How to Hire a Landscaper

A great looking landscape adds to the beauty and value of your home and also increases your enjoyment and pride of ownership.  Keeping your yard, gardens, trees, shrubs and other landscape elements looking great is a lot of work.  Many homeowners don’t have the time it takes to properly maintain their landscape.  Fortunately, there are many excellent landscaping professionals who would love to handle your lawn care and maintenance.

When choosing a landscaper, you should do more than just randomly pick one out of the phone book or call the top listing in the internet search results.  First, decide if you want a large multiple crew company or a smaller operation with a single crew.  The larger company may offer lower rates for standardized service, but the smaller company will be more likely to tailor their services for your unique needs.  With a smaller landscaper, your service will probably be more consistent and they will get to know you and the needs of your property better.

Landscaping companies offer a very wide range of services from just mowing and trimming to fertilizing, weed control, seeding, aerating, planting and tending flower beds, and irrigation system maintenance to complete landscape design, installation, and maintenance.  Make sure you are clear on what your expectations are and that those services are included in the rate.

Find out how long they have been in business and whether they have experience on properties like yours.  Ask about their policy for delays and emergencies.  If it rains and they can’t mow, do they come out the next day?  The next week?

Finally, be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau and online ratings websites to see if they have a history of complaints.  It’s better to avoid problems up front than to have to deal with them later.