Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 270,649	$ 479,300
United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	249,254	442,804
Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	21,395	36,496
Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	183,632	326,360
Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	37,786	60,588
Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	1,532	5,644
Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	47,699	86,708
Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	128,496	247,183
Utility [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	118,661	229,114
Utility [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	9,835	18,069
Utility [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	97,118	183,435
Utility [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0
Utility [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	621	3,834
Utility [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	30,757	59,914
Residential commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	141,465	230,810
Residential commercial [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	129,905	212,383
Residential commercial [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	11,560	18,427
Residential commercial [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	86,540	142,937
Residential commercial [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	37,786	60,588
Residential commercial [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	911	1,810
Residential commercial [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	16,228	25,475
All other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	688	1,307
All other [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	688	1,307
All other [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0
All other [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	(26)	(12)
All other [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0
All other [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	0	0
All other [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 714	$ 1,319