Landscaping Proposal Template

By QuotApp Team · Updated September 27, 2026

A landscaping proposal template is a short document that sells the design before the price: the client's goals, your concept, the scope by phase, the plant palette, a pricing page with options, terms and a signature page. Download the free Word template below, copy the filled-out backyard example, and build the pricing page with the free quote generator.

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Landscaping Proposal Template (Word) — Cover, scope, pricing, terms and acceptance page
Landscaping Quote Template (Word) — Use it for the pricing page of the proposal
Quote Template (Excel, auto-calculating)

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Which landscaping proposal template do you need?

Variant	Use it when	What changes in the template
Design-build project	A new landscape or major renovation with a design phase.	Concept description and sketch page; scope by phase; plant palette; pricing with phasing options; design fee and credit terms; plant warranty.
Maintenance contract	Seasonal or annual grounds maintenance for homes, HOAs or commercial sites.	Service calendar by month; task list per visit; crew and supervision; per-month pricing with seasonal extras; renewal and rain-delay terms.
Hardscape-focused	Patio, outdoor kitchen, walls, fire feature.	Drawing with dimensions; material selections with allowances; excavation and drainage scope; permit and engineering notes; phased payments at milestones.

Filled-out landscaping proposal example

This is what the template looks like completed for a real job — pricing page of a design-build proposal — backyard with paver patio, planting beds, lawn repair, drip irrigation and lighting, offered in two phases. Prices are illustrative US figures; swap in your own rates.

PROPOSAL

P-2026-014

Greenline Landscapes
Prepared for The Alvarez family, 46 Birchwood Rd

Description	Qty	Unit	Unit price	Amount
PHASE 1 — Site prep, planting beds (420 sq ft), hardwood mulch, paver patio 12×14, drip irrigation to beds, hauling	1	phase	$12,650.00	$12,650.00
Less: design fee credit	1	credit	$-1,200.00	$-1,200.00
PHASE 2 — Lawn renovation 350 sq ft, low-voltage lighting (10 fixtures)	1	phase	$3,980.00	$3,980.00
OPTION — Cedar privacy screen, 16 lin ft	16	lin ft	$92.00	$1,472.00
OPTION — First-season maintenance (April–October, bi-weekly)	14	visit	$95.00	$1,330.00

Subtotal: $18,232.00

Total: $18,232.00

Phase 1 (patio, beds, mulch, irrigation to beds) can start within 3 weeks of acceptance; Phase 2 (lawn and lighting) any time in the following 12 months at the prices shown. Plants warrantied 12 months with client watering per schedule. Design fee already paid ($1,200) is credited against Phase 1. 40% deposit, 40% at hardscape completion, 20% on final walkthrough.

Rebuild this example in the free quote generator and export it as a PDF in under a minute.

Typical landscaping prices in the US

Use these ranges to sanity-check your line items, not to set them — your labor rate, market and overhead decide the final number.

Item	Typical range	Notes
Landscape design	$700 – $3,000	$50 – $150 per hour
Landscaping install, all-in	$4 – $12 per sq ft
Landscaping labor (2-person crew)	$50 – $100 per hour
Retaining wall	$35 – $65 per sq ft
Sprinkler system	$3,000 – $10,000
Monthly maintenance	$100 – $200 per month	Mowing $30 – $85 per visit

Source: HomeGuide — Landscaping Costs, updated February 4, 2026. Ranges are national; adjust for your region.

What is in the landscaping proposal template

Cover — logo, company and license, client and property, project name, date, proposal number.
Your goals, our concept — three or four sentences on what the client asked for (shade, privacy, a place to eat outside, less lawn) and how the design answers it. Space for the plan or sketch.
Scope by phase — site prep, hardscape, planting, lawn, irrigation, lighting, cleanup, each with what is included and, briefly, what is not.
Plant palette — a grid of plants with photos, names, sizes and roles.
Pricing — the phase totals from your landscaping quote, options priced separately, design credit shown, payment schedule.
Terms and acceptance — timeline and install window, plant and workmanship warranties with conditions, assumptions (utilities, soil, access), change orders, and the signature block for both parties.

How to write a landscaping proposal that wins

Lead with their words. The concept paragraph should quote the client’s own goals from the site visit.
Show the plan, even a hand sketch. A landscape proposal without a drawing is a quote with a cover.
Scope by phase, price by phase. It makes the total understandable and phasing painless.
Give the plant palette a page. It is the most-shared page of any landscape proposal.
Price options outside the headline total. Privacy screen, lighting, first-season maintenance — priced, visible, optional.
Put warranties and assumptions in plain language. “Plants are guaranteed for 12 months if watered per the schedule we provide” is a sentence clients remember.
End with the signature and the start date you can offer.

Pricing the proposal

Price the work as a quote first — quantities per zone, materials at cost plus markup, crew-days at your loaded rate, hauling and equipment, contingency where unknowns remain — using the landscaping quote template method, then roll each phase into one line on the proposal’s pricing page. Show the design fee credit as a negative line so the client sees they are not paying twice. Check the totals against $4–$12 per square foot installed and against your margin target. Offer first-season maintenance as an option: it protects the plant warranty and starts a recurring relationship.

Common landscaping proposal mistakes

No drawing. The client cannot picture it, so they compare on price alone.
One lump sum. Phase totals and options give the client levers other than “no.”
Plant list without sizes. “Shrubs” at 1-gallon and 5-gallon are different budgets.
Warranty without conditions. You will replace plants that were never watered.
Assumptions missing. Utilities under the patio become your cost.
A 30-day validity in spring. Plant availability changes weekly in peak season; say the install window and re-confirm if accepted late.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a landscaping proposal and a landscaping quote?

The quote is the itemized price for defined work. The proposal presents the design concept, the scope by phase, the plant palette and the options before the price, and ends with terms and a signature page. Use the quote for small installs and repeat clients; use the proposal for design-build projects and maintenance contracts where you are competing on more than price.

How long should a landscaping proposal be?

Four to six pages: cover, concept (with a sketch or plan), scope by phase, plant palette, pricing with options, terms and acceptance. The plan image and the pricing page do most of the work.

Should I show phased pricing?

Yes, when the total is above the budget the client mentioned. Phase 1 gets the project started; Phase 2 at fixed prices for 12 months keeps you as the contractor. Show options (screens, lighting, maintenance) separately so the headline number stays clean.

How do I present the plant palette?

A page with 8 – 15 plants: photo, common and botanical name, size at install and role (screening, color, groundcover). It is the page clients show their friends — and it turns the planting line into something they can picture.

What warranty should a landscaping proposal include?

Plants: 12 months, one-time replacement, conditioned on the client following the watering schedule and irrigation being operational. Hardscape: workmanship 2 – 5 years against settling beyond a stated tolerance. Write the conditions; they prevent the most common landscaping dispute.

Can I use this template for a maintenance proposal?

Yes — use the maintenance variant: a service calendar by month, the task list per visit, crew and supervision, per-month pricing for the season, seasonal extras priced separately, and renewal, rain-delay and price-review terms.