When you have previously lived in apartments with little to no space, suddenly having an entire yard can be overwhelming. Aside from the added responsibilities, taking care of hectares of manicured space in an exclusive subdivision a few minutes away from the city center can be expensive. Searching for “affordable landscapers near me” and hiring a professional one can take up a lot of time and resources. Planning how you will go about this especially knowing that there are a lot of landscaping companies to choose from, is often a crucial part of the project.
Landscaping can be tricky when you are not used to regular yard maintenance. After all, a beautiful yard takes a lot of effort and looking for landscaping companies that can do quality work without breaking the bank can be challenging.
Plan ahead for your landscaping project. Here are some tips to consider when you have decided to increase your house’ curb appeal and hire professionals to upgrade the space. The goal is, by deliberately being mindful of these things, you will be able to engage the best landscaper who will do an excellent job while you save money by being time and cost-efficient.
1. Decide whether you need a full service landscaping package or just basic maintenance landscaping services
2. Gather price rates for landscapers in your area and available services. Review their rates and decide what type of services are non-negotiable and which you would be happier without. This will also help you decide whether or not the rates offered are actually affordable and reasonable.
3. Ask family and friends for references and recommendations. Keep in mind to look thoroughly for landscapers’ qualifications and test more than just their knowledge in lawn maintenance and lawn care. After all, you need more than just weeding expertise. Understand that responsiveness and focus in working on your instructions are crucial if you want the project completed quickly and on time.
4.When doing an online search, look for good and bad online reviews about the landscaping companies on your short list. Read online reviews even from websites which are not exclusively for landscaping content. Sometimes you will learn more when you veer away from the usual channels.
5.Choose only service providers who are in good standing in the industry. Great work often speaks for itself and is spread by word of mouth. When customers love the quality of your work, it is easy for them to recommend you to others.
6.Narrow down the search and discuss your expectations with the landscaper of your choice. Agree on which items are crucial and which would be nice add-ons.
7. Get estimates and rates in writing so you can decide on what is the fair price and what should be the total cost. Provide a clear vision of your overall plan and the time you are expecting for it to be completed.
How to avoid landscaping scams
The landscaping business industry in the US is reportedly worth over $120 billion right now. There are 647,741 landscaping services businesses in the US as of 2023 with an increase of 3.2% from 2022. Unfortunately, there are entities in the landscaping world who want to take advantage. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is reminding the public to beware of door-to-door landscaping scams. These scammers often take advantage when a storm has passed.
To ensure that you are engaging a legitimate landscaping company, do some research first and conduct a background check. The BBB advises homeowners to get at least three quotes for the same scope of work. This way one can compare the costs of materials, warranties and other upfront costs. Once the work begins, it is best to take the time to regularly check-in with the landscaping company you hired to ensure everything is being done based on what you agreed upon.
Be upfront with your landscapers. Ask the important questions
Before you hire a landscaper, it pays to ask landscaping companies and landscaper near you, the following basic questions. Once answers are provided, you can think about which will fit your needs and expectations better. The best landscapers will be grateful for the clarity. Good communication is the key to most functional business relationships and being friendly with the owner can sometimes help landscapers finish the job faster.
1. What are the chemicals they will use for spraying weeds? Will the weeding require strong chemicals?
2. Do they have proper chemical license for these chemicals?
3. Do they offer guarantees to back up their work?
4. What is the timeline for them to complete their work?
5. Do they have contingency plans in case of unforeseen events like extreme weather changes or if landscapers fall ill during the project?
6. What will be their course of action in case of delay and the delay is entirely due to their fault?
7.What are their previous experience with similar projects?
8. Do they have a website where you can see success stories, previous projects, and testimonials from happy customers as well as their list of services and services they specialize in, their contact information and other important details about their company?
What are basic landscaping services to avail of?
Decide on what to prioritize based on your available budget. Would you want a full landscape renovation? Do you have a landscape design in mind? Or is basic landscape maintenance the only package you can afford? Since landscaping services are often far from affordable, it helps to look at it as a long-term investment for the future and that you will benefit from it since it will increase the market value of your property.
Most landscaping companies offer services in the following categories:
General Maintenance
Ask yourself if you need basic landscaping services to trim trees, mow lawns, mulching, weeds removal or minor landscaping projects that will require builders. This may include planting flowers to make your patio beautiful.
Irrigation
You can request for landscapers to build and manage irrigation systems for your grass and vegetation especially when you have a big lawn space. Ask if there are other functional structures you can add to make maintenance easier when you no longer have regular help.
Drainage Control
If you live in a storm-prone, flood-prone area, chances are, you are looking for drainage solutions as the best solution to your recurring concerns. Without an effective drainage control, any improvement in your lawn is bound to swept by raging water.
