Are Facebook Ads Still Worth It for Landscapers In 2026? (Honest Breakdown)

MATTHEW THIBEAU • February 6, 2026

As the marketing landscape continues to shift, many landscaping business owners are asking the same question. Are Facebook ads still worth the investment in 2026, or have they finally lost their edge? This question usually comes up when leads feel inconsistent, quality starts to slip, or marketing costs feel harder to justify. Facebook has changed, competition has increased, and homeowners are more cautious with spending. All of that has created uncertainty for contractors who rely on paid advertising to keep their pipeline full.

The problem is that most conversations around Facebook ads are overly simplistic. Some people claim the platform is dead, while others insist it works flawlessly for everyone. The truth sits somewhere in the middle. Facebook ads can still be extremely effective for landscaping businesses, but only when you understand where they perform well, where they struggle, and what systems need to be in place behind them. To answer this properly, Facebook ads need to be evaluated across several important factors, not judged by a single result or experience.

Cost Per Lead

When it comes to cost per lead, Facebook ads remain one of the strongest paid advertising channels available to landscapers. For most businesses running lead form campaigns properly, cost per lead typically falls between $20 and $50.

Compared to Google Ads, where leads often cost $80 to $120 or more, Facebook continues to offer a much lower entry point for generating volume. This is one of the main reasons Facebook ads remain so attractive for contractors who want to scale quickly.

That said, cost per lead depends heavily on how campaigns are structured. Messaging campaigns often generate cheaper leads, but quality usually drops. Lead forms tend to strike a better balance between cost and intent. Sending traffic to a landing page increases friction and pushes costs closer to Google Ads levels.

Even with these variations, Facebook still stands out as one of the cheapest places on the internet to consistently generate paid leads at scale.

Lead Quality

Lead quality on Facebook ads is best described as average, and that assessment comes down to how the platform works. Facebook is an interruptive environment. Homeowners are not actively searching for landscaping services when they see your ad. They are scrolling through their feed, watching videos, or browsing content. That naturally lowers intent compared to search-based platforms.

However, lead quality is not fixed. It is directly influenced by the quality of your ads. When messaging is clear, specific, and relevant, Facebook delivers better prospects. When ads are generic or unclear, the platform fills in the gaps with low-quality clicks. This is where many landscapers run into trouble. When ads stop performing, Facebook does not stop sending leads. It simply sends worse ones. Over time, that creates the perception that Facebook leads are bad, when in reality the creative and structure are the real issue.

Buyer Intent

Buyer intent on Facebook ads is generally average, and in some cases slightly below average. Because Facebook introduces your business to people who may not have been actively thinking about landscaping, intent varies widely. Some leads are ready to move forward quickly. Others are still early in the decision process. Many fall somewhere in between.

This does not mean Facebook ads cannot produce high-quality jobs. It simply means the sales process matters more. Unlike referrals or search traffic, Facebook leads need speed, follow-up, and clear communication to convert consistently. Businesses that rely on intent alone often struggle, while those with strong follow-up systems tend to do very well.

Scalability

Scalability is where Facebook ads clearly outperform most other platforms. There are very few channels that allow you to increase spend and reach more people as easily and predictably. With Facebook, budgets can be expanded, audiences can be layered, and exposure can be increased without being limited by existing demand.

Search-based platforms rely on people actively looking for your service. When search volume slows, growth stalls. Facebook creates demand by putting your business in front of homeowners repeatedly and building familiarity over time. This makes it especially effective in competitive markets or slower seasons when relying on search alone is not enough to support growth.

Speed to ROI

Facebook ads also perform extremely well when it comes to speed. Most campaigns generate leads within 24 to 48 hours of launch. When follow-up is fast and the sales process is organized, revenue can follow quickly. This is one of the biggest advantages Facebook ads have over long-term channels like SEO, which can take months to produce consistent results.

That speed allows businesses to test offers, refine messaging, and adjust strategy without long waiting periods. It also makes Facebook ads an effective way to generate cash flow that can later be reinvested into longer-term marketing efforts.

Account Management

From a management standpoint, Facebook ads require consistent attention. Ad fatigue is real, and creatives typically need to be refreshed every two to four weeks to maintain stable performance. Effective campaigns often run multiple ads at once, sometimes ten or more variations, which means ongoing testing, monitoring, and optimization.

For most landscapers, managing this properly on their own is difficult. Without the time, experience, and systems to track performance and make adjustments, results tend to decline. This is why many businesses either hire internal marketing help or work with an agency to handle execution.

Sales Dependency

Facebook ads are highly dependent on your sales process. Leads are lower intent than referrals, which means speed and organization matter. If leads are not contacted quickly, tracked properly, and followed up consistently, performance drops. Weak sales systems are exposed very quickly when Facebook ads are introduced.

Businesses that succeed with Facebook ads usually have a structured process in place for handling inquiries, booking estimates, and closing jobs. Without that structure, even good leads can be wasted.

Final Thoughts

Facebook ads are not just worth running in 2026. When they are executed properly, they are still one of the strongest growth tools available to a landscaping business. The platform itself is not the problem. The gap between businesses that succeed with Facebook ads and those that struggle almost always comes down to execution, structure, and discipline.

What makes Facebook ads so effective is the combination of low cost per lead, unmatched scalability, and speed. Very few platforms allow you to generate demand instead of waiting for it, reach the same homeowners multiple times, and turn spend into opportunities within days. When campaigns are built correctly and supported by solid creative, Facebook delivers consistent volume at a price point that is difficult to match anywhere else.

The reason Facebook ads get a bad reputation is not because they stopped working. It is because they expose weaknesses that were already there. Poor ad creative leads to low-quality leads. Inconsistent follow-up kills deals before they start. Weak sales processes turn real opportunities into wasted ad spend. When those issues exist, Facebook makes them impossible to ignore. That is why some landscapers say the platform does not work, while others quietly scale using the exact same tools.

For businesses that take the time to do the fundamentals right, Facebook ads are excellent. They reward clarity, consistency, and follow-through. When those pieces are in place, Facebook ads are not unpredictable or risky. They are repeatable, measurable, and scalable. In 2026, they remain one of the most reliable ways for a landscaping business to create momentum, control demand, and grow with intention.

Ready To Take Your Business To The Next Level?

If you’re struggling to DIY your marketing, or you're tired of working with agencies that don’t really understand your business—or worse, don’t seem to care—then maybe it’s time for something different.

Book a quick call with our team. We’ll take the time to understand your unique goals, challenges, and market… and give you a clear, customized strategy to help you grow faster and more efficiently.

No pressure. No sales pitch. Just real insights you can use—whether we work together or not.

Book your free strategy call now.

BOOK FREE STRATEGY CALL