# Pilotiko for landscapers and grounds maintenance

> Quebec landscaper or lawn care company? Fill the April-to-November season and track mowing contracts and landscaping jobs in one place. Free 30-day trial.

Updated on October 15, 2026 · https://app.pilotiko.com/en/solutions/landscaping

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  |
| Staff | Certified, or supervised by a certified employee | MELCCFP  |
| Individual certificate | Prescribed exams, valid 5 years | MELCCFP  |
| Customer contract | Description of products used | OPC  |

## 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?

**Worked example: 2 crews of 2, 4 mowing days a week**

- Mowing hours (2 crews × 9 h × 4 days) : 72 crew-hours
- − driving between lawns (25%) : − 18 h
- = hours on lawns : 54 crew-hours
- ÷ 0.75 h per residential lawn (mow, trim, blow) : 72 lawns
- Remaining day : projects or rain make-ups
- **= About 72 lawns a week, with one buffer day**

## 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?

> Coming soon: route optimisation for mowing rounds, spring demand forecasting, and automatic "we're coming tomorrow" texts. Reminders are being commissioned: nothing is sent yet. Pesticide obligations remain yours: Pilotiko doesn't check them for you.

## Which trades complement landscaping?

In winter, see [snow removal](https://app.pilotiko.com/en/solutions/snow-removal). Several landscapers also open pools ([pool maintenance](https://app.pilotiko.com/en/solutions/pool-maintenance)) or work with a [pest control](https://app.pilotiko.com/en/solutions/pest-control) specialist. Your hosted website can present each service with its season.

Resources: the [Quebec local SEO](https://app.pilotiko.com/en/guides/local-seo-quebec) guide, a [complete Google Business Profile](https://app.pilotiko.com/en/guides/complete-google-business-profile), and a [work order](https://app.pilotiko.com/en/glossary/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

1. Office de la protection du consommateur, « Before hiring a lawn care company », https://www.opc.gouv.qc.ca/en/consumer/good-service/housing-renovation/landscaping-exterior/tips/lawn (accessed on 2026-10-15)
2. Gouvernement du Québec (MELCCFP), « Permis pour la vente et l'utilisation de pesticides », https://www.quebec.ca/entreprises-et-travailleurs-autonomes/permis-certifications/permis-vente-utilisation-pesticides (accessed on 2026-10-15)
3. Gouvernement du Québec (MELCCFP), « Certificates for the sale and use of pesticides », https://www.quebec.ca/en/businesses-and-self-employed-workers/permits-and-certification/certificates-sale-use-pesticides (accessed on 2026-10-15)