a balanced mix of SEO, ads, referrals, and email nurturing — all tied together with attribution so you know what’s working

How do landscape companies get clients?

Through digital visibility, referrals, associations, and strong retention strategies that keep existing clients renewing and expanding services.

Should a landscape company hire a marketing agency?

Yes, if they want scalable systems, ROI-driven execution, and more time to focus on operations. The right agency should understand your industry, not just general marketing.

How much should I spend on marketing my landscape company?

Most owners in this industry spend 3–5% of annual revenue on marketing. Residential services may lean closer to 5%, while commercial can sometimes succeed at 3–4%. Ambition and timing matter: transformational growth requires a larger investment.

What are the differences between marketing residential and commercial services?

Residential: Emphasizes visuals, quick-turn services, and seasonal offers. Campaigns need to connect emotionally and highlight lifestyle impact.

Commercial: Focuses on credibility, contracts, and reliability. Bidding, referrals, and association visibility often matter as much as digital presence.

What can I do to increase my close rate?

Elevate your sales experience. Use proposal tools with visuals, embed testimonials and video case studies, and follow up with nurture sequences. Clients expect professionalism at every stage — and small details can be the difference in winning high-ticket projects.

How does a CRM like HubSpot help me?

A CRM isn’t a “strategy,” but it’s the backbone that makes every strategy more effective. It gives you pipeline visibility, automates follow-ups, nurtures leads, and connects campaigns directly to revenue. With a CRM, you can stop guessing which dollars drive results and scale confidently.

What should I look for when researching a marketing company?

Look for:

Industry expertise (not just generic small-business marketing)

Proven ROI attribution (clear reporting on what works)

Retention strategies (not just lead generation)

Scalability (systems that grow with you)

Transparency (no vague “trust us” reports)

The best agencies become true partners, not vendors.

Checklist & Next Steps

📎 Download the 2026 Marketing Checklist (PDF)

Need help implementing these strategies? See how our Landscape Marketing Agency can help.

The owners who win in 2026 won’t be the ones chasing leads blindly. They’ll be the ones who treat marketing as an engine of growth and company value. Attribution, consistency, and scalable systems separate the companies that survive a season from those that build a legacy.