Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 288,280	$ 247,889
United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	272,717	230,906
Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	15,563	16,983
Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	201,975	163,802
Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	23,066	27,942
Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	1,160	2,697
Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	62,079	53,448
Utility [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	185,749	140,469
Utility [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	177,087	129,882
Utility [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	8,662	10,587
Utility [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	141,743	103,386
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	523	1,072
Utility [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	43,483	36,011
Residential commercial [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	101,953	107,395
Residential commercial [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	95,052	100,999
Residential commercial [Member] | Canada
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	6,901	6,396
Residential commercial [Member] | Tree and plant care [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	60,257	60,427
Residential commercial [Member] | Grounds maintenance [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	23,066	27,942
Residential commercial [Member] | Storm damage services [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	637	1,625
Residential commercial [Member] | Consulting and other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	17,993	17,401
All other [Member]
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	578	25
All other [Member] | United States
Disaggregation of revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	578	25
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	(25)	(11)
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	$ 603	$ 36