Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

What does a landscape contractor do?

Landscape contractors work from outdoor architectural or design plans to build and install hardscaping or softscaping for the client, much as a general contractor uses architectural designs to build a house. Landscape contractors are experts in soil drainage, grading, hardscaping (installing concrete paths and retaining wall, building ponds, etc.), and planting. They have heavy equipment such as excavators and tractors to prepare the land as needed.

Some landscape contractors are also landscape architects or landscape designers. The titles can be compared with those in home construction: A building or landscape architect must earn a specialized architecture degree and pass an exam to have a license. A designer — whether an interior designer or a landscape designer — does not usually require a license to work. Landscape contractors are not required by law to work from plans designed by a landscape architect, so you may work directly with the landscape contractor to specify the work you’d like done. The national average cost for large-scale landscaping projects is $10,160. Pricing can vary greatly depending on the project scope, materials and design.

How do you find a good landscape architect?

Hiring a landscape architect is an investment in your home. Landscaping can reduce water bills, improve your home resale value, add to your daily living experience and significantly boost curb appeal. A landscape architect will draw the designs for your new landscape; you’ll want to hire a landscape contractor to carry out the plans. Many companies provide design-build landscaping services, with a company architect creating plans for your vision and the landscape contractor executing the vision. With the proper academic background and licensing, a person can be both landscape architect and landscape contractor. Here are a few tips for finding a great landscape architect:

Research online portfolios and find several landscape architects whose work interests you.
Read online reviews of client experiences.
Research whether the landscape architects you are interested in are currently licensed and in good standing with the licensing board, and check whether any complaints have been issued against them. Each state will have their own searchable database. For example, you can search for California landscape architects via the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs.
Request bids from your selected landscape architects.
Hire the one you like the most, taking care to have a clearly written contract outlining scope of work.

For more, check out our tips for smart hiring on Thumbtack.

What should you look for when hiring a landscaper?

Landscaping can be costly — though it usually pays off in curb appeal and home resale value — so finding a landscaper who is worth the investment is important. When hiring a landscaper, look for proven success with the type of results you want. For example, if you know you want a drought-tolerant yard, research websites, reviews and portfolios that showcase beautiful drought-tolerant yards that the landscaper has installed. In addition to relevant experience, you’ll want to find a landscape contractor who has good client reviews. Good communication skills are another important quality in a landscape contractor, since everything from plant selection to hardscape installation needs to be discussed and agreed upon. A landscape contractor who is reliable, easy to understand and able to listen to what you want will help make the process seamless and enjoyable.

ET E.

Verified review

Andres and his crew took only 2 days to till, prep, install an entire new irrigation system and lay sod for a yard that is over 1000 sq ft. Others quoted 4 days at a higher cost. We are very pleased with the final results and would highly recommend Andres and his Regs Tree and Lawn Services for any of your future landscaping needs! A++

John M.

Chris showed up every time he said he would, gave exceptionally detailed quote information, then delivered the work exactly as he said he would. He even got it done a day faster than I expected. Chris does high-quality work and cares about what he does and I'd hire him again for more landscaping work.

Adeline M.

If I could give more than 5 starts I would. Working with Carlos really was a great experience. Not only the price he quoted us for “huge” tree removal was fair, he went above and beyond. He was very communicative at every step of the project. Him and his crew were polite, punctual and professional. We added some work to the on going project and Carlos work it out. I was not on site all the time but I felt completely at ease and the end result show a work of quality. We are super happy and will certainly stay in touch with Carlos for future work. We highly recommend Carlos and his team for small or large tree landscape work.

Sophie K.

Friendly and professional : ) I could tell Renato had a ton of construction experience, so I was happy when he responded to my small furniture assembly project. After carefully laying out all of the pieces, he noticed some damage to one of the panels caused in shipping. We had to postpone the project, but Renato was very accommodating and did not expect any sort of compensation for his time. I look forward to working with Renato and very glad we connected!

Aleem D.

I switched to Aldo's progressive landscaping because I was not happy with my previous service person. Aldo came as a recommendation and he has been great! I can text him whenever I need to communicate to him, and his response time is very fast. Aldo and his crew do a great job at maintaining my garden/yard so I do not need to worry about it. I would recommend his service to anyone who has a busy schedule and looking to find someone you can trust to maintain your garden/yard.

Stephen K.

