Landscaping & Hardscaping Quote Checklist
What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.
You're about to sign a landscaping or hardscaping quote — plants, irrigation, pavers, or a patio. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.
This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.
What a complete landscaping quote states
Plant list with sizes — each plant named with its container size (1-gallon vs. 5-gallon changes the price a lot) and quantity.
Irrigation scope — new system, modifications, or untouched — stated, with zones or lines described.
Hardscape specs — paver or stone type, area in square feet, base material, and base depth.
Grading and drainage — any grading, and where water is directed afterward.
Removal and haul-off — existing plants, turf, rock, or soil removed and disposed of: included or extra.
Total price and payment schedule — the full amount, the deposit, and what triggers each payment.
Plant warranty — whether plants are covered if they die, for how long, and the conditions.
What's commonly not stated
- Plant warranty conditions — survival coverage often depends on watering you control; the exclusions are seldom spelled out.
- Sprinkler and utility damage — who repairs lines broken during digging is often left unsaid.
- Base depth — a quote that says "base" without a depth or material leaves the part that holds pavers flat unstated.
- Cleanup — whether debris, leftover material, and soil are hauled away is often assumed.
None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.
Questions to ask before you sign
- “What size is each plant on this list?”
- “Is irrigation new, modified, or untouched in this quote?”
- “What is the base depth and material under the pavers?”
- “Is there a plant warranty, how long is it, and what voids it?”
- “If a sprinkler line or utility is damaged during the work, who repairs it?”
Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?
Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.
Check my document →We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.
FAQ
How much does landscaping usually cost?
We don't price other people's work — cost depends on plant sizes, the amount of hardscape, irrigation changes, and site access. What you can check is whether your quote lists sizes, states base depth, and gives its own total. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.
What if something on this checklist is missing from my landscaping quote?
Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing plant size or base depth isn't a verdict on the landscaper; it's an unknown in a contract you're about to be bound by. Getting it stated on the page costs nothing and settles it before the digging starts.
Can Spend Defense read my actual landscaping quote?
Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Most landscaping quotes, even with plant lists, fit within that limit.
Related checklists
Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.