CalLandscaper Mag - Fall Issue - 2026 - Extended by CMS

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Builds Its Business on Los Angeles Sidewalks, Hardscapes and Landscapes

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CONTENTS CalLandscaper Magazine

STELLAR SIDEWALKS Its Business on Los Angeles Sidewalks, Hardscapes and 06 Builds Landscapes

CHURCH JOHNSTON the Home. Before the Hardscape or Landscape. Comes 12 Before the Land.

LA FIRES

18 Landscaping and Hardscaping After the Fires BUILT TO LAST: NO SHORTCUTS

Habits That Help Landscape and Hardscape Contractors Earn 22 The Trust, Protect Profits and Turn Good Work Into Lasting Growth

THE PRICE BEHIND THE LOWEST BID Licensed Landscape Contractors Compete Against More 26 California’s Than Price, and Customers May Assume More Risk Than They Realize

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30 California’s Fight Over Fire-Safe Landscaping

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On the cover: Photo credit: Clay Reed, Stellar Sidewalks

PUBLISHER: Kerry Hoover khoover@calcontractor.com EDITOR: Brian Hoover, Senior Editor ART DIRECTOR: Aldo Myftari 4

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SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: Gerald De Guzman FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Please call: (909) 772-3121 CalLandscaper is published 6 times each year by Construction Marketing Services, LLC. Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. P.O. Box 892977, Temecula, CA 92589 C alL an d s c ape r.com

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Stellar Sidewalks Builds Its Business on Los Angeles Sidewalks, Hardscapes and Landscapes Clay Reed combines hardscape experience with compact equipment and support from Volvo Construction Equipment & Services By Brian Hoover | Photos provided by Stellar Sidewalks

broken sidewalk is often the beginning of a much larger conversation for Clay Reed. A property owner calls about damaged concrete in front of a home. Before long, the discussion turns to an aging driveway, a walkway leading to the front door, irrigation repairs or a yard that needs a fresh start. Reed’s Los Angeles-based Aaxis Curb Appeal Company, also operating as Aaxis Construction and more recognizably as Stellar Sidewalks, specializes in concrete sidewalk repair and replacement and helping property owners navigate the Safe Sidewalks LA Rebate Program. Its crews remove and pour concrete for public and

private sidewalks and perform a range of flatwork, including driveways, patios, curbs and gutters. The company also builds concrete and retaining walls, foundations and underground utilities, allowing it to handle related improvements with one crew and one point of contact. “Essentially, if you walk, ride or drive on it, we build it,” says Reed, owner of the Los Angeles contracting business. Today, the company has 20 employees and performs most of its work within roughly a 25-mile radius of downtown Los Angeles. Its customers include single-family homeowners, multifamily property owners and commercial clients, along with the City of Los Angeles.

Clay Reed, Owner, Aaxis Curb Appeal Co. and DBA, Stellar Sidewalks operating his Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator.

Past Experience Leads to Ownership & Future Growth Reed became a licensed contractor in 2009 and operated as a sole proprietor before establishing his LLC in 2020. His background includes custom home 6

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construction in Calabasas and Hidden Hills, as well as project and program management for a contractor specializing in bank construction and renovations.

Those assignments exposed him to both the details of residential building and the coordination required to keep commercial projects moving. C alL an d s c ape r.com

Volvo ECR25 electric compact excavator removing existing sidewalk and loading into dump truck.

Like many contractors who go into business for themselves, Reed believed he could improve on the methods he had witnessed elsewhere. Ownership soon brought a different set of responsibilities, from collecting payments and financing work in progress to finding employees who shared his expectations for quality and performance. “It definitely wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” Reed says. One of his most valuable lessons came from rethinking how he approached sidewalk demolition. In the early days, Reed worked with a small crew and an older flatbed pickup. A project could require separate trips to rent a trailer, pick up a skid steer, return equipment and collect materials. Concrete debris went into rented containers,

sometimes requiring several exchanges. Demolition, grading and forming could stretch into a week or more. Then an employee suggested bringing in a contractor who already had the equipment and trucks to handle the demolition and hauling. Reed recalls watching that contractor remove the sidewalk, haul away debris and bring in base material in about four hours, at roughly half of what Reed had been spending on that portion of the work. The experience changed his approach. He began using the demolition contractor and reinvesting the savings in equipment of his own, adding a truck, trailer and a used skid steer. As the operation became more efficient, Reed says he could complete two or three jobs in the time previously devoted to one.

Safe Sidewalks LA Rebate Program That emphasis on production helped Reed develop a specialty in sidewalk replacement. Reed completed his first project through the Safe Sidewalks LA Rebate Program in 2017. He says sidewalk work now accounts for more than half of the company’s workload. In addition to projects for property owners, the business holds city contracts that include on-call and emergency sidewalk work. The rebate program is part of the City of Los Angeles’ broader effort to improve sidewalk accessibility. It helps eligible property owners share the cost of voluntarily repairing existing sidewalks in the public rightof-way that do not meet Americans

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ASV RT-50 Posi-Track compact track loader breaking and loading end-of-life sidewalk for proper disposal.

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with Disabilities Act requirements. Work required by a building permit or similar mandate is not eligible. According to the City’s published program guidelines, the maximum rebate is $12,400 per lot for qualifying residential, commercial and industrial properties. That cap took effect August 25, 2023, replacing the previous $10,000 limit. The actual offer depends on the City’s assessment of necessary repairs and its rebate pricing schedule, with participation subject to available funding. Owners begin through MyLA311 or by calling 311. The City assesses the site and issues a rebate offer before the owner proceeds through the required permit and construction process. An appropriately licensed contractor performs the work, and City inspection and certification precede payment of the rebate. Owners pay their contractor directly. Aaxis (Stellar Sidewalks) helps clients navigate that process alongside the concrete work, giving them guidance through the steps required to pursue reimbursement. The sidewalk focus also explains the Stellar Sidewalks name. Reed wanted customers to immediately recognize a service they needed, while retaining the ability to address the work surrounding it. Tree roots, irrigation and adjoining hardscape frequently become part of the same project. According to Reed, roots are a common cause of the concrete damage his crews encounter, and replacing a sidewalk can also involve relocating sprinklers or restoring disturbed landscaping. A new sidewalk may prompt the owner to replace the driveway or improve the path to the house. Once a new sidewalk, driveway or walkway is replaced, customers often find that the landscaping also needs to be updated. Stellar Sidewalks offers that as well. Reed’s goal is to make those jobs easier to manage. His crews selfperform the company’s hardscape

