What this category covers
Irrigation and outdoor lighting are usually sold as separate jobs but installed by the same crews, since both involve trenching the yard, running lines, and tying into a control system. On the irrigation side that means designing zones based on sun exposure and plant type, installing sprinkler heads or drip lines, setting up a controller (often smart, Wi-Fi connected), and adding a backflow preventer to meet local plumbing code. On the lighting side it's low-voltage fixtures for paths, steps, garden beds, and house facades, run off a transformer, usually installed at the same time as irrigation to share trenching costs and avoid digging up new sod twice.
What to check before hiring
Ask whether the contractor pulls a permit for backflow devices where required, and whether they winterize systems (blow out the lines every fall) since a skipped winterization is the most common cause of spring pipe cracks in this climate. For lighting, ask what gauge wire they run and whether fixtures are brass or composite, since cheaper plastic housings fade and crack within a couple of seasons. Get a zone map or lighting plan in writing before work starts, not just a verbal quote, and confirm what the warranty covers on both parts and labor.
How our scoring works
We score all 8 businesses in this category on factors like verified licensing, review consistency, responsiveness, and range of services offered, then rank them alongside every other landscaping trade in the best landscapers in Vaughan guide. The full breakdown of how we weight and verify each factor is on our methodology page.