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Pilotiko for landscapers and grounds maintenance
Seven months to make the year: Quebec landscapers live by the thaw, the grass and the first snow.
Pilotiko helps a Quebec landscaping and lawn care company organize its mowing rounds, spring openings, fall clean-ups and landscaping jobs, assign crews by skills and workload, and keep pesticide certification visible on assignments, with human approval before anything goes to customers.
In short
- Spring clean-ups, mowing, projects and fall clean-ups share one calendar.
- A pesticide-certificate skill can be required for any application job.
- Mowing contracts follow the headings the Office de la protection du consommateur recommends.
- In winter, the same office can run snow removal.
How does a Quebec landscaping season break down?
It all starts at the thaw: picking up sand and branches, fixing edges flattened by the snowblower, dethatching, aerating and top-dressing. Then the grass grows and mowing goes weekly for dozens of lawns at once. Landscaping projects (pavers, retaining walls, planting) squeeze in between rounds.
Fall reverses course: leaves, last mow, shrub protection, irrigation shut-down. Many companies then roll into snow removal, which means switching fleets and contracts within a few weeks.
| Period | Work | Calendar challenge |
|---|---|---|
| April and May | Spring clean-up, dethatching, aeration, planting | Everyone wants to be first |
| June to August | Weekly mowing, watering, landscaping projects | Fixed rounds plus long projects |
| September and October | Leaves, overseeding, winter protection | Rain and shorter days |
| November | Closings, switch to snow removal | New equipment and contracts |
What should a lawn care contract include?
The OPC recommends a written contract stating the duration, services, mowing frequency, related tasks, products used, total price and any warranty.
According to the Office, the contract should include the merchant's details, the duration, a description of services, how often the lawn is mowed, a description of the products used, the total price, payment terms and the warranty if any [1].
Two situations call for extra care. If you approach customers at home without being asked, you are an itinerant merchant: you need an OPC licence, the contract must be in writing and it can be cancelled within 10 days [1]. If the agreement is made by phone or online, the merchant must provide the written contract within 15 days [1].
Do you need a permit to apply pesticides on lawns?
Yes. A permit (page in French) is mandatory for businesses that sell or use pesticides, and the list of activities includes application in the maintenance of green spaces [2]. A business needs a permit for each type of activity, and the permit is valid three years [2]. Permitted work must be done by certified employees or under a certified employee's supervision [2].
Certificates are mandatory for those who apply pesticides in sectors where permits are required; they're obtained by passing prescribed exams and are valid for five years [3]. Municipalities can add their own requirements, so check the towns you work in.
| Item | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business permit | Mandatory, one per activity type, valid 3 years | MELCCFP [2] |
| Staff | Certified, or supervised by a certified employee | MELCCFP [2] |
| Individual certificate | Prescribed exams, valid 5 years | MELCCFP [3] |
| Customer contract | Description of products used | OPC [1] |
How does Pilotiko organize mowing rounds and projects?
Each mow, spring clean-up and project day is a job in a crew's calendar, with address, duration and, if needed, a resource such as the trailer, the skid steer or the aerator. A resource already booked isn't offered elsewhere at the same time, and a crew is never in two places at once.
You record skills: mowing, pruning, pavers, planting, pesticide certificate. An application job is only offered to someone with the pesticide-certificate skill, unless a manager explicitly overrides it. Assignment also shows free hours and workload after the job.
New customers book an estimate visit through the booking link. The quotes agent drafts a season contract with the headings the OPC recommends; you review it before sending.
Example: how many lawns can a crew mow each week?
Which objections come up with lawn care clients?
- "You didn't come this week." Visit history shows the real date and the rain postponement.
- "What are you putting on my lawn?" The description of products belongs in the contract, per the OPC [1].
- "I want to stop in July." Put the duration and cancellation terms in the contract from the start.
What doesn't Pilotiko do yet?
Which trades complement landscaping?
In winter, see snow removal. Several landscapers also open pools (pool maintenance) or work with a pest control specialist. Your hosted website can present each service with its season.
Resources: the Quebec local SEO guide, a complete Google Business Profile, and a work order for each visit.
Frequently asked questions
What should a lawn mowing contract include?
The OPC recommends the duration, services, mowing frequency, related tasks, products used, total price, payment terms and any warranty. A contract made by phone or online must be provided in writing within 15 days.
Does a landscaper need a pesticide permit?
Yes, if pesticides are applied: application in the maintenance of green spaces is on the list of activities requiring a permit. The permit lasts three years, and work must be done by certified employees or under their supervision.
How long is a pesticide certificate valid?
Five years. It is obtained by passing prescribed exams and states the activity and pesticide classes allowed.
Can a customer cancel a contract signed at the door?
Yes. A contract with an itinerant merchant can be cancelled within 10 days, according to the OPC. The itinerant merchant also needs an OPC licence.
Can Pilotiko stop an uncertified employee from applying pesticides?
If you record the pesticide-certificate skill and require it on the service, assignment refuses an employee without it unless a manager overrides. Checking the certificate itself remains your responsibility.
Sources
- Office de la protection du consommateur, Before hiring a lawn care company (accessed on October 15, 2026).
- Gouvernement du Québec (MELCCFP), Permis pour la vente et l'utilisation de pesticides (accessed on October 15, 2026).
- Gouvernement du Québec (MELCCFP), Certificates for the sale and use of pesticides (accessed on October 15, 2026).
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