and landscape work, allowing customers to bring questions about the concrete, planting or irrigation to the same contractor. “I wanted to be able to provide people a service so that there’s one point of contact,” he says. A recently completed hillside project in Highland Park illustrates how that range of experience can come together. The owners wanted to add approximately 400 square feet to an existing 600-square-foot home, but a retaining wall stood too close to the planned addition. Creating the necessary space meant excavating into the hillside, removing part of the existing wall and constructing a new structural retaining wall farther back. Reed’s company initially came into the project for foundation and retaining wall work. When the owners encountered difficulty securing a contractor for the addition, he agreed to take on that work as well. The finished scope included the addition, a patio between the house and the new retaining wall, and terracing and landscaping in the front yard. { Continued on page 10 }

Stellar Sidewalks utilizing their Doosan DTR 3275 power trench roller with solar-powered remote.

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Before and after shot of Aaxis Curb Appeal Company’s home addition and paver work around pool.

What a Difference the Right Equipment Makes Although Reed still accepts selective building projects, his equipment investments increasingly reflect the demands of sidewalk and exterior construction. His fleet includes skid steer loaders, a stand-on compact utility loader, a compactor, an Avant 528 articulated loader and a Volvo ECR25 Electric compact excavator. The Avant purchase introduced Reed to Juan Cisneros of Volvo Construction Equipment & Services (VCES). Reed had been looking for a compact loader with an extending boom that could help move broken concrete and load his Super 10 truck. Cisneros sold him the Avant and stayed in touch, eventually introducing him to the Volvo ECR25 Electric compact excavator. The Avant 528 combines a compact footprint with the reach Reed wanted. Avant lists a standard telescopic boom with approximately 23.6 inches of extension and a maximum lift height of nearly 110 inches. At about 45 inches wide with standard tires, the dieselpowered loader can maneuver through confined work areas while reaching over obstacles to 10

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place materials. Hydrostatic fourwheel drive provides traction and controlled travel, and articulated steering helps reduce surface scuffing when working around existing landscaping. Attachment versatility adds to its usefulness. The Avant 500 series supports a broad selection of tools for material handling, landscaping and excavation, including buckets, trenchers and stump grinders. For contractors who move between concrete replacement and landscape improvements, compatible attachments allow one loader to perform several jobs on the same project. For Reed, the appeal of electric equipment comes down to how his crews actually work. His projects do not require an excavator to dig continuously for a full shift. A machine may be on site for six or eight hours while performing only a fraction of that time in active work. That intermittent use has made the ECR25 Electric compact excavator a practical fit for his operation. “I don’t need that excavator to run for 12 or 14 hours a day,” Reed says. “The Volvo ECR25 also opens up a lot of opportunities on work

within structures where exhaust fumes would prohibit the use of a conventional machine.” Reed also appreciates the electric Volvo’s quiet operation in residential neighborhoods and around occupied commercial properties. Breaking and loading concrete still creates noise, but he says the lower machine noise is especially noticeable during grading and other tasks. He uses excavators for work such as digging footings and removing stumps and roots, choosing equipment to suit the space and material movement each job requires. The ECR25 Electric’s compact design suits that mix of work. Its short swing radius and responsive hydraulics help operators dig and position the bucket in confined areas. Volvo lists a width of 5 feet 1 inch and a maximum digging depth of up to 9 feet 9 inches, depending on arm configuration, giving contractors access and reach for utility trenches, footings and landscape excavation. Available digging and ditching buckets extend its usefulness to grading and finish work. C alL an d s c ape r.com

Battery-electric power eliminates exhaust emissions at the machine, while reduced noise, vibration and heat improve operator comfort. Quieter operation also makes it easier for operators and nearby crew members to communicate. For a company working around homes and occupied commercial buildings, those benefits complement the ECR25 Electric’s compact size and digging capability.

Reed credits Cisneros and the VCES team with allowing him to evaluate equipment under actual jobsite conditions. Having enough time to use a machine on real assignments helps him determine whether it fits his crew’s workflow before investing. VCES also offers parts, service and maintenance support, extending the relationship beyond the initial equipment purchase.

Stellar Sidewalks crew members preparing a form for another sidewalk project.

Sustainable Growth is Key Looking ahead, Reed wants to devote more of the business to sidewalks and the related improvements that naturally accompany them. He sees room to grow, with the pace largely dependent on finding the right employees. The objective is to expand the work his crews do well while maintaining the attention to detail that customers expect. Asked where he would like the company to be five years from now, Reed describes a vision that extends beyond growing the business. Building on a TikTok following of more than 100,000, he hopes to expand his social media presence and generate enough revenue from content creation and sponsorships to provide sidewalk construction at no cost to people in need.Equipment manufacturers, construction product companies and retailers would sponsor videos telling the story behind each sidewalk project. The goal is a cycle in which compelling stories keep

viewers watching, that audience attracts sponsors, and sponsorship revenue funds the next project. Reed would focus those efforts on people and communities facing serious accessibility needs without the financial means to address them: elderly residents with significant disabilities, low-income neighborhoods where children travel to school along badly damaged sidewalks with little prospect of repair, veterans struggling to access their own homes, and financially stretched mothers navigating sidewalks with young children and strollers. For Reed, becoming known as the sidewalk guy would mean using both his construction experience and his growing audience to make those improvements possible. For more information on Stellar Sidewalks, please visit their website at www.StellarSidewalks.com or call their Los Angeles headquarters at (424) 276-0720. CL

Stellar Sidewalks goes way beyond their namesake, offering and regularly performing many other hardscape projects to include all sizes of retaining walls, steps, and paver work.

