· Reviews · 8 min read
How to Get More Google Reviews as a Landscaper
A practical guide for landscaping businesses who want more Google reviews — how to turn completed projects and ongoing maintenance into a steady flow of five-star reviews.
Landscaping has something most trades don’t: a visible, photogenic result that the customer sees every single day.
When a plumber fixes a pipe, the work disappears behind a wall. When an electrician upgrades a panel, it lives in the basement. But when you install a patio, build a retaining wall, or transform a neglected yard into something beautiful, the customer sees it every time they pull into the driveway, look out the kitchen window, or sit on their back deck.
That ongoing visibility is a powerful driver of Google reviews — if you know when and how to ask.
93% of consumers read online reviews before hiring a local service provider. For landscaping, the visual nature of the work means customers are also searching for photos and proof of quality. A strong Google review profile with detailed descriptions of projects (“They built a gorgeous flagstone patio with built-in lighting”) gives potential customers the confidence to call you instead of someone else.
When to Ask: Timing for Landscaping Reviews
Right after a project reveal
The absolute best moment to ask for a review is when the customer first sees the completed project. The new patio is finished, the sod is laid, the lighting is installed, and you’re walking them through it. Their reaction in that moment — the smile, the “wow, this looks amazing” — is your cue.
This is the emotional peak. The yard went from whatever it was before to something they’re proud of. Ask while they’re standing in it, taking it in.
After the first time they use it
Here’s a timing trick that works especially well for landscaping: wait until the customer has actually used the new space. If you built a patio with a fire pit, ask after the first weekend. If you installed landscape lighting, ask after they’ve seen it at night. The experience of using the space often generates even more enthusiasm than the initial reveal.
A quick text — “How was the first evening on the new patio?” — naturally leads into a review request.
After spring cleanup
Spring cleanup is one of the first touchpoints of the season for maintenance customers. The yard goes from winter-beaten to fresh and clean in a single visit. It’s a visible transformation, and the customer feels good about their property again. Great time to ask.
At the end of the mowing season
If you do recurring lawn maintenance, the end of the season is a natural checkpoint. You’ve been showing up reliably for months, the yard has looked great all summer, and the customer is thinking about next year. A review request at this point captures the full season of satisfaction, not just one visit.
When NOT to ask
Don’t ask when a project ran over schedule. Don’t ask when there’s a plant that didn’t survive or a drainage issue you’re still addressing. Don’t ask during a stretch of bad weather when the yard doesn’t look its best. Wait until the customer is happy with what they see.
For more timing strategies, check out our guide on how to ask customers for reviews.
What to Say: Review Request Templates for Landscapers
In person, at the project walkthrough
“We’re really happy with how this turned out — I think the [flagstone/patio/planting beds] really transformed the space. If you get a chance in the next day or two, a Google review would mean a lot to us. Most of our new customers find us by searching online, and hearing about a project like yours helps them picture what we could do for them.”
Via text, 1-2 days after project completion
“Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Business]. Hope you’re enjoying the new backyard! If you’re happy with how everything turned out, a quick Google review would really help us: [link]. Thanks for trusting us with your property.”
For maintenance customers, end of season
“Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Business]. Thanks for another great season — your lawn looked fantastic all summer. If you have a minute, a Google review would really help us out: [link]. We appreciate your continued trust.”
Follow-up text (48 hours later)
“Hi [Name], just following up — how’s the new landscaping looking? If you’re happy with it, we’d love a Google review when you get a chance: [link]. Thanks!”
Notice how each template mentions the specific work or the season. This gives the customer something concrete to write about and produces reviews that help your SEO with terms like “patio installation,” “landscape design,” or “lawn maintenance.”
For more templates, see our full guide on how to get more Google reviews.
The Visual Advantage: Why Landscaping Reviews Hit Different
Landscaping reviews tend to be emotional and descriptive. Customers write about the transformation — what the yard looked like before and after. They describe specific features: the stone walkway, the garden beds, the outdoor lighting. They talk about how they feel when they come home and see their property.
