I see the need for hardscapes. A lot of money is at risk just on materials.
However many LCO's doing maintenance seem to have a cancel clause in their contracts were either party can terminate service after a set period. So why even have a contract?
Here in MA we can not have binding contracts for landscape maintenance and fert on
residential lawns. The contracts can be terminated by either party at any time. The reason for the contract is to spell out all of the terms such as what you will do, when you will do it, and payment terms. These are to protect both parties, but mainly the contractor, so that the HO does not turn around and refuse to pay because he says you agreed to also mow the back 40, or try to claim you told him the spring cleanup would only be $150 when you bill him $500
On other services its different, I had a contract sighned for irrigation, the customer ended up having another company install the system for him. I turned around and took him to court, he had to pay the full contract price