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Before the Home. Before the Hardscape or Landscape. Comes the Land. Church Johnston Grading and Construction transforms a boulder covered El Cajon hillside into a area for a custom home, massive retaining wall and beautiful outdoor living space. By Brian Hoover, CMS Editor

backyard pool. Room to entertain. A place to step outside and enjoy the city lights. Those were possibilities for a hillside property in El Cajon, but there was a considerable obstacle between the homeowner’s vision and the finished landscape: the building lot and backyard did not yet exist. In its place stood a massive steep slope covered in boulders. For landscape contractors, the project illustrates a reality that can be easy to overlook when admiring a completed outdoor space. Not

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every job begins with a flat lot ready for patios, planting and irrigation. Sometimes, creating that opportunity requires major excavation, specialized rock removal and an engineered retaining wall before the landscape work can begin. That was the assignment for Churchill Johnston, owner of Valley Center-based Church Johnston Grading and Construction. Working with three full-time employees, Johnston took on the excavation and grading needed to turn a

difficult hillside into a usable residential site. “The client wanted to build a home that had a traditional backyard,” Johnston explains. “The issue was that the plot in question represented a steep hillside covered in blue granite boulders. Many contractors would not even quote a project like this. For Church Johnston Grading and Construction, it was right up our alley.” However, making that seemingly straightforward request possible would require months of coordinated planning and work.

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Making Room for the Vision The El Cajon property had once contained a home dating to the 1950s that had burned down. Its next chapter called for a custom residence with a substantial backyard and a planned swimming pool, all overlooking the city. The challenge was creating enough level ground for both the house and the outdoor space. Johnston estimates that the combined pad would encompass an approximately 8,000 to 10,000 square foot footprint, with roughly 40 to 50 feet of backyard extending behind the future home. Achieving that footprint involved more than cutting into the uphill side of the property. The project

also called for an engineered, U-shaped retaining wall along the lower portion of the lot. At its tallest point, Johnston says, the wall measured approximately 28 feet from its lowest base to the top course. A separate retaining wall contractor, Geogrid, Inc., handled the physical wall construction. Church Johnston Grading and Construction performed the excavation that made the installation possible, returned to handle backfill and completed the pad preparation. Space was limited throughout the operation. Part of the lower property was reserved for a septic

field, further restricting where the crew could work. Meanwhile, the excavation had to extend well behind the future wall face to accommodate its reinforcement. “Space constraint was probably the most consistent challenge,” Johnston says. The other major unknown lay in the hillside itself. Boulders visible at the surface offered only a partial picture of what the crew would encounter underground. On a fixedprice contract, that uncertainty made experience especially valuable, if not indispensible.

Churchill Johnston, Owner of Valley Center-based Church Johnston Grading and Construction.

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Above Left: Church Johnston preparing a house pad in Valley Center with his Cat D3 dozer purchased from Hawthorne Cat. Above: Aerial view of Cat D3 dozer and Cat compact track loader preparing house pad and grading site in Valley Center. Far Left: Church Johnston Cat 305 mini excavator purchased from Hawthorne Cat. Left: Cat 289 compact track loader from Hawthorne Cat stockpiling dirt from excavation site.

Breaking Through the Rock Rock removal is a central part of Johnston’s business, and the El Cajon project put that specialty to work to the test. The crew brought in a rented Cat 340 excavator to handle the heavy excavation and rock work. But machine size alone was not the answer. Johnston also used pneumatic drilling equipment and an expansive rock-splitting agent to break boulders into manageable sections. By drilling vertically or horizontally, depending on the situation, the crew could target portions of rock that interfered with the planned excavation. That allowed Johnston to work toward

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the required limits of the cut without relying on blasting. “We can section off different sections of boulders depending on what we need to do,” he explains. “The way you approach a challenging jobsite situation like this will almost always be reflected in the final price and time needed to complete the project. This is why previous experience and knowledge is so important.” The approach helped the crew form the large, U-shaped excavation around the lower property. It is also a service Johnston provides on other jobs where contractors encounter rock

that their equipment or planned methods cannot readily handle. For a landscape contractor trying to establish grades, prepare a pool area or create usable space on a rocky lot, that capability can determine whether a design moves forward as envisioned or must be reconsidered or dramatically changed. Johnston views the work as a specialty requiring patience, the right equipment and an understanding of how to approach each rock formation. It is not simply a matter of bringing in an excavator and expecting steady production. { Continued on page 16 }

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Building Back Toward a Usable Yard Once the initial excavation was ready, Johnston’s crew made way for the retaining wall contractor. The engineered dry-stack system incorporated pins and geogrid reinforcement extending into the backfill. Church Johnston Grading and Construction returned to perform the backfilling associated with the wall, then continued preparing the upper portion of the site. The future building area presented a different condition from the filled portion of the pad. There, native ground and rock had to be excavated and reworked. Johnston describes removing material to approximately four feet below the planned pad grade, taking out boulders and replacing the excavated material with fill to create more consistent conditions across the prepared area. Drainage was another essential part of the work. Johnston says the retaining wall included numerous drainage outlets, while a graded swale around the site was intended

to direct surface water into drainage collection boxes. The rough grading also accounted for the landscape work still to come. Although the final planting and surface selections were outside Johnston’s scope, the prepared site needed to leave room for those finishes. The transformation was substantial: a steep, rocky property now had a defined area for a house and a backyard where the owner could pursue the pool and outdoor living plans that he initially envisioned. Johnston estimates that his two main phases required approximately five to six weeks each. Work began in January 2026, and his company was off the project by May. FINDING A USE FOR WHAT COMES OUT Excavating the site created another challenge: moving the material off the property. Johnston estimates that the project generated close to 120 export loads, although the final total would require a review

of his hauling tickets. Vegetation, remnants of the former home and other debris were separated for disposal. Clean dirt and rock were also sorted and exported accordingly. The granite boulders required additional attention. Rather than trying to find destinations for oversized pieces, the crew reduced the rock to approximately two feet or smaller so it could be accepted for uses such as riprap, slope protection and drainage. “The most cost-effective way to dispose of them is to make them useful for somebody,” Johnston says. That did not mean selling the rock for a profit. His company still paid to have it hauled away. The benefit was making the material useful enough to improve the chances of finding a receiving site closer to the project, helping limit transportation costs. On a constrained hillside job like this, material handling and hauling are as much a part of the operation as the excavation itself..

