When a homeowner decides it’s time to transform their backyard, they don’t flip through the Yellow Pages. They grab their phone and search “landscapers near me” or “landscape design [city name].” Where your business appears in those results directly determines how many leads you capture.
Local SEO—optimizing your online presence to rank higher in location-based searches—is how landscaping companies get found by ready-to-hire customers. It’s not quick, and it requires ongoing effort, but the businesses that invest in local SEO consistently outperform those that don’t.
Understanding How Local Search Works
Google treats local searches differently than general searches. When someone searches for local services, Google tries to show businesses that are:
Relevant: Does this business offer what the searcher needs? Proximate: Is this business located near the searcher? Prominent: Is this business well-known and trusted?
These three factors—relevance, distance, and prominence—determine local rankings. Your SEO strategy should address all three.
For local searches, Google typically shows:
The Map Pack: Three business listings with a map, appearing above organic results. This is prime visibility.
Organic results: Traditional website listings below the Map Pack.
Paid ads: Google Ads at the top of results.
Most clicks go to Map Pack results. Ranking there should be a primary goal.
Google Business Profile: The Foundation
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most important factor in local search rankings. This free listing appears in Google Search and Maps when people look for landscaping services.
Optimizing your Google Business Profile:
Complete every field. Business name (exactly as you present it elsewhere), address, phone, hours, services, description—fill it all out. Complete profiles outrank sparse ones.
Choose accurate categories: Select “Landscape Designer” or “Landscaping Company” as primary. Add secondary categories like “Lawn Care Service,” “Garden Designer,” “Hardscape Contractor” as appropriate.
Add photos regularly: Businesses with photos receive 42% more direction requests. Upload completed project photos, team photos, truck photos, and before/afters. Add new images monthly.
Post updates weekly: GBP has a posts feature. Share completed projects, seasonal tips, promotions, and company news. Activity signals a thriving business.
Respond to all reviews: Reviews heavily impact rankings and customer decisions. More on this below.
Building Your Review Presence
Reviews are a major ranking factor and influence customer decisions dramatically. More positive reviews mean better rankings and higher conversion rates.
Generating more reviews:
Ask at the right moment—immediately after project completion when satisfaction is highest.
Make it simple. Send a direct link to your Google review page via text or email. Every additional step reduces completion rates.
Train your team: Crew members who interact with homeowners can mention reviews to happy customers. “If you’re pleased with how things turned out, a Google review really helps us out.”
Follow up once. A polite reminder increases response rates. More than one follow-up feels pushy.
Never offer incentives: Paying for reviews or offering discounts violates platform policies and can result in penalties.
Responding to reviews:
Thank positive reviewers specifically. Mention the project when possible: “So glad you’re enjoying the new patio!”
Address negative reviews professionally. Don’t argue. Apologize if appropriate, offer to make things right, take conversations offline.
Respond promptly. Quick responses show attentiveness.
Keyword Research for Landscapers
Effective SEO starts with understanding what potential customers actually search for. The keywords landscaping customers use inform your content strategy.
Common high-value landscaping keywords:
- Landscaper near me / Landscaping [city]
- Landscape design [city]
- Lawn care service [city]
- Hardscaping company [city]
- Patio installation near me
- Retaining wall contractor [city]
- Outdoor kitchen design [city]
Long-tail keywords often convert better:
- Cost of patio installation [city]
- Best landscaper for small backyard [city]
- Landscaper for steep hillside [city]
- Low maintenance landscape design
Use Google’s autocomplete to discover what people in your area search for. Type partial phrases and see what suggestions appear.
On-Page SEO Essentials
Your website must be optimized to help Google understand what you do and where you do it.
Title tags: Each page needs a unique, keyword-rich title. “Landscape Design in [City] | [Company Name]” tells Google exactly what the page is about.
Meta descriptions: Compelling descriptions encourage clicks. Include keywords and a call to action.
Header structure: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags logically. Your primary keyword should appear in the H1.
Local content: Reference your service area throughout your site. Mention cities, neighborhoods, and landmarks you serve.
Service pages: Create individual pages for each major service—lawn care, hardscaping, landscape design, irrigation, etc. Each page can target relevant keywords.
Location pages: If you serve multiple cities, consider dedicated pages for each. “Landscaping Services in [City]” pages can rank for city-specific searches.
Visual Content and SEO
Landscaping is inherently visual, and images support your SEO efforts in multiple ways.
Image optimization:
- Use descriptive file names: “backyard-patio-installation-dallas.jpg” not “IMG_4532.jpg”
- Add alt text describing the image: “Custom stone patio with fire pit in Plano, TX”
- Compress images for fast loading without quality loss
Portfolio pages: Rich portfolio content gives you additional pages to rank for various keywords. Organize by project type and location when possible.
Before and after content: These transformations are highly shareable and can earn backlinks. Our guide on before/after galleries covers this in depth.
Building Local Citations
Citations are online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP). Consistent citations help Google verify your business information.
Priority citation sources for landscapers:
- Yelp
- HomeAdvisor
- Angi (Angie’s List)
- Houzz
- Thumbtack
- BBB (Better Business Bureau)
- Yellow Pages
- Local chamber of commerce
- Industry associations
Consistency is critical: Your business name, address, and phone number must be identical across all citations. Even small variations—“Landscaping Inc.” vs. “Landscaping Incorporated”—can confuse search engines.
Content Marketing for Landscapers
Regular, valuable content helps you rank for additional keywords and positions your company as an authority.
Content ideas for landscaping companies:
- Seasonal guides: “Fall Lawn Care Checklist for [City] Homeowners”
- Design inspiration: “Trending Backyard Patio Ideas for 2025”
- Local content: “Best Native Plants for [State] Landscapes”
- Problem-solving: “How to Fix Drainage Issues in Your Yard”
- Educational: “Understanding Hardscape vs. Softscape”
Publishing 1-2 quality articles per month builds authority over time. Focus on genuinely helpful information rather than sales content.
Technical SEO Basics
Technical issues can undermine your other SEO efforts. Ensure your website’s foundation is solid.
Mobile-friendliness: Google uses mobile-first indexing. Your site must work flawlessly on phones. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to verify.
Site speed: Slow sites rank lower. Compress images, minimize code, use good hosting. Our article on website speed covers this thoroughly.
HTTPS: Security is a ranking factor. Ensure your site uses HTTPS.
XML sitemap: Submit a sitemap to Google Search Console to help Google discover your pages.
Tracking SEO Progress
SEO is a long-term investment. Track progress to stay motivated and identify opportunities.
Metrics to monitor:
- Google Business Profile views and actions
- Website traffic from organic search
- Keyword rankings for target terms
- Review quantity and quality
- Lead volume from organic sources
Google Search Console and Google Analytics provide valuable insights. Review monthly and adjust strategies based on data.
Patience and Consistency
SEO results don’t appear overnight. Expect 3-6 months before seeing significant improvements, and 12+ months to achieve strong rankings for competitive terms.
The landscaping companies that succeed with SEO treat it as an ongoing practice, not a one-time project. Consistent effort—regular content, steady review collection, ongoing optimization—compounds over time.
Once achieved, strong rankings tend to persist. Organic traffic is essentially free, providing ongoing value without advertising costs.
To see how a landscaping website can be structured for SEO success, explore our landscaping demo site.
Want help improving your landscaping company’s local SEO? Contact us to discuss how we can help you get found by more customers.