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9 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Landscaping Contractor

Landscaping projects range from simple lawn care to complex grading, drainage, and hardscaping work that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The most common expensive mistake is hiring a contractor who creates a beautiful design without considering drainage, soil conditions, or how the landscape will look and function in five years. The following checklist steers you toward a contractor who builds landscapes that last, not one who installs plants that die within a year.

9 QuestionsPrintable ChecklistAvg Cost: $500 - $10,000 per job

Questions to Ask

1Are you licensed as a landscaping contractor, and does your license cover hardscaping and irrigation?

Why It Matters

Many states distinguish between landscape maintenance (lawn care) and landscape construction (hardscaping, grading, irrigation). A lawn care company may not be qualified for retaining walls or drainage systems.

Red Flag

They hold only a lawn care or maintenance license but are bidding on hardscaping or grading work.

Pro Tip

For projects involving grading, retaining walls over 4 feet, or irrigation systems, verify that the contractor holds the appropriate construction license for your state.

2How will you address drainage on my property, and have you evaluated the existing grade?

Why It Matters

Poor drainage destroys landscaping, floods basements, and undermines foundations. Every landscaping project should consider where water goes during a heavy rain.

Red Flag

They don't mention drainage, or they plan to add soil and plants without evaluating how water flows across your property.

Pro Tip

Ask about French drains, channel drains, dry creek beds, and grading adjustments. The landscape should direct water away from your foundation and toward appropriate drainage areas.

3What plants are you specifying, and are they appropriate for my climate zone, soil type, and sun exposure?

Why It Matters

Plants installed in the wrong zone, soil, or light conditions fail within 1-2 years. Native and adapted plants survive better, need less water, and require less maintenance.

Red Flag

They specify plants without assessing your sun exposure, soil type, or irrigation availability, or they choose trendy plants that aren't suited to your climate zone.

Pro Tip

Ask for the USDA hardiness zone rating of each specified plant and confirm it matches your location. Native plants generally require less water and maintenance once established.

4Do you offer a plant warranty, and what are the conditions?

Why It Matters

A percentage of new plants will die within the first year due to transplant shock, poor root establishment, or undiscovered soil problems. A warranty protects your investment.

Red Flag

No plant warranty at all, or a warranty that excludes death from 'natural causes' (which can describe almost anything).

Pro Tip

A one-year plant warranty covering replacement of dead plants is standard for quality landscapers. Some require that you follow a specific watering schedule to keep the warranty valid, which is reasonable.

5What is your plan for soil preparation before planting?

Why It Matters

Most residential soil is compacted from construction and lacks organic matter. Plants installed in unprepared soil struggle to establish roots and often fail within two years.

Red Flag

They plan to dig holes in existing soil and drop plants in without any soil amendment.

Pro Tip

Quality soil preparation includes: soil testing, adding organic amendments as needed, tilling or loosening compacted soil, and adding proper backfill around root balls.

6Will you provide a detailed plan or design drawing before starting work?

Why It Matters

A plan shows plant placement, hardscape layout, drainage solutions, and irrigation zones. Without it, you're trusting the crew's judgment on the spot, which often leads to disputes.

Red Flag

They want to 'figure it out as we go' without any written or drawn plan.

Pro Tip

Even for simpler projects, a sketch showing plant placement with species names, sizes at maturity, and spacing prevents misunderstandings. For larger projects, a scaled design drawing is essential.

7How do you build retaining walls, and do walls over a certain height require engineering?

Why It Matters

Retaining walls over 4 feet typically require an engineer's design and a building permit. A wall that fails can cause property damage, injury, and liability.

Red Flag

They build retaining walls of any height without discussing engineering requirements or permits.

Pro Tip

Walls over 4 feet should have an engineered design specifying footing depth, wall thickness, drainage behind the wall, and reinforcement. Even shorter walls need proper drainage (gravel backfill and drain tile) to prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup.

8What irrigation system do you recommend, and how is it zoned?

Why It Matters

Different plants need different amounts of water. Proper zoning groups plants with similar water needs on the same irrigation circuit, saving water and keeping plants healthy.

Red Flag

They plan a single zone for everything, or they recommend irrigation without understanding your plant selections and their water requirements.

Pro Tip

Ask about smart irrigation controllers that adjust watering based on weather data. Drip irrigation for beds and spray heads for turf is more efficient than spraying everything the same way.

9What does your maintenance handoff look like after installation?

Why It Matters

New landscaping requires specific care during the establishment period (typically the first year). Without clear instructions, homeowners often overwater, underwater, or fail to maintain new plantings.

Red Flag

They install and leave with no watering instructions, maintenance schedule, or establishment care plan.

Pro Tip

Ask for a written maintenance guide covering: watering schedule by season, fertilization timing, pruning needs, and when to reduce watering as plants establish. Some landscapers offer a maintenance contract for the first year.

Bonus Tips for Hiring a Landscaping Contractor

  • Visit a project the landscaper completed 2-3 years ago, not just a recent installation. This shows how their work ages -- whether plants have filled in, whether hardscape has settled, and whether drainage solutions are working.
  • Know your property lines before any work begins, especially for fencing, retaining walls, or plantings near the boundary. A survey is worth the cost if there's any uncertainty.
  • Ask about phasing the project if budget is a concern. Many landscapers can design a master plan but install it in stages over multiple seasons.
  • Confirm who is responsible for calling 811 to locate underground utilities before any digging begins.

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