Breaking, sizing and removing massive rocks from job sites is a central part of Church Johnston’s business model.

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C alL an d s c ape r.com

Excavating and preparing site for massive retaining wall project.

THE EQUIPMENT BEHIND THE TRANSFORMATION Although the Cat 340 handled the largest rock work, the project required a combination of equipment suited to different tasks. Johnston brought his own Cat D3 dozer, Cat 289 compact track loader and Cat 305 mini excavator. Wheel loaders and compaction equipment supplemented that fleet as the operation moved through excavation, material handling, backfill and grading. The D3’s GPS capability also played a role. Johnston says SITECH Pacific developed a 3D model for the project, which his crew used with automatic machine control for the driveway approach and final pad grades. That combination of heavy excavation equipment and grading technology helped the crew move from removing oversized boulders to shaping the surfaces that would support the next stages of construction. Johnston credits his working relationship with Hawthorne Cat and Clairemont Equipment for equipment, parts and service support. He also appreciates the interest shown by Ben Pilley, sales representative at Sonsray Machinery, who visited the El Cajon project and took time to discuss the work and equipment applications. Ben was also responsible for setting up this article for Church in CalLandscaper

CalLandscap er.com

Magazine. For a small company taking on demanding projects, those relationships provide valuable support that is not so common in today’s sell and go marketplace. A SPECIALTY BUILT AROUND DIFFICULT GROUND Johnston formed his corporation in August 2022, following experience in concrete, masonry, backyard projects and framing. As he explored different aspects of construction, equipment operation increasingly became his focus. Today, the company’s work centers on excavation, grading, site preparation and specialized rock removal. Local owner-builders and smaller contractors make up an important part of its customer base. At the time of the interview, Johnston was working on another residential excavation involving approximately 6,000 cubic yards of material. He was also preparing to assist a contractor in Harmony Grove, where rock had complicated an existing grading operation. On that type of assignment, Johnston can concentrate on breaking the rock while the grading contractor continues handling the excavated material. His background also includes decorative stonework, from engraved address boulders to work on stone water features. While those projects are less common for him today, they

reflect a familiarity with rock that extends beyond bulk excavation. Looking ahead, Johnston wants to expand the specialized rock side of the business. He sees an opportunity as owners consider properties that require more effort to develop. “People are buying more hillside lots, more challenging lots,” he says. “There’s a real niche there for it.” For CalLandscaper readers, the El Cajon project offers a clear example of what that specialty can contribute. The finished landscape will eventually be judged by how it looks and how well it serves the homeowner. Before any of that could happen, someone had to create the ground on which to build it. Church Johnston Grading and Construction provides grading, excavation, residential site preparation and specialized rock removal, along with services including septic systems, water mains and connections, trenching, footings and underground utility preparation. Whether working directly for a property owner or alongside another contractor, Johnston’s role is to help turn difficult ground into usable space. Sometimes, realizing a landscape vision begins with planting. On this hillside, it began with breaking rock. For more information on Church Johnston Grading and Construction, please visit www.ChurchJohnston.com. CL

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Landscaping and Hardscaping After the Fires Will there be enough contractors, plants and equipment to sustain the rebuild? By Brian Hoover, CMS Editor

ebuilding a home does not end at the front door. Across neighborhoods devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires, recovery will also mean restoring drainage, driveways, retaining walls, irrigation and planted areas. That work raises a practical question for Southern California’s landscape and hardscape industry: Will there be enough qualified contractors, plants and equipment to get it done? The challenge is timing. As homes advance through reconstruction,

demand for outdoor work could build in waves. Contractors already serving existing customers may face additional calls for crews. Nurseries will need time to grow or import the trees and plants designers specify. Equipment dealers and rental yards will need the right machines available when projects are ready to begin. CAL FIRE figures put the combined destruction from the two fires at 16,264 structures. That total includes homes, commercial buildings and other structures, With an estimated 16,264 structures lost after the Palisades and Eaton fires, will there be enough contractors, equipment and landscape plants and material to build back properly?

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rather than 16,264 separate residential rebuilding projects. Even with that distinction, the scale points to a substantial workload beyond the homes themselves.

When the Work Arrives A June 2026 economic update from Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation reported that 26.7% of destroyed structures had received rebuilding permits, while just 0.47% had completed reconstruction and received occupancy approval. For outdoor construction, that gap matters. A permitted house can still be months away from finish grading, final paving and planting. As groups of homes advance, demand for those services could become concentrated within specific neighborhoods and seasons. The pace will also depend on homeowners’ financing, design choices and construction schedules. C alL an d s c ape r.com

Contractors and Crew Capacity Whether enough qualified contractors can handle a simultaneous rebuilding surge remains uncertain. Statewide license totals alone cannot answer that question. California’s Contractors State License Board records help identify licensed businesses, but do not establish their crew capacity, existing backlogs or willingness to work in the fire areas. The broader construction labor picture suggests reasons to plan carefully. In the 2025 AGC–NCCER national workforce survey, 92% of construction firms that were hiring reported difficulty finding qualified workers. Forty-five percent of respondents reported project delays caused by shortages of their own or subcontractors’ workers. These are national construction findings, not a survey specifically measuring Los Angeles landscape contractors.

Mini excavators, compact track loaders, and other compact equipment could become scarce if the work is not managed properly.

Experienced foremen, equipment operators, irrigation technicians and hardscape installers must also be available in the right combinations. Adding general labor alone does not resolve every production constraint. For homeowners, “available” and “qualified” therefore need separate

consideration. CSLB recommends checking the appropriate license, references and recently completed work. For a rebuilding project, owners and general contractors should also establish who will supervise the job and whether the proposed start date reflects an actual crew assignment.

Plants and Nursery Supply A rental company may be able to transfer a machine from another branch. A nursery cannot produce a mature tree on the same timetable. Theodore Payne

Foundation, the Southern California native-plant organization, directly anticipates a significant increase in demand for suitable plants, fire-conscious landscaping

Trees and plant inventory will be tested and in some cases substitutions and second choices may be necessary.

