The Contractor and the Community

As a business owner, you have countless options when it comes to selecting a landscaping contractor. The basics are straightforward: What reputation do they carry? What services do they offer? How consistent is their track record within the industry? These are the standard questions that surface during contract meetings and pre-bid sessions. And truthfully, the process can feel tedious—hiring contractors is rarely inspiring.

So why should a contractor’s community involvement factor into your decision-making? After all, it isn’t the community signing the contract. The industry is filled with companies eager to donate, volunteer, and give back. And that is, without question, commendable. But does it hold value? We all enjoy the uplifting photos and videos of teams planting gardens or distributing school supplies, though at times these efforts can seem repetitive—another polished post in a crowded feed. In today’s digital age of “feel-good” clout, the question becomes: where does authenticity live? Perhaps it’s in the quiet details—the faces of employees who return home with memories of a meaningful day, not just a photo op. The act of giving back becomes part of who they are, not simply what their company does.

Which brings us back to the question: does that make the contractor more valuable?

The answer depends on what your team and your brand hold as priorities. There’s no single right approach. Still, there is tangible value in choosing a partner that invests in more than profit margins, extending their influence into the lives and spaces around them. When clients select such contractors, it creates a cycle of positive investment—businesses, teams, and communities all enriched by the choice.