You might feel like tackling a project yourself, but if you’ve been thinking about employing landscaping services, there are a few things you should keep in mind. We’ll share everything you need to know about hiring a landscaping company–from price to experience–we’ll cover all the bases to help you make an informed decision.

Big Rock Landscaping: Professional Landscaping Services

Your outdoor spaces are an investment in the well-being of your home. A beautiful yard doesn’t just look good; its subconsciously calming effect helps you feel at peace while working on outdoor projects. Even though you sometimes wish you could wave a wand and your landscape would magically appear maintained and cultivated, the truth is, it takes a lot of effort and knowledge to maintain and improve the outdoor spaces of your property. While some people may feel invigorated when it comes to tackling their landscape projects and maintenance themselves, if that doesn’t describe you, there’s no shame in finding a company that can offer high-quality landscaping services.

Landscaping Services 101

When it comes to landscaping services, the list of what a landscape company can do for you is amazingly long. From weekly pruning, edging, and mowing to fall clean-up, a landscape company would happily provide services for anything that needs weekly maintenance. Many companies also provide hardscaping services, and will gladly maintain or install hardscaping surfaces like brick, cement, and pavers. Landscape companies are also good at creating landscape designs for new or existing properties and executing those plans from start to finish.

Finding a repudiable landscaping company that is competitively priced, with a deep bench (when it comes to experience) and exquisite attention to detail is actually a pretty tall order. If you’re like most homeowners, you take pride in your landscaping. After all, it’s one of the first things people see when they pull up to your house. But keeping your landscaping looking its best can be a lot of work – especially if you don’t have the time or expertise to do it yourself.

Common Mistakes People Make When Hiring A Landscaping Services Company

No matter how much you may enjoy doing it, landscaping is hard work. It can be especially challenging if you’re not familiar with the right way to do things. You may not know what to look for in a landscaping services company, or what questions to ask to get the best landscaping services. That’s why it’s important to know these common mistakes people make when hiring a landscape services company. Hiring a landscape company can be tricky, and inexperience can lead to costly errors, so make sure you do your research before making any decisions.

Ignoring Lack of Experience Or Bad Reviews

Sadly, this is a mistake that even savvy homeowners continue to make. You’re lured in by a low price and promises of the beautifully manicured yard of your dreams. It’s tempting to ignore lack of experience or even a couple bad reviews if the price is right. But at what cost? In most cases, lack of experience or bad reviews just result in unhappiness. Don’t go down this route. Instead, do a Google search and read the company reviews. This is a good start, but often, word of mouth is your best bet when choosing the right landscape service provider. Ask to see previous projects to assess quality of work. Most companies have portfolios of completed projects–never go with a company that can’t provide samples of their work.

Paying For Services You Don’t Need

Make sure you know what your yard requires. If your lawn needs attention once every 10 days, don’t pay for a service that comes once a week. Or maybe you don’t need the fall clean-up because you don’t have many deciduous trees. Make sure you pay for only what you need.

Not Asking Enough Questions

When engaging the services of a landscape company make sure you are clear about your expectations—you want to know exactly what services you will be getting. Don’t rely on verbal contracts. Get the services that you are paying for, in writing. Ask about their experience, and ask to see samples of their work. Ask for referrals and how long they have been in business.

Tying To Do It Yourself

Whether planting a tree correctly or knowing what plants grow well in your soil and area, there’s a lot you need to know in order to design and maintain a mature or newly-planted landscape. Many a well-intentioned homeowner can embark on a task that is outside their wheelhouse, resulting in less-than-perfect results or mistakes that are costly to repair.

Paying Too Much For Services

It never hurts to shop around. Take advantage of a free market economy, and get the best services at the best price. Make sure you have a good understanding of what you are getting and for what price.

7 Tips Before Hiring For Landscaping Services

It’s certainly tempting to jump right into your landscaping project, but a little pre-legwork before you hire a professional will save you time, money, and frustration in the future. Follow these seven tips to hire the landscape company that is right for you.

1. Take Photos

A picture is worth a thousand words. Before you hire a professional, take a couple hours to gather inspirational ideas of yards that you like. Collect pictures of shrubs, trees, and flowers that you love. Hop on pinterest or take a walk in your neighborhood. Be prepared to discuss these ideas with potential landscaping companies and note what appeals to you. Also be ready with different landscaping elements or plants that you DON’T like.

2. Create A Budget

Take a careful look at your finances and determine what you are willing to spend on your yard. If the price seems too high, it is possible landscaping companies will break a large project into smaller ones that can be spread out over time, or they might be open to you doing some of the heavy lifting to keep costs down.

3. Get A Detailed Statement Of Work

You can’t really over communicate here. A good landscaping company will let you know just how far your budget will go. They should provide you with a written statement of work with all proposed work itemized (don’t accept a lump-sum quote), from disposing of debris to the cost of plants. No one likes surprises when the bill comes due, so take the time to do the legwork now to understand what your money is paying for.

4. Read The Contract

This one is so important! When a landscape company presents you with a contract, read it carefully. All of it. Ask them to clarify any points that you don’t understand or are different from what you had expected. If something goes wrong, this contract is legally binding, so make sure you know what you are agreeing to and what you can expect from the landscaping company. Look for things like:

What will happen if bad weather delays the project?
How long are plants guaranteed to last and who will replace them if they die?
What if the plants you picked are not available, how will substitutes be handled?
Who will pay for damages if a pipe is broken or a walkway damaged during the project?
What happens to the price if materials increase before the job is finished?
What work is guaranteed and for how long?
Will subcontractors be employed

5. Contact Past Clients And Review Portfolio

Start by asking people you know if they have any good recommendations. Find out what they liked and didn’t like about their experience. Do your due diligence by checking social media platforms and reading online reviews. Visit each company’s website to see what services they offer and to view a sampling of their work–most will have an online portfolio.

6. The Rule Of Three

Choose at least three landscape companies to research and interview. During the interview process, share your photos, budget, and ideas. Pick their brains, so to speak, on their vision for your yard and learn as much as you can during the process. This is also a good time to understand each company’s “style.” Are they really good at the type of landscaping you like?

7. Are They Listening?

Always ask for what you want. Landscaping companies can’t read your mind. If you really want a water-wise landscape design, but still want it to feel green, tell them. If you want low maintenance plants and like hardscape, ask for it. When you start communicating your plans and ideas, do they listen? Is there a willingness to work to meet your expectations, or are they just pushing their own ideas and agenda? Are they willing go over the process of how they work with clients so that you feel comfortable with all aspects of the job? Your initial interview will tell you a lot about how a company works with their clients and whether or not they value your input.

Big Rock Landscaping: Your Utah Landscaping Services Experts

When it comes to residential or commercial landscaping services, there are a lot of things to consider – from the type of plants you want to use to how you will use the space. That’s why it’s important to get expert advice when planning your landscaping project. Sure, you can tackle it yourself, but why not let us do the heavy lifting?

We are experts at all things landscaping. We can help you choose the right plants, design an attractive layout, and install everything accordingly. We’ll have your yard looking just the way you’ve always wanted it to in no time at all. From swimming pools to ponds, we have the expertise to transform your space into the perfect oasis.

Big Rock Landscaping has been providing clients with consistent maintenance and designs for years. We pride ourselves on our exceptional knowledge base, partnerships with our clients, and our ability to make your landscape dreams come true by using unique plants that will thrive no matter what climate or soil conditions they come into contact with! We offer a wide range of services, from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and repairs. So if you’re ready to transform your outdoor space into a work of art, give us a call today, or visit our website for more information.