This is incredibly valuable because:
Transformation stories convert browsers into callers. When a potential customer reads about how you turned a muddy, sloped backyard into a terraced garden with a fire pit, they imagine their own yard and what you could do with it.
Descriptive reviews are SEO gold. Terms like “paver patio,” “retaining wall,” “landscape lighting,” “garden design,” and “lawn care” appearing naturally in reviews help you rank for those specific searches.
Photos in reviews are a bonus. Google allows reviewers to attach photos, and landscaping customers are more likely to include them than customers of any other trade. A review with a photo of the finished project is worth more than five text-only reviews.
You can encourage photo reviews by saying something like: “If you do leave a review, feel free to include a photo of the finished yard — it really helps other homeowners see what’s possible.”
QR Codes for Landscaping Businesses
On your project completion card
Create a simple card you hand over with the final invoice. “Thanks for choosing [Business]. If you love your new [patio/yard/garden], we’d love a Google review.” Include a QR code. Many landscapers laminate these and keep a stack in the truck.
On your invoices
Whether you email or print invoices, add a QR code. The customer reviews the cost, feels good about the investment, and scans the code right there.
On your truck or trailer
Your equipment is parked in the customer’s driveway and visible to every neighbor walking by. A clean logo and QR code on your truck or trailer is passive marketing and a passive review generator.
On yard signs (with permission)
If the customer allows it, leave a small yard sign during and briefly after the project: “[Business Name] — Building Beautiful Yards. Scan to leave a review.” Neighbors see it, and the customer is reminded to review every time they see it.
For setup instructions, check out our guide on creating a Google review QR code.
Text Messages for Landscaping Customers
Text messages work especially well for landscaping because your customers are homeowners who are often outside or on the go. They’re not checking email — they’re checking their phone while admiring the new patio.
The ideal timing for a text-based review request is 1-2 days after project completion (for project work) or at a natural season checkpoint (for maintenance customers). This gives the customer time to live with the result before writing about it.
SMS open rates are 98%, compared to about 20% for email. For landscaping customers specifically, the difference is even more pronounced because many of your customers are retirees or stay-at-home parents who are more responsive to texts than emails.
For the full comparison, read our post on SMS vs email for review requests.
Automating Reviews for a Landscaping Business
Landscaping businesses face a unique challenge: during peak season (spring through fall), you’re slammed. You’re managing crews, juggling projects, and dealing with weather delays. Sending individual review request texts after every job is the first thing to fall off the list.
During the off-season, you have time but fewer jobs to generate reviews from.
Automation bridges the gap. When a project is completed or a maintenance visit is finished, an automated text goes out with your Google review link. If the customer doesn’t review within a couple of days, a follow-up is sent. When they do leave a review, the system stops messaging and sends a thank-you.
Tools like Ricorda handle this automatically — you mark the job done, and the review request sequence runs in the background while you focus on the next project.
For more on how this works, see our post on automated Google review requests.
Getting Started: Your Landscaping Review Plan
Get your Google review link. Open your Google Business Profile, click “Ask for reviews,” and copy the short URL.
Create two text templates. One for project work (“Hope you’re loving the new [feature]…”) and one for maintenance customers (“Thanks for another great season…”). Save them in your phone.
Start with project completions. For the next month, send a review request text within 1-2 days of every completed project. These produce the best reviews because the transformation is fresh.
Add maintenance customers. At the end of the current season, send a review request to every recurring customer. One text to each, referencing how their property looked all season.
Automate before next spring. Set up automated review requests before the busy season hits. When you’re completing 3-5 projects a week plus daily maintenance runs, automation ensures you never miss an opportunity.
Landscapers who ask consistently can add 5-15 reviews per month during peak season. Over a year, that’s 40-100+ new reviews. In most local markets, that makes you the most-reviewed landscaper around — and the one who gets the most calls.
68% of customers will leave a review when asked. Your customers just watched their yard transform into something beautiful. They’re happy. They want to tell people. You just need to make it easy.