Ive been using Optimal Landscaping for sometime now and truly am grateful for the services Francisco's and his crew have provided me with over the years. From the installation of an artificial lawn in my back yard last year to the renovation of my "water stair" fountain in my Hollywood Hills home, Francisco's landscape design is always carefully planned and executed to perfection.Simply the best crew Ive ever worked with. Francisco's work always goes above and beyond my expectations, while working well within my budget.

Doug P.

Adrian was prompt,knowledgeable, and professional. He did a wonderful job, asked questions to make sure he understood what I was looking for. I will definitely be recommending his service to anyone needing tree trimming or landscape work.

Alice & Brent G.

We are very happy with Camarena Landscapes, Inc. We had a front yard landscape project with a deadline for completion. Thomas & his crew were very helpful & professional. We would recommend Camarena Landscapes, Inc. We may even use them again in the future when we tackle our back yard project!

Nina S.

When he came to do an estimate, David offered very specific thoughts about what was wrong with our current landscaping and why certain plants were not growing. He also gave suggestions about what he could do differently. He showed up when he said he'd show up, he works hard, and he knows what he's doing. I highly recommend his services.

Kellie O.

I can't say enough great things about the Martinez Landscaping team. Efren, the company's owner, is an absolutely wonderful person to work with. He and his team are incredibly professional and the quality of their work was fabulous. They completed a huge project in only three days, and they did so with precision and care. The value of the work was spot on with what we paid, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to work with Martinez Landscaping. You can be sure we will be referring this great company to others as well as continuing to work with them on future projects. Thank you so much, Martinez Landscaping! You guys are the best!!!

Denise O.

Angela made a site visit and we loved her style and vision. We hired her to create a landscape design and provide a shopping list that fit our budget. She talked us through the process, so when we worked with our gardener to bring it to life, we were on the same page. She was a pleasure.

Richard C.

We have contracted with A Greener Tomorrow to do our Xeriscape Project. They are local which was important to us. Carmen has been very easy to work with, creating a design that incorporated the ideas of my wife and myself. She is professional and took time with us to work out the project.There was no pressure or pretentious attitude (which we experienced with other "landscape architects" we encountered. We just got underway with demo yesterday. So far so good!

James D.

I was a little skeptical since there were no reviews but once I met with Parrish, we were put at ease. He is very professional and was thorough in explaining every step. Their employees and owners have had many years of experience in landscaping so though their company is new, the people aren’t. Turfusion was fantastic from the initial consultation with Parrish to the work being completed by Leo and his crew. It literally took 5 days from the initial visit to get the work done and only 2 days to do the entire project. They even added a stone pathway to our front door for free and it wasn’t even in our initial plan. We couldn’t be happier with the work and will be hiring them again to landscape the front of our house. I will add photos later.

Kimi W.

We want to thank you and your landscaping crew for an exceptional job on our very distressed backyard. You should get an award for this project. We are very satisfied with the results. Our tenants and neighbors are amazed at the transformation. The work was done in a timely manner. And, you successfully worked with our budget! You are a highly knowledgeable guy that does not cut corners. We highly recommend Cutting Edge for any project and will use Ryan and his crew again and have already referred them to friends and neighbors. Chuck & Kimi, City of Orange, CA

Tiziana B.

We are very pleased with Manuel ,he answered to our request very fast ,he helped us on our projects and he was clean and artistic just like we were wishing for.He has a lot of skills especially planting between the tiny edge of our pool.We definitely raccomend him,you'll be satisfied .

Benjamin L.

I was ready for some remodeling in my home. My kitchen needed an update and so did a few of the bathrooms. Searching google I found GIM and saw that they did energy efficient remodeling and upgrades. I contacted GIM and set an appointment for a consultant to come by to show me some options. The consultant showed us many samples of flooring, tile, roofing, painting, and multiple other products they offered. They even had their own architect to take care of the drawings for me and also had a 3d design for the kitchen. All the work was done properly and my home was left clean everyday. Appreciate all the hard work.

June B.

Over the past 10 years Eduardo Hernandez has done many landscaping projects for me, including sod and sprinkler installation, artificial turf, replacing asphalt driveway with a cement drive, cobblestone walkway, flagstone in patio, and tree trimming and removal. With these major projects out of the way, he regularly maintains the front lawn and is always willing to make time if other work becomes necessary. Eduardo is knowledgeable, personable and hardworking and I have been very pleased with all of his work.

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