Other landscaping services
Of course, there should be an agreed upon project scope between you and the landscaping company. Be clear in what is included in the landscaping service fees and charges. You should also be clear on what plants, trees or flowers should be bought for your garden. It is easy to rack up cost and not know where the expense came from if you are not hands on with the inventory and instructions.
Do their services include removing or retaining walls? Can you ask them to install some water fountains or water features to enhance the overall look of look of your lawn or are the fees limited only to lawn mowing and clearing mulch? Can they create walkways and shape shrubs and bushes in fun aesthetic plant sculptures? Perhaps they know how to incorporate landscape therapy using the natural features of your front yard?
What is a realistic landscaping budget?
Depending on where you are located, for basic landscape service which typically includes mowing and trimming hedges, prepare at least $30 – $70 per hour or $50 – $190 total per service. Landscape renovation is at least $1,000. This would vary based on the size of your outdoor space and the availability of laborers in your state.
If you will avail only of the basic package which usually include lawn mowing and lawn care, set aside at least $120 to $7,000. For light and basic landscaping work, you can engage a general laborer for as low as $120. If you require the full package and need a labor-intensive session or want to overhaul your garden’s design, prepare at least $7,000.
Before committing to a service provider, identify the cost and whether your budget can accommodate high end services or is limited to low end services. Asking around for quotations can help you identify which landscaping companies can offer you the best value for your money. Ask for their hourly rate and specific expertise, if any.
Determine the number of employees and lawn care workers you will hire. There is nothing more frustrating than finding out you do not have enough hands to complete the project or carry out your design. The timeline for the activities will depend on the season when you want to start your maintenance project. Another consideration is the services you have to avail of and whether basic yard cleanup will suffice.
What do most landscapers charge per hour?
On the average, basic landscaping can cost $4 to $12 per square foot. This can vary depending on the state where you live and if you would require add-ons and equipment. Weed control, maintenance of flower beds and tree trimming are just a few lawn care services that homeowners usually avail of.
Anticipate a rate of $4 to $12 per square foot of your lawn for basic landscaping services. Landscaping costs for average spaces are for a range of $2,500 to $10,000
Spend only money you are willing to set aside for house maintenance. If you are going to have a professional design your lawn, spend only money you are willing to invest.
How much do landscapers charge a day?
It depends on the services you want to avail of from a landscaping company. A full service renovation such as creating themed gardens, plant walls and paths is of course on the pricier side. The recommended amount is at least $20,000.
If you want professionals to create a customized design, it can cost you at least $30,000. Since the whole project can be costly, it would be advisable to schedule a consultation with your prospective landscaping companies before hiring a landscaper.
Identify cost of materials and labor increases the price points of professional lawn and landscaping services
Landscaping work can be pricey. If you want to plant an exotic tree or one of a kind shrubs, this may require sourcing and transportation fees. If you avail of these for commercial purposes or as one of your company projects on a tight deadline, fees can easily blow out of proportion.
Costs may vary based on the size of the space and the scope of work. Some clients request for a complete overhaul and design process. Some may need only clean up and digging. Others are looking for a in assistance in general tasks such as repotting of plants and landscape lighting installation.
Another factor is that these service providers need to conduct basic training for their workers. You cannot expect anyone to automatically know how to handle equipment. A lawn mower can pose a safety hazard if the worker is untrained and careless.
How to come up with a reasonable cost estimate
Before coming up with the final cost estimates, think about the following so you can be clear in providing instructions to the landscapers and can make informed choices on what you really needed:
- Be familiar on what grows in your garden because different variants grow at different rates. This will assist you in identifying how frequently you should avail of professional services.
- Availing of a package plan might be more economical in the long run especially if you need the services often.
- Costs will also change if you want to avail of the related services such as leaf removal, aeration, dethatching and seeding.
Conclusion
Deciding on whether or not to engage a landscaping company and hire a landscaper for your landscaping needs depend on whether landscape work is for maintenance purposes or for home improvement. Unfortunately, simply wanting to transform your lawn into a place of serenity and beauty is not enough to make it into reality. Landscape renovation is a difficult job and is mostly hard work filled with grueling hours of physical labor.
You need to ask for references from people you love and trust especially since this project might take a while of the project scope is wide. This will help you determine with clarity which landscaping service fits your vision and what landscaping needs should be addressed by hiring a landscaper.
A professional landscaper is responsive, reliable, prompt and does the job with care. Landscape projects are more than just creating functional walkways, awe-inspiring patios or making the grass greener. It goes beyond trimming bushes and planting beautiful flowers and keeping weeds at bay. After all, you are building for the future and adding value to your property.
