The 12 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscaper

The 12 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscaper

A landscaping project can completely transform your property. Whether you’re investing in a new patio, retaining wall, outdoor living space, or a full yard renovation, the right contractor can bring your vision to life. The wrong contractor, however, can leave you with costly repairs, dissatisfying results, and years of frustration.

Choosing the right contractor is what makes or breaks your landscaping project, and the fact of the matter is, most homeowners don’t know what to look for when hiring a landscaper.

For those looking to plan a landscaping project, here are 12 of the biggest mistakes to avoid and things to look out for.

1. Having Little to No Project Planning

One of the most common causes of disappointment in landscaping projects is a lack of planning. Homeowners can receive a variety of designs during the planning process. These can range from a rough sketch to a detailed 3D rendering.

When your contractor gives you only the bare minimum in planning, none of the accurate measurements and calculations have been made to create the project to your exact specifications. The less detail in planning, the more likely it is for disconnect in the final result.

A properly designed landscape plan should be drawn to scale. It should clearly show dimensions, locations of major features, plant placement, elevations, and other important details.

Without a scaled plan, expectations can quickly become misaligned. The contractor may envision one thing while the homeowner expects something completely different.

A professional plan serves as a roadmap for both the contractor and the homeowner and dramatically reduces the chance of surprises later.

2. Not Understanding Change Orders

No matter how carefully a project is planned, changes happen.

Maybe you decide to change the patio design halfway through construction. Maybe hidden drainage issues are discovered after excavation begins. Perhaps you want to add landscape lighting or additional planting beds.

These situations typically result in what’s known as a change order.

The problem is that many homeowners never discuss how change orders are handled before work begins.

Here are some questions you should ask to ensure you fully understand how change orders will be handled during the course of your project:

• How are project changes documented?
• How are additional costs calculated?
• What happens if unforeseen site conditions are discovered?
• Will I receive written approval requests before extra work is performed?

Understanding the change order process before signing a contract can prevent difficult conversations and unexpected invoices later.

3. Failing to Look at Examples

Just because a contractor says they can complete your project doesn’t necessarily mean they have extensive experience doing it. Sometimes, the best way to ensure that a contractor is able to do a project to your expectations is to ask for examples of similar work.

If you’re building a large retaining wall, ask to see retaining walls. If you’re creating an outdoor kitchen, ask for outdoor kitchen examples. It’s that simple.

A contractor’s portfolio tells you a lot about their experience, skill level, and design style. An honest, experienced contractor should easily be able to give you portfolio examples similar to what you have in mind.

4. Not Asking How Grades Will Be Measured

Grading is the process of adjusting and sculpting the shape of soil. Its main purpose is to allow for proper water drainage away from your home’s foundation. Poor grading can lead to:

• Standing water in your yard
• Damaged turf
• Erosion problems
• Water pooling near foundations
• Basement moisture issues

Many homeowners assume grading is simply part of the process, but it’s worth asking how the contractor plans to verify elevations and slopes throughout the project. Understanding how a contractor plans to grade can give you some expectation of the quality you should come to expect from your project.

5. Not Clarifying the Project Timeline

One of the most frustrating experiences for homeowners is watching a project drag on for months longer than expected. This can happen when contractors jump between multiple jobs during a time period or underestimate how long the work will take.

Before hiring a landscaper, ask questions such as:

• When do you expect to start?
• How long will the project take?
• Will the work be completed continuously?
• Will the same crew be on-site throughout the project?

It’s important to understand that weather, material availability, and unforeseen conditions can impact schedules. A professional contractor should be capable of communicating how much time these conditions can add and how the project will be managed in any unforeseen events.

Setting expectations early helps prevent frustration later.

6. Ignoring Online Reviews

Online reviews provide valuable insight into a company’s reputation. However, many homeowners neglect to view reviews or only glance at the company’s overall rating. Instead of focusing solely on the star rating, take time to actually read the reviews.

