What happens during a landscaping job, from the 811 call to the first watering

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

How long does a landscaping job take?

Longer than the day the crew is on site. A new lawn or bed can involve a soil test that takes 7 to 10 days to come back, a wait of at least three business days for underground lines to be marked, the work itself, and then up to 4 weeks of watering before new sod roots. A patio or wall may add a municipal permit. Knowing the sequence helps you see whether a company is skipping a step.

What happens before anyone digs?

A soil test, if the job involves a lawn or beds. Penn State Extension says to collect samples three to four weeks before soil preparation so the report is back in time. The Montgomery County Master Gardeners put the turnaround at about 7 to 10 days once the lab has the sample. A soil test report gives the lime and fertilizer the new planting needs.

The 811 call. The company doing the digging must contact PA One Call at least three business days before it starts, and the Public Utility Commission says digging begins only once lines are marked, staying clear of the marked areas. The proposed dig area must be marked in white, with paint, chalk or stakes, unless exact site information is given. Ask for the One Call serial number.

Your own lines. The utilities mark only what they own or maintain. Tell the crew about sprinkler lines, drainage pipes, invisible fences, a septic system and any power or gas line to a pool or grill. Penn State's lawn guide suggests flagging utility lines and irrigation heads in bright colors and fencing around trees to protect their roots, bark and branches.

Erosion controls and permits, for bigger jobs. The state requires erosion and sediment controls on every earth disturbance, and a written plan once it reaches 5,000 square feet. For a permitted wall, the permit should be in hand before work begins.

What happens on a lawn treatment visit?

It is short. Expect a vehicle showing the company's pesticide business license number, "BU" followed by 4 or 5 digits, on both sides. Penn State says the company must provide pesticide labels on request, so ask for them, along with when the treated area can be used again. If the visit is fertilizer only, the state's rules still apply to the applicator: no application before heavy rain, a buffer from waterways, and granules swept off paving back onto the lawn.

What happens when a new lawn or bed is put in?

Penn State Extension's guide to lawn establishment sets out the order a careful crew follows.

1. Clear the site. Rocks, stumps, lumber and large roots come out; buried, they cause problems later.
2. Rough grade. The ground is shaped so water drains away from the house, ideally sloping 1 to 4 feet per 100 feet from the foundation. Penn State prefers a skid steer or tractor with a grading blade to a bulldozer, which can compact the soil.
3. Topsoil and amendments. Typically at least 4 to 6 inches of good-quality topsoil, with lime, fertilizer and organic matter added as the soil test directs.
4. Till. On moist, not wet, soil. Over-tilling turns soil to powder and leaves a crust.
5. Fine grade. The surface is firmed and smoothed, and stones larger than two inches are removed.
6. Seed or sod. Seed goes down in two passes at right angles and is lightly covered, then usually mulched with straw. Sod should be laid the day it arrives, because it deteriorates within 24 to 48 hours in warm weather, in a staggered pattern like bricks, and never on wet soil.

For trees, shrubs and perennials, Penn State says to loosen the roots of any container-grown plant before planting, and to check that it is not pot-bound.

What happens on a patio or wall job?

The same preparation, then the structure. The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association, a trade association, describes pavers as a semi-flexible system that shares load between units and sits on an aggregate base. That base, and the drainage behind a retaining wall, is the part you will not see once the job is done, so it is worth watching or photographing while it is open.

Where a permit applies there may be inspections. In Philadelphia, for example, the city says to schedule inspections through its system or by calling (215) 255-4040 when the contractor is ready to start, and issues approval after the required inspections are passed.

What happens after the crew leaves?

Watering, mostly. Penn State says lack of water is the most common cause of sod failure: water so that it soaks through to the soil beneath, daily if needed, until the sod has rooted, which may take up to 4 weeks, and keep traffic off it until then. New seed needs regular water until it germinates. For fall-planted shrubs, Penn State advises weekly checks and watering when dry until winter.

What should you check before the final payment?

• The scope. Compare what was done with the contract: plants by species and number, patio size and material, wall height and length.
• Changes. The Attorney General says the price cannot rise without a written change order signed by both of you.
• Clean-up. Soil, sod, packaging and debris removed as agreed.
• Care instructions. Who waters, for how long, and what happens to plants that die.
• Payment. The Federal Trade Commission says never to make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied with it.

To prepare, see questions to ask before you hire. For the best time of year to schedule each job, see how often and when. Local businesses are on the landscapers directory page.

Sources

1. Lawn Establishment, Penn State Extension
2. Soil Testing (Montgomery County Master Gardeners), Penn State Extension
3. FAQs Homeowners, Pennsylvania One Call System
4. Private Lines, Pennsylvania One Call System
5. PA One Call - 811, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
6. Choosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company, Penn State Extension
7. 25 Pa. Code § 102.4. Erosion and sediment control requirements., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Code)
8. Get a Retaining Wall Permit, City of Philadelphia
9. Pavers vs. Concrete: Myths, Facts, and What Homeowners Need to Know, Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association
10. Homeowners and Applicators, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
11. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
12. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
13. Is Fall for Planting?, Penn State Extension