16 Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring Them
16 Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring Them
Hiring a landscaping expert is an exciting process and the most reliable way to turn your yard or commercial storefront into the hottest one on the block.
But picking out the right design team for your goals isn’t always straightforward. If you don’t know what questions to ask a landscaper, you may miss some red flags and compromise your potential results.
We’ll explore 16 vital questions to ask before hiring a landscaper in this guide, so you’ll be able to make the best decision.
If you’re in Northern Georgia and looking for a reliable landscaping firm that you can rely on, check us out at Michaelangelo’s! We’re the #1 providers of Alpharetta landscaping, servicing homeowners and commercial businesses across the metropolitan area. We’re always ready to answer any questions.
What Questions to Ask a Landscaper Before Hiring Them?
If you don’t know what questions to ask a landscaper, you might end up with more problems than the ones you started with. Here are some good qualifying questions to determine if you’re hiring someone you can count on or not.
Are you licensed and insured?
If you aren’t researching questions to ask landscape designers, you’re putting your home or commercial property at risk. An uninsured worker getting hurt on your property can outright bankrupt you.
That’s why licensing and insurance are at the top of our list of what questions to ask a landscaper. If they have their proper paperwork, you won’t be liable for any accidents or damage on your property.
Whether someone slips and falls while installing a new drain or the landscapers accidentally destroy your septic system, you’ll be absolved of financial responsibility.
Plus, this is one of those questions to ask before hiring a landscaper that is obvious. Every seasoned professional expects this inquiry – if they start squirming or dismiss your concerns, that's a huge red flag.
How long have you been in business?
The best landscape designers have proven track records and portfolios that confirm their legitimacy. This is one of the questions to ask landscape designers that seems innocent on the surface, but reveals a lot about the results you’re going to receive.
The longer a company has been in business, the more knowledge it has.
Think about companies that have been operating for decades. They’ll know exactly about local soil conditions, seasonal changes, long-term maintenance requirements for various elements, and more.
You’ll even see how their services hold up over the years, giving you peace of mind.
Do you specialize in design, maintenance, or both?
When you’re formulating questions to ask before hiring a landscaper, you need to think about the long-term.
Landscaping firms that provide design and maintenance services are more likely to deliver the results you’re looking for. The reason is straightforward–if a firm knows what maintenance is required, they’ll be able to create an accurate long-term plan for your outdoor spaces.
After all, you don’t want to install several eye-catching features and elements, only to later find out they require hundreds of dollars per week in upkeep.
On the other hand, if you’re primarily hiring a firm that specializes in maintenance, you may not get the design you’re looking for.
Can you also design and install hardscaping features?
Landscaping isn’t just about plant life and natural features. Hardscaping, which includes manufactured objects such as drainage, walkways, fountains, and bricks, plays a vital role in the overall layout of your property.
This is one of those questions to ask landscape designers that often goes overlooked by homeowners or property managers, but it’s a must.
Some firms may only handle simple elements like walkways and are unable to handle complex jobs like outdoor kitchens or fountains. Others may contract this work out, which will require further research
What other landscaping services are available (drainage, irrigation, pool installation, etc.)?
You should also consider questions to ask landscape designers that cover any additional services you’re interested in. Drainage is crucial on a property, as it ensures your plants are irrigated and your structures are protected from water damage.
Outdoor lighting sometimes falls under the umbrella of hardscaping, but be sure to ask about it for complete details. And if you have specific requests, like low cost fire pit landscape design or HOA compliant landscaping, be sure your chosen designer can handle them.
Will you tailor your plan to my specific property and long-term goals, or do you offer preset packages?
Cookie-cutter designs will never take into account the soil on your property, drainage needs, aesthetic preferences, and your existing plant life. This is among the most critical questions to ask before hiring a landscaper to ensure the best results.
That isn’t to say that package pricing is always bad–just make sure you are still receiving customized designs, including site analysis and consideration for the long-term health of your property.
How does your design process work from consultation to installation?
This is one of the most revealing questions to ask a landscaper – are they winging it, or do they have a systematic way to identify and address issues throughout the process?
Usually, a company’s process will include site analysis, design mockups, pricing quotes, maintenance schedules, and phased installation plans.
How often do you visit for maintenance, and what does each visit entail?
After spending thousands of dollars on revitalizing your outdoor spaces and waiting weeks, if not months, for it all to be installed, the last thing you want is for it all to deteriorate quickly.
When considering what questions to ask a landscaper, do not forget to discuss maintenance.
Is your desired design relatively low-maintenance?
Does the company need to come back each week, or even daily?
What tasks do they need to perform, and will that disturb you on a day-to-day basis?
How does maintenance vary by season?
All of these questions will help you determine if a specific design is worth the effort and money, or if a more straightforward setup is better.
Will I have a consistent point of contact for questions or adjustments during the project?
Many landscape installations can take several months to finish. Questions will naturally arise during the process, and you'll need a reliable way to address your concerns.
The best landscaping firms will provide a consistent way to get in touch with any last-minute changes or problems.
How do you select plants based on my soil, light, and climate conditions?
Even if you don’t know anything about plants, this is one of the most necessary questions to ask a landscaper. The firm you hire should be able to explain how your plants fit onto your property. Are they testing the pH of your soil and taking into account factors like sunlight and rainy seasons?
If a company uses the same carbon copy plant lineup on every property, you’ll need extra maintenance in the long term.
Can you design for low-maintenance or drought-tolerant landscapes if needed?
