What maintenance might a landscape contractor not tell me about?

Some tasks don’t always make it into the handoff packet, but they matter for long-term success. Soil testing is one. Utah’s alkaline soils often need pH adjustment or added organic matter, yet contractors rarely emphasize routine testing. Irrigation scheduling is another. A single timer setting won’t work year-round—spring, summer, and fall all require different runtimes and frequencies. Newly planted trees and shrubs also need special care: deep watering multiple times per week during their first growing season, not the same schedule as mature plants. Integrated pest management (IPM) is often left out too. That means inspecting regularly for pests, encouraging beneficial insects, and correcting plant stress before it attracts problems. Without this proactive approach, you may end up relying on chemicals as a last resort. Before your project closes, ask your contractor for a written maintenance guide covering soil, irrigation, pruning, fertilization, and pest checks. It’s the best way to protect your investment.