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services and horticultural expertise following the fires. Its recovery guidance identifies both rebuilding and improvements to existing landscapes as drivers of that need. The challenge will involve the right inventory as much as total inventory. Designers may specify specific species, container sizes and combinations of plants suited to exposure, irrigation and the property’s fire-resilience objectives. For local retail nurseries and wholesale growers, early plant schedules could help connect expected demand with available stock. Contractors who leave procurement until the last stage may have to change sizes, substitute appropriate species or phase installation. FA L L / 2 0 2 6

Equipment Availability The machinery required will change as rebuilding progresses. Large excavators and hauling fleets were central to debris removal. Residential landscape and hardscape work can bring a different mix: compact excavators for drainage and irrigation trenches, compact track loaders for grading and material handling, compact loaders for restricted access, and attachments for breaking concrete, drilling holes and moving palletized materials. Compaction equipment, concrete saws and small material carriers

can become just as important to production as the primary digging machine. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified tight property lines in Altadena and steep slopes in Pacific Palisades among the cleanup mission’s operational challenges. These unique site conditions will warrant special attention when selecting equipment for reconstruction. Equipment availability will depend in part on how steadily that work arrives. Intermittent projects can favor rentals. A contractor with a sustained backlog may have a

stronger reason to purchase a machine, replace an aging unit or add attachments that expand an existing machine’s usefulness. If projects advance in waves, demand for specific machine sizes and attachments could tighten even when equipment remains available elsewhere in the region. For dealers and rental companies, the rebuilding work could also generate demand for delivery, field service, wear parts and attachments. A machine waiting for a repair or the correct bucket can hold up the crew and the next scheduled trade.

Preparing for the Rebuild The available information does not establish that Southern California will run out of contractors, plants or equipment. It does show why the industry needs to prepare for demand that may arrive unevenly. A gradual rebuilding pace gives businesses time to schedule crews, replenish inventory and move machines between projects. A concentrated surge could put pressure on all three at once.

Preparation starts before a house is ready for its yard. General contractors and landscape contractors can coordinate expected start dates, identify crew needs, discuss plant availability with growers and reserve suitable equipment as schedules become firm. Flexible plant specifications and phased installations may help keep projects moving when particular sizes or species are unavailable.

For homeowners, the question is whether the people, plants and machinery needed for their property will be available together. For the industry, the test will be turning a long rebuilding workload into coordinated, achievable schedules. Success means a finished driveway, a functioning yard and one fewer obstacle between rebuilding a house and coming home. CL

Blending hardscape and landscape should follow Zone Zero specifications.

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Built to Last: No Shortcuts to Growing a California Landscape Business The habits that help landscape and hardscape contractors earn trust, protect profits and turn good work into lasting growth. By Brian Hoover, CMS Editor

beautiful backyard can help sell the next project. What happens underneath that backyard, and behind the scenes at the company that built it, determines whether the contractor will still be profitable years from now. The customer sees the finished pavers, landscape lighting and carefully selected plants. The contractor must also see the excavation, drainage, labor hours, equipment costs, delivery schedules and payroll obligations that made the installation possible. For California’s landscape and hardscape contractors, that is where sustainable growth begins. There is no single formula shared by every successful C-27 contractor. Some build thriving businesses

around residential renovations. Others specialize in commercial installations, maintenance or relationships with general contractors. But the disciplines that support lasting success are remarkably practical: understand the work, know its true cost, develop good people and deliver what was promised. In a crowded industry, those fundamentals give customers a reason to choose a contractor, and a reason to recommend that company afterward. THEY KNOW WHAT A JOB REALLY COSTS A full schedule can hide a weak business. A contractor may have trucks moving, crews working and

It all starts at the design and estimating phase where costs extend beyond labor and materials. The devil is in the details.

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proposals going out every day while still struggling to cover overhead. Revenue alone does not reveal whether a project contributed to the company’s financial health. Consider a hypothetical $50,000 installation with $40,000 in direct job costs. The remaining $10,000 represents a 20 percent gross margin before overhead. Just $5,000 in overlooked labor, hauling or rework cuts that amount in half. That is why estimating must extend beyond materials and an educated guess at crew time. Payroll burden, equipment, disposal, mobilization, supervision and site access all affect the actual cost of construction. The selling price must also contribute enough to cover company overhead and profit. The discipline continues after the bid is accepted. Comparing estimated hours and costs with actual results helps contractors identify where they made money, where they lost it and what needs to change on the next proposal. Without that feedback, a company can repeat the same estimating mistake across an increasingly busy schedule. Accepting a project or lowering your bid to simply keep your crews busy is not a recipe for success, it is rather a plan for eventual financial failure. C alL an d s c ape r.com

A detailed proposal and walkthrough provides the client with something more useful than just a number.

THEY KNOW WHAT A JOB REALLY COSTS A full schedule can hide a weak business. A contractor may have trucks moving, crews working and proposals going out every day while still struggling to cover overhead. Revenue alone does not reveal whether a project contributed to the company’s financial health. Consider a hypothetical $50,000 installation with $40,000 in direct job costs. The remaining $10,000 represents a 20 percent gross margin before overhead. Just $5,000 in overlooked labor, hauling or rework cuts that amount in half. That is why estimating must extend beyond materials and an educated guess at crew time. Payroll burden, equipment, disposal, mobilization, supervision and site access all affect the actual cost of construction. The selling price must also contribute enough to cover company overhead and profit. The discipline continues after the bid is accepted. Comparing estimated hours and costs with actual results helps contractors identify where they made money, where they lost it and what needs to change on the next proposal. Without that feedback, a company can repeat the same estimating CalLandscap er.com

mistake across an increasingly busy schedule. Accepting a project or lowering your bid to simply keep your crews busy is not a recipe for success, it is rather a plan for eventual financial failure. THEY EXPLAIN THE VALUE BEHIND THE PRICE Customers cannot evaluate what they do not understand. Two proposals may both promise a paver patio yet describe very different projects. Excavation, base preparation, drainage, edge restraints, access and cleanup can substantially change the scope and price. A detailed proposal gives the customer something more useful than a number. It explains what the contractor intends to build and how the work will be completed. It also may help explain why that other bid is so low and what essential work is being left out. When a competing bid is significantly lower, rather than dismissing attacking another contractor’s reputation, a professional can walk the customer through the differences and identify questions worth asking. If the budget is insufficient, the responsible response is to adjust the design, materials or