In a similar line of questioning, your landscaper should be able to answer questions specific to the conditions of your outdoor spaces. Many landscaping companies claim to be able to handle these requests, but you want to look for concrete proof.
Of course, you also want to verify that your landscaper can still create aesthetically pleasing designs even with these constraints–the true experts balance everything perfectly for the best results.
Where do you get the plants, trees, and shrubs for the project?
This question reveals a lot about how your landscaper conducts business. If they simply answer “Home Depot” and rush forward, it’s a sign they aren’t putting much thought into their sourcing.
On the other hand, if your landscaper is hand-selecting plants from logical nurseries or works with specialty gardeners, that’s a better sign. Be sure also to address how they verify that their plants are free from pests and diseases, and any guarantees or replacement policies they may offer.
When will all the plants reach maturity?
The design you see in mockups won’t always look like that directly after installation. Plants take time to mature, but if your landscaper isn’t clear with expectations upfront, you may end up disappointed.
The best designers take plant growth into account, featuring a mix of maturities that allow your landscape to evolve naturally.
Do you provide a written estimate and detailed scope of work before starting?
There’s a cardinal rule when investing in long-term projects: always get it in writing. When your landscaper provides a written estimate and detailed information, you’ll know exactly what to expect.
This includes estimations on the cost of landscape maintenance over time, broken down by category. That way, you can plan for the long term and avoid surprises.
What can be done to lower the cost of the project?
This is one of those questions to ask a landscaper that has a double edge.
The first half is simple–asking for a discount or lower-cost alternatives to plants is a great way to get the most bang for your buck.
But the other side of this question reveals much about the firm you’re working with. Is your landscaper cutting corners? Are they skipping out on critical features like drainage, soil preparation, or irrigation?
The best landscaping firms will walk through all of this with you to ensure you know what you’re getting yourself into
What’s your expected timeline, and how do you handle delays or weather-related issues?
Expectations are everything. Understanding timelines will help avoid miscommunication with your landscaper. Are they factoring in time to deliver materials and plants? Do they have a plan for inclement weather? Will you see progress and milestones, such as a complete drainage installation, before the first plants are put in the ground?
Red Flags to Steer Clear of in Vetting a Landscaping Company
We’ve given you the most important questions to ask a landscaper before hiring them. But asking the questions isn’t enough—you need to know how to interpret their answers and separate the best firms from the rest.
Lack of transparency or paperwork
We placed insurance and licensing at the top of our list of questions to ask landscape designers for a good reason. If a company isn’t being transparent with you, it’s a sign they are trying to pull one over on you.
The best companies provide all of these things:
Proof of Licensing & Insurance
Written Estimates
Detailed Contracts
Design Mock-ups
Soil Analysis
Any one of these things missing is a terrible sign. If all of them are missing, run away.
No portfolio or references
Should you give that upstart landscaping company a shot?
While everyone has to start somewhere, this is your yard or commercial property we’re talking about. You don’t want to put it in the hands of a complete unknown.
At minimum, your landscaper should be able to prove they can do the work, with references and portfolio examples from previous jobs. This is doubly important if you’re looking for specialized work, such as drought tolerance or complex hardscaping features.
One-size-fits-all solutions
There are many different types of landscaping available. Everything, including modern minimalist front yard landscaping, drought-tolerant layouts including gravel and cacti, hardscaping-focused designs with outdoor kitchens and fire pits, and more.
No matter which design you want, you must ensure that your landscaper isn’t giving you a cookie-cutter solution. If they aren’t analysing your soil and local climate to work with the plant life already on your property, you’re asking for frustration down the line.
Pushy sales tactics or overpromising
You don’t want to hire a needy company that just wants you to sign on the dotted line. Fake urgency (“we can only hold this spot until tomorrow”), bizarre claims (“these plants never need upkeep”), and insane timelines (“we’ll transform your property in just a week”) should be met with intense scrutiny.
Lack of knowledge or unprofessional behavior
The best landscapers should be able to confidently and accurately address all of the questions in this article. If the company is stumbling and unable to address your concerns, it’s a sign that they don’t know what they’re doing.
We’re the #1 Landscaper in Alpharetta and the Surrounding Region - Ask Us Anything!
With these questions, you’re now ready to search for a residential or commercial landscape company to transform your outdoor spaces.
Instead of sifting through red flags with sketchy companies, why not go straight to the experts? Across the Atlanta and Alpharetta metro areas, there’s one commercial and residential landscape company that everyone trusts: Michealangelo’s!
We use a comprehensive approach to landscape design in Alpharetta that addresses every concern. We provide in-depth soil analysis and create landscaping designs from the ground up that address the unique needs of your property.
Our staff handles design and maintenance, allowing us to create thoughtful, future-friendly layouts that stand the test of time. With our years of experience, we’ve learned all the ins and outs of North Georgia soil, including how to choose plants that thrive in the rainy season.
We also provide outstanding customer service, including detailed mock-ups, a reliable point of contact, and a friendly team that can answer any of your questions at any time.
Parting Thoughts on Questions to Ask a Landscape Designer or Maintenance Team
The landscaping professional or firm you choose will have a direct impact on your results. You don’t want to hire a team that leads you astray with plants that are incompatible with your soil and unexpected maintenance bills.
Instead, ask the questions in this guide so you can hire confidently and know precisely what you’re getting into.
If you want a landscaping company in Alpharetta that has only green flags, check out Michaelangelo’s. The proof is in our portfolio and reviews–we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners and businesses over the years. Talk to our team, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have about the process.