Revenue Recognition (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 208,651
United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	193,550
Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	15,101
Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	142,728
Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	22,802
Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	4,113
Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	39,008
Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	118,687
Utility [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	110,453
Utility [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	8,234
Utility [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	86,316
Utility [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0
Utility [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	3,214
Utility [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	29,157
Residential commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	89,345
Residential commercial [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	82,478
Residential commercial [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	6,867
Residential commercial [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	56,397
Residential commercial [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	22,802
Residential commercial [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	899
Residential commercial [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	9,247
All other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	619
All other [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	619
All other [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0
All other [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	15
All other [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0
All other [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0
All other [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 604