project phases. Quietly reducing essential preparation to preserve the sale creates a problem that may surface long after the crew moves on to the next job. THEY REFUSE TO SHORTCUT THE WORK NOBODY SEES Some of the most important work on a landscape project disappears beneath the finished surface. Soil preparation, grading, drainage, irrigation connections and hardscape foundations may never appear in the portfolio photographs. However, they still influence how the project performs. The temptation to rush those steps can increase when a job falls behind or an estimate proves too thin. But covering an unresolved problem rarely makes it less expensive. A stronger approach establishes checkpoints before work is concealed. Crews verify relevant elevations, document underground installations, test systems and resolve questions while corrections remain accessible. Photographs of those stages also help explain craftsmanship to customers. A finished patio shows the result. Images of its preparation help show what the customer paid for. FA L L / 2 0 2 6

They Treat Communication as Part of Construction A homeowner or developer should not have to wonder whether the crew is coming back. A general contractor should not have to chase a landscape subcontractor for a schedule update. Clear communication begins before mobilization: who is the primary contact, what will happen first,

what decisions are still needed and what could affect completion? This becomes even more important when conditions change. An unexpected obstruction, unavailable plant variety or customer-requested addition needs a timely conversation about options, cost and scheduling.

For California home improvement contracts, CSLB guidance calls for changes in price or scope to be documented in a written change order signed by the customer and contractor before the changed work proceeds. That paperwork supports the relationship by making the agreement clear to both sides.

Commercial and residential projects may require separated requirements and even different pay schedules. This is an important reality for companies serving both markets.

They Build People Before Adding Crews Adding a truck and hiring employees does not automatically create another productive crew. Expansion requires someone who can organize the work, read the plans, maintain standards and recognize when a question needs to reach the owner. Without that leadership, the owner can become the bottleneck for every 24

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job. Training should therefore reach beyond demonstrating an installation technique. Employees need to understand the reason for the method, the expected result and how their decisions affect the next phase of work. Clear expectations, safe working practices, maintained equipment and opportunities

to take responsibility give capable employees a stronger foundation for success. For the owner, developing a dependable foreman can be one of the most consequential steps toward growth. It creates the ability to manage the business while maintaining accountability in the field.

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They Protect Cash Flow as Carefully as Craftsmanship Even a profitable project can strain a company if bills come due well before payments arrive. Payroll, supplier invoices, equipment rentals and subcontractor obligations must be planned against realistic collections. Residential and commercial projects may have very different payment schedules, making that planning especially important for companies serving both markets. For California home improvement work, CSLB states that the standard down-payment limit is $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Its guidance also explains that, apart from the permitted down payment, contractors cannot collect for work not completed or materials not delivered. Growth therefore requires working capital and disciplined billing. A new contract does not automatically provide the cash needed to perform it. THEY MAKE THEIR REPUTATION VISIBLE, AND REPEATABLE Strong workmanship needs to be supported by a reliable customer experience. Returning the initial call, providing a clear proposal, protecting the property and completing the punch list all influence whether a customer feels comfortable recommending the company. These operational business practices seems obvious, but many or all are often overlooked, even. By the largest of construction firms. Marketing can make that experience visible. Project photographs, short videos, customer reviews and explanations

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of construction methods give prospective clients evidence to consider. The most useful portfolio also reflects the work the company wants more of. A contractor pursuing commercial installations needs to demonstrate capabilities relevant to those projects. A residential specialist benefits from showing how a challenging property became a usable outdoor space. Marketing works best when the company can consistently deliver the experience it promotes. THEY CHOOSE GROWTH THEY CAN SUPPORT Sometimes the right business decision is to decline a project. A job outside the company’s expertise, service area or available capacity can consume resources needed to serve existing customers. Buying equipment without enough productive work to support it can create a similar burden. Before expanding, the practical questions are straightforward: Who

A beautifully designed and implemented backyard landscape/ hardscape project often leads to another job. Taking progress photos to include the underground work is always a good idea.

will supervise the work? What cash will it require? Can the company maintain its standards? Will the additional revenue produce a worthwhile return? California’s landscape and hardscape contractors do not have to become the largest companies in their markets to build valuable businesses. They need work they can price accurately, crews they can depend on and customers who trust the outcome. Like the landscapes they install, those businesses need sound preparation beneath the surface. Every accurate estimate, trained employee, documented change and properly completed project adds to that foundation. CL

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The Price Behind the Lowest Bid California’s licensed landscape contractors compete against more than price, and customers may assume more risk than they realize. Always confirm that your contractor of choice holds the proper contractor’s licenses and insurance before proceeding with construction.

By Brian Hoover, CMS Editor

alifornia has approximately 12,500 C-27 licensed landscape/hardscape contractors, according to the Contractors State License Board list reviewed by CalLandscaper. In a state of nearly 40 million residents, that represents roughly one landscape contractor license for every 3,200 people. Those businesses serve a sprawling market of homes, commercial properties, housing developments and public spaces. They also compete with operators offering landscape and hardscape construction without the licenses required to perform it. For a customer comparing estimates, the difference may initially appear to be nothing more than price. But behind that lower number can be unanswered questions about insurance, permits, worker protection and responsibility when something goes wrong. A new patio may look impressive when the crew leaves. The real test can come months later, when pavement settles, drainage fails or a worker’s injury onsite becomes a financial and legal headache.

