The 5 Landscape Contractor Games That Start in Spring

Every spring in Colorado, something strange happens.

The snow melts. The sun returns. Homeowners walk outside, look at their yard… and think:

“This is the year.”

And right on cue — the zombies wake up.

Not the Hollywood kind. The contractor kind.

All winter long, they’ve been dormant. Quiet. Invisible. Waiting.

But when spring hits Denver, they rise from the thawed ground in search of one thing:

Homeowners looking for a “good deal.”

If you’re planning a patio, deck, outdoor kitchen, or full landscape design project this season — you need to recognize the signs before you get bitten.

Let’s talk about the 5 Contractor Games that start in spring.

🧟 Game #1: The “Too-Good-To-Be-True” Bid

The zombie strategy:

“If I get in cheap, I’ll make it up later.”

They throw out a number that feels like a win. 20–30% lower than established landscape companies in Denver.

But here’s what’s missing:

• No detailed scope

• No base depth specification

• No drainage plan

• No frost-depth footings

• No clear material allowances

The problem? In Colorado’s freeze-thaw climate, shortcuts don’t just crack — they heave.

A proper custom landscape design in Denver requires:

• Engineered base prep

• Open-graded aggregate systems

• Proper compaction

• Drainage management

If those aren’t in writing, they aren’t happening.

🧟 Game #2: The Change Order Shuffle

The zombie bid gets accepted.

Then mid-project:

“We ran into something unexpected.” “Material prices changed.” “That wasn’t included.”

Suddenly the “deal” costs more than a professional proposal ever would have.

Spring is prime season for this tactic because homeowners are excited. Emotional. Ready to start.

A legitimate landscape company in Denver builds:

• Clear scopes

• Transparent allowances

• Defined exclusions

• Documented change protocols

If the proposal is vague, the change orders are coming.

🧟 Game #3: The Disappearing Landscape Contractor Act

Spring means volume.

Some contractors stack deposits across multiple landscaping Denver jobs to float winter debt.

When cash flow tightens, they:

• Bounce between projects

• Delay timelines

• Vanish mid-build

Your backyard becomes their financing plan.

Professional design-build firms schedule intentionally, not desperately.

🧟 Game #4: The “We’ll Figure It Out Later” Design

This one is subtle.

No scaled drawings. No elevation planning. No lighting layout. No utility coordination.

Just:

“We’ll handle it.”

Luxury outdoor living in Colorado isn’t improvisation.

A high-end outdoor kitchen, composite deck, or water feature requires:

• Structural engineering awareness

• Snow-load consideration

• HOA coordination

• Utility planning

• Drainage modeling

Without a real design process, you don’t have a project.

You have a gamble.

🧟 Game #5: The Base Prep Burial

This is where most landscaping failures begin in Denver.

Underneath the patio.

If you can’t see it, you can’t verify it.

In Colorado, improper base prep leads to:

• Settling

• Heaving

• Water pooling

• Structural deck failure

• Retaining wall movement

Most patios that fail in 2–4 years fail because the contractor cut corners below grade.

And you won’t know until the damage surfaces.

Why Spring Is Prime Zombie Season in Denver

• Homeowners are motivated.

• Schedules fill quickly.

• “Limited time” pressure increases.

• Cash-strapped contractors need deposits.

This is when poor decisions get made.

And this is why choosing the right landscape company in Denver matters.

The Antidote: Professional Design-Build Execution

At Stone Peak Landscape, we believe:

• Detailed scopes prevent conflict.

• Proper base prep prevents failure.

• Transparent pricing prevents change-order games.

• Engineering mindset prevents structural issues.

• Clear communication prevents chaos.

  
  

We don’t compete on being the cheapest.

We compete on being the last contractor you’ll need to hire.

If you’re investing in custom landscape design in Denver, Highlands Ranch, Broomfield, Castle Rock, or surrounding Front Range communities — do it once, and do it right.

Spring is exciting. Just make sure you’re not signing with the undead.