How to Find the Best Landscaper Near You

While online directories can be helpful in finding reliable local landscapers and lawn care services near you, don’t underestimate the power of referrals and professional organizations, especially in times of high inflation. Photo by Bryan Clayton.

If you’re a homeowner looking for a reliable and high-quality landscaper in your area, you might be facing some challenges due to inflation. The rising costs of labor, equipment, and materials can make it more difficult to find a landscaper who can provide top-notch lawn care and landscaping services, at reasonable rates and still within your budget.

Inflation can also lead to shortages of essential materials and supplies, causing delays and driving up costs. As businesses face cost hikes, some contractors might try to cut corners or take on more work than they can handle, potentially resulting in subpar work or missed deadlines.

So whether you’re looking to redesign your backyard, install a new irrigation system, or simply maintain your lawn and garden, how can you find the best landscaper near you despite the challenges posed by inflation? Here are a few inflation beating tips to help you find the best landscaper near you this year.

Whether you’re remodeling your home or are just looking for a reliable awn care service near you, sometimes simply just asking for a referral might be the best way to find the best landscaper in your area. Word-of-mouth recommendations can be incredibly valuable, as they come from people you trust and who have already had positive experiences with the service provider.

Take a walk or short drive around your neighborhood, and when you see a house that is landscaped the way you like, talk to the homeowner. They’ll probably love telling you all about the landscaping services they’ve had done on their property and recommend the landscaping contractor they used. Be sure to ask them about their experience with the landscaper or lawn care service, including their professionalism, communication, and the quality of their work.

Depending on where you live, landscaping companies are often allowed to post yard signs on properties they have recently serviced. Take note of where you see the most signs, as landscapers prefer to have many customers in the same general area. This could potentially lead to better deals, as landscapers can save on fuel and travel time expenses.

When designing an elaborate landscape project, know who you are hiring. There’s a significant difference between a lawn care service that merely mows your lawn, trims edges, weeds, and string trims your yard versus a certified and professionally trained landscaper who can design and create stunning outdoor spaces, so its important to do your due diligence before hiring a landscaper.

Look for landscapers with a solid reputation for quality work and reliability, and make sure they’re licensed and insured. If you found a local landscaper online, read reviews from past customers, and check their website and social media pages for photos of their previous projects and testimonials from satisfied customers.

For homeowners or businesses seeking to hire landscapers, certifications are also an important factor to consider when making a hiring decision. Hiring certified landscapers ensures that the individual or company has a level of expertise in the field, and that they adhere to the best practices and standards of the industry. It also increases the likelihood that the work will be completed efficiently and effectively, reducing the risk of errors or accidents.

Some of the most popular landscaper organizations that offer certifications include The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), both of which offer a variety of certifications.

A certified landscaper is serious about their career choice and usually requires all company employees to become certified too, so don’t be afraid to ask the owner or rep from the landscape company you are considering hiring which organization they belong to.

If you’re an active home gardener who doesn’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, you might consider doing some of the work yourself, particularly if you’re tackling a large landscaping project or designing a larger outdoor landscape.

For example, when you hire a professional landscaper, they can take on the more labor-intensive tasks like installing outdoor sprinkler systems, working with larger plants and trees, and installing stonework or large landscape boulders and spreading bulk mulch. Meanwhile, you could handle the more detailed and time-consuming tasks, such as planting smaller plants, to help speed up the overall progress of your outdoor project.