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UNDERSTANDING WHO NEEDS A LICENSE The number of C-27 licenses does not represent everyone working in California’s landscape industry. A single licensed business may employ several crews, and employees generally do not need individual contractor licenses to work for that company. Routine gardeners also occupy a different category. Mowing, weeding and shrub trimming generally do not require a CSLB contractor’s license. Installing landscape improvements, drainage systems and hardscape features can cross into regulated construction. CSLB specifically distinguishes ordinary yard maintenance from work requiring a licensed contractor. That distinction keeps the discussion

focused where it belongs: on businesses accepting construction work they are not legally authorized to perform. Under current California rules, a contractor’s license is generally required when construction work totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials, requires a building permit or involves additional workers. Calling a project “yard work” or accepting payment in cash does not change those requirements. C-27 is also not the only license relevant to outdoor improvements. Concrete, masonry and other specialty contractors may be authorized to perform particular portions of a project. The appropriate classification depends on the actual scope of work. C alL an d s c ape r.com

When contractors compete under different rules A responsible landscape contractor’s estimate includes more than equipment, materials and labor. It must account for the obligations of running a legitimate construction business. Licensing, bonding, applicable insurance, payroll responsibilities and permit compliance all carry costs. An operator who avoids those obligations may submit a lower

bid without providing equivalent protections. That does not make every inexpensive proposal suspect. Efficient contractors can deliver excellent value. The problem arises when customers compare prices without comparing what those prices include. Does each proposal specify excavation and base preparation? Who handles drainage? Are

permits included where required? Who employs the crew? What happens if the installation fails? For licensed contractors, explaining these differences is part of the sales process. Customers need to understand why a complete, properly managed project may cost more than an offer that leaves essential responsibilities unresolved.

The exposure extends beyond the backyard On residential projects, defective work can leave homeowners paying twice: once for the installation and again to remove and replace it. Injury exposure can be more serious. CSLB warns that a property owner could face financial responsibility when a worker is injured and the contractor lacks workers’

The fallout from injury claims, property damage and correction of deficient work often falls directly on the homeowner using an unlicensed contractor.

compensation coverage. Homeowner’s insurance may or may not cover the resulting costs. Commercial projects can spread those consequences across owners, tenants, visitors and other contractors. A failed walkway may interrupt access. Drainage corrections can require

reopening finished areas. Disputes over incomplete work can delay subsequent trades. For property managers and general contractors, verifying licenses and insurance should happen before a subcontract is awarded. A polished portfolio or personal recommendation cannot establish legal authorization to perform the work.

Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed contractor to save money? The answer requires distinguishing the customer from the person performing the contracting. For an ordinary homeowner purchasing work on their own property, hiring an unlicensed contractor does not generally, by itself, carry the same criminal penalties imposed on the contractor. However, that does not make the contractor’s work lawful when a license is required, and an agreement to accept a lower price does not waive licensing requirements.

The homeowner’s exposure is often financial and civil: injury claims, property damage, correction of deficient work and responsibilities associated with acting as an ownerbuilder. CSLB cautions that ownerbuilders assume responsibility for their projects and may face lawsuits involving uninsured or unlicensed workers. Signing an owner-builder permit should never be treated as a simple paperwork favor for someone else running the job. Licensed contractors face a different situation. Contracting with

an unlicensed contractor for work requiring a license is grounds for disciplinary action under Business and Professions Code Section 7118. Helping an unlicensed operator evade licensing requirements can also trigger discipline under Section 7114. A general contractor’s license does not simply extend to an independent, unlicensed subcontractor. Saving money, therefore, is no substitute for checking whether the proposed arrangement is lawful and properly insured.

What penalties can unlicensed contractors face?

Routine gardening and maintenance companies are not subject to the same state contractor licensing requirements. These tasks include mowing lawns, weeding, leaf removal, shrub trimming, and simple yard cleanups.

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Contracting without a required license is generally a misdemeanor. Potential penalties include up to six months in jail, a criminal fine of up to $5,000, or both. Repeat convictions bring more severe consequences. Separate CSLB civil penalties for unlicensed contracting range from $1,500 to $15,000, with the increased minimum taking effect July 1, 2026. The financial consequences can extend beyond fines. Under Business and Professions Code Section 7031, an improperly licensed contractor generally cannot sue to collect payment for work requiring a license. Customers may also be able to sue to recover compensation already paid, subject to applicable legal requirements and exceptions. Those remedies should not be mistaken for guaranteed reimbursement. Winning a claim and collecting money are different matters, and neither automatically repairs an unfinished or defective project. C alL an d s c ape r.com

When unlicensed work can be lawful There are legitimate situations in which a customer can hire someone who does not hold a contractor’s license. Routine gardening is one. Another is California’s narrow exemption for casual, minor construction work costing less than $1,000 in total, including labor, materials and other costs. The work cannot require a building permit, and the person cannot employ anyone to perform or assist with it. The exemption

also cannot be used to carve up a larger project into smaller contracts. A genuinely separate $700 minor repair might qualify if every condition is met. A $7,000 installation divided into ten $700 invoices does not. Even when work is exempt from contractor licensing, customers should still verify experience, insurance and any other applicable requirements.

Civil suits are not uncommon when an unlicensed contractor’s employee is hurt while working on heavy lifting projects like placing pavers or building retaining walls

What to check before awarding the job Property owners can reduce their exposure by taking a few practical steps: • Verify the license directly with CSLB. Confirm active status, the business name and the classifications appropriate to the work. • Confirm insurance. Ask for evidence of workers’ compensation when employees are involved and general liability coverage for property damage. • Compare written scopes. Look beyond the total price to materials, preparation, drainage, permits, cleanup and payment terms. • Review similar completed projects. Ask how the installation has held up and whether problems were addressed. • Watch the deposit. For home improvement contracts, the down payment generally cannot exceed $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever CalLandscap er.com

is less. A limited exception applies to contractors with a qualifying blanket performance and payment bond on file with CSLB. A license belonging to another business, pressure for immediate payment or a proposal to split invoices to avoid licensing requirements should prompt closer scrutiny. California’s approximately 12,500 C-27 licensed landscape contractors represent businesses that have taken the steps necessary to participate in the regulated construction market. Supporting responsible contracting protects those businesses, their workers and the customers depending on them. The lowest bid deserves consideration. It also deserves questions. Before choosing who will build the project, customers should know who is legally authorized to perform it, and who will take responsibility after the crew leaves. For license verification and consumer information, visit CSLB.ca.gov. CL FA L L / 2 0 2 6

The First Five Feet: California’s Fight Over Fire-Safe Landscaping The debate over Zone 0 is changing how contractors should approach planting, hardscape and client expectations— even before statewide regulations are final. By Brian Hoover, CMS Editor

planting bed beside a house can soften a wall and frame an entry. During a wildfire, it can also give windblown embers something to ignite. That risk is driving California’s debate over Zone 0, the first five feet around a structure, and challenging familiar landscape designs. For landscape and hardscape contractors, the practical question is immediate: keep installing as usual, or anticipate the changes? The prudent approach is to review designs now, explain the options and avoid creating hazards that a customer may later pay to remove. That does not mean treating proposed rules as enforceable law.

