Choosing a landscaping company: what you need to know
Choosing a landscaping company is not as tedious as some people may think. There are a couple of factors that quickly determine whether a company is the right fit for your project or not, but you have to know how to look.
Portfolios give an excellent company overview
Never choose a landscaping company that doesn’t have a rich portfolio. Portfolios do more than highlight past projects; they showcase the range and quality of service provided by that company.
It’s also a great way of getting inspiration for your own landscaping project. Having plenty of examples to look at helps assess a company, what it can do, what type of fees it charges, what areas it operates in, and so on.
Another reason to check out a portfolio is that it highlights the landscaper’s versatility. Do they work on varied and complex projects, or do they prefer working based on simple guidelines? This is important if you want a personalized project with lots of details.
Staff experience
There’s a difference between company experience and staff experience. A landscaping company could have been operating for decades. But that doesn’t mean that all employees have been there since the beginning.
It’s essential that companies make it easy for prospective clients to find out how much experience the landscapers actually have. It matters if the staff has formal education, particularly degrees in horticulture and design.
Look for companies that not only list memberships and credentials but also back them up. Experience results in professional work, not to mention more knowledge regarding plants, weather patterns, what to do, and what not to do on a particular project.
What services does the company offer?
There are three types of services that most landscaping companies offer – build, design, and maintenance. But not all companies provide all three.
Before hiring a landscaping company, it’s good practice to get a full list of services. Design is essential because of the creative input provided. Build is necessary because it ensures proper installation. Yet maintenance services are just as important.
Finishing a landscaping project is one thing. Caring for it is another. More demanding projects with complex designs, rare plants, or those created in harsh climates require professional maintenance--something that not every homeowner can do without the proper tools or free time. Hence it’s great if the company that does the project also provides a service to maintain it.
Always compare prices and services
Never look at just one landscaping company. Ask for quotes and compare prices, even those that maybe aren’t located nearby. Also, compare the type of equipment used by rival companies, compare testimonials, portfolios, and reviews.
Getting the best company for the project is important, but so is getting an affordable quote.
Landscaping is better left to the professionals
Mowing a lawn and putting down some plants isn’t hard work. But making that arrangement look appealing and making everything last in a specific region requires professional input. It’s always better to allow professionals to take on a landscaping project, even in residential areas, to ensure proper installation and the right choice of plants, lighting, irrigation, and decorative elements.
Hardrock Landscape Services provides award-winning design, construction, and maintenance of landscaping, lawn, water features, and lighting in Tampa Bay. Call us at 813-946-9711.