Pay attention to:

• Common complaints
• Recurring compliments
• How the company responds to criticism
• Whether problems were resolved professionally

No company is perfect. Even the best contractors occasionally receive negative reviews. What matters is how they handle mistakes. A company that acknowledges issues and works toward solutions often deserves more trust than one that ignores customer concerns altogether.

7. Overlooking Changing Plant Size

Many landscape designs look fantastic on installation day, but what will they look like five or ten years from then?

One of the biggest design mistakes in landscaping is placing plants too close together or installing species that eventually outgrow their space. This can lead to overcrowding, excessive pruning, blocked windows or designs, or costly removals.

When reviewing a landscape design, ask your contractor to show plant spacing based on its mature size, not the size upon installation. A well-designed landscape should look attractive today and still function properly years down the road.

Overlooking how a plant will look in the future may cause some problems, but the opposite is also an issue.

8. Misunderstanding Initial Plant Size

Often a plan given to a homeowner will have the mature sizes of plants for reference. However, after the installation process is over, all of the plants will have been freshly planted and may not be of the same size.

It’s important to understand not only how a project will look when everything has grown, but how it will look as soon as the installation is done. Understanding installation sizes helps set realistic expectations.

Ask your contractor:

• How large will the shrubs be?
• What tree caliper sizes are included?
• How long will it take for the landscape to mature?

The answers can significantly affect both your budget and your satisfaction with the finished project.

9. Not Reviewing the Warranty

Every landscaping company should have a clear warranty policy. The mistake occurs when the homeowner does not review that policy prior to starting the project. Some homeowners only look at their policy when something goes wrong.

When reviewing your warranty policy understand:

• What is covered?
• What is excluded?
• How long does coverage last?
• How are warranty claims handled?

Some warranties cover quality of work. Others cover plant material. Some may include both. The important thing is knowing exactly what protection you’re receiving before the project begins.

10. Not Reviewing Installation Specifications

Landscaping is often more technical than people realize. Two patios may look identical on the surface, but what’s underneath can determine whether one lasts five years or twenty-five years.

That’s why installation specifications matter. If you want to ensure that your contractor is doing work to standard with industry best practices, you may need to do some research.

Search those best practices for the type of project that you are planning, then ask your contractor questions to verify that the industry standards are being upheld.

The more you understand about how the project will be built, the more confidence you’ll have in its long-term durability.

11. Not Asking Who Will Actually Perform the Work

Many homeowners assume the company they hire will be the company performing the installation. That isn’t always the case.

Some landscaping companies subcontract parts, or even all of a project, to outside crews. That isn’t always a bad thing, but you do need to make sure that those subcontractors are being held accountable for the same quality of work as the landscaping company itself.

Before signing a contract, ask:

• Will your employees perform the work?
• What portions are subcontracted?
• How do you oversee subcontractors?
• Who is responsible if problems arise?

Knowing exactly who will be on your property can help you avoid confusion and maintain accountability throughout the project.

12. Ensuring Your Ability to Communicate With the Crew

Even with a detailed design and contract, questions inevitably come up during construction. You may notice something you’d like adjusted. You may want clarification on a specific installation detail.

If the entire crew doesn’t speak your same language or doesn’t have the answers to your questions, that’s a problem.

Homeowners should feel comfortable discussing concerns with someone on-site who can answer questions and make informed decisions.

Good communication leads to:

• Faster problem-solving
• Fewer misunderstandings
• Better customer satisfaction
• Improved project outcomes

Make sure there is a clear point of contact throughout the project and that communication expectations are established from the start.

Avoiding Mistakes

Now that you know what mistakes can be made in the planning process, you know what questions you need to ask to avoid them.

Landscaping can be a major decision and the happiest homeowners are the ones who asked the most thoughtful questions, understood the process, and communicated clearly with their contractor from start to finish.

Before signing a contract, take the time to review plans, discuss warranties, understand timelines, verify experience, and clarify exactly how the work will be performed.

A little due diligence upfront can save thousands of dollars, countless headaches, and years of regret.