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WHY FIVE FEET MATTERS The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, or IBHS, recommends a fully noncombustible five-foot perimeter. Its research shows how vegetation, mulch and other combustible materials beside a building can turn ember exposure into damaging flames and heat. In 17 controlled experiments focused on vegetation, IBHS found that even well-watered plants can increase heat exposure and damage. Moisture may delay ignition, but it does not prevent burning under severe wildfire conditions. Calling a plant fireresistant therefore does not establish that it is appropriate beside a wall.

Planting trees directly under the roofline or within 1-foot of a home is generally banned in California. Additionally, many insurers mandate that no tree branches overhand or touch the roof or gutters, frequently requiring a 10-foot clearance from the roofline.

Mulch is another concern. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources guidance recommends keeping combustible mulches out of the first five feet. Fire-retardant treatments do not make wood mulch a reliable substitute for noncombustible materials. Gravel and pavers also need maintenance: leaves and twigs accumulating on them can provide new fuel. C alL an d s c ape r.com

What has passed and what is still being decided California has already passed two laws behind the Zone 0 effort. AB 3074, passed in 2020, told state officials to develop rules for reducing fire hazards within five feet of buildings. AB 1455, signed October 13, 2025, helped clear the way for a faster process to put those rules in place. The effort covers areas where the state is responsible for wildfire protection, along with locally protected areas officially rated as having a very high fire hazard. It is not a blanket requirement for every yard in California. [4, 10] In August 2026, the Board of Forestry released its proposed rules and an estimate of their financial impact. These documents spell out how the five-foot zone would work, including restrictions on plants, mulch, fences and other materials near buildings. Passing a law directing the state to create these rules is one step; completing the detailed rules is another. [10, 11]

That second step was still unfinished as of October 25, 2026. The Board withdrew its submitted rules from state review on September 8, and its website says work with the reviewing agency continues. The laws themselves remain in place, but contractors should not tell customers that this withdrawn proposal is already an enforceable statewide rule. Before bidding or installing work, check with the local fire department or building department about what applies to that property today. [4, 12] The Board’s September 2026 guidance gives contractors an idea of what may be coming. It describes keeping plants away from certain areas, including beneath roof overhangs and near windows, doors and vents, while allowing some maintained plants elsewhere within the five-foot zone. It also allows for keeping properly maintained existing trees

and replacing combustible fence connections with materials that will not burn. It does not call for removing every tree or replacing every wooden fence on the property. These details remain subject to the final rules. [5] Living vegetation remains the central disagreement. Some researchers and landscape advocates argue for flexibility based on plant moisture, site conditions and the benefits of established landscapes. Inside Climate News has documented arguments that healthy vegetation can intercept embers or temporarily buffer heat. IBHS recommends a more conservative, fully noncombustible perimeter. [1, 6] When preparing a bid, contractors should explain which requirements the design follows. The local fire department, the customer’s insurer and an optional wildfire-safety certification program may each have different standards.

AFTER

BEFORE California’s current law for planting shrubs and materials close to a house is governed by the Zone Zero wildfire defense regulations, approved on August 19, 2026.

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WHAT CONTRACTORS SHOULD DO NOW Start with the property, not a standard planting list. Before ordering materials, confirm applicable requirements with the local fire authority and building department. Review current plans against the Board’s latest guidance, identifying items that may need revision once final rules are published. On an active project, raise concerns before installing the affected work and obtain approval for any change. Walk the first five feet with the client. Identify combustible mulch, dense planting against walls, debris beneath attached decks and wooden fence connections. CAL FIRE already recommends gravel, pavers or concrete in place of combustible mulch, clearing dead vegetation and debris, and moving lumber and other combustible storage away from the immediate perimeter. These are useful risk-reduction measures while rulemaking continues. For new work, offer a noncombustible border or walkway and locate larger planting beds farther from the building. Avoid automatically repeating foundation shrubs and bark mulch simply because they were shown on an older plan. Where clients want vegetation close to the structure, 32

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verify the applicable standard before promising it can remain. Treat hardscape conversion as construction work. Check drainage, finished elevations, access, utilities and nearby roots before excavating or placing material. Retaining a mature tree may require arborist input; anticipated regulations alone are not a reason to remove healthy trees indiscriminately. Keep the jobsite consistent with the recommendation. Arrange authorized cleanup of dead vegetation and accumulated debris, and establish storage areas that keep lumber, mulch bags and combustible waste away from walls and attached decks. At handoff, explain how to keep the completed perimeter clear. A fire-conscious design loses value if it becomes a storage strip. HAVE THE CONVERSATION BEFORE THE WORK IS INSTALLED Clients should understand three things: what is required today, what changes are being considered and which improvements the contractor recommends voluntarily to reduce risk. Explain that an advance improvement may reduce future rework, but cannot guarantee compliance with regulations that are not yet final.

Put that distinction in the proposal. Record the standards and guidance consulted, the date reviewed, recommended materials and the client’s approved selections. Price cleanup, irrigation changes, hardscape and fence modifications separately. For phased or lengthy projects, plan another requirements check before the affected work begins and document any approved revisions. Insurance questions should be resolved with the client’s carrier. California requires discounts for qualifying wildfire mitigation, but contractors should not promise coverage or specific savings. Mercury Insurance, for example, states that improvements do not guarantee eligibility or renewal and that its mitigation discounts apply to the wildfire portion of the premium. Photographs and invoices can help document completed work for review. Contractors do not need to wait for the last regulatory detail to discuss safer design. They do need to distinguish sound precautions from legal obligations. Addressing the first five feet before installation gives customers a chance to make informed choices, and helps prevent a newly finished landscape from becoming the next removal project. CL C alL an d s c ape r.com

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