DIY Options vs. Professional Services
While many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance skills, landscaping requires more specialized knowledge. Full-scale landscaping requires intense labor and heavy equipment. More complex elements, such as fire pits or irrigation systems, need machinery and construction experience as well.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping can be good for smaller projects, such as removing overgrown plants or adding a flower bed. However, you should consider hiring a professional landscaping company if you’re doing a total yard overhaul or lack basic lawn expertise.
Hiring a landscape designer or architect helps prevent you from making costly mistakes. Professionals have the skills and know-how to elevate your outdoor space, recommend cost-effective upgrades, and help you develop a long-term maintenance plan.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an Flagstaff Landscaping Company
Choosing the right landscaping company involves finding one with good experience that also meets your service needs and budget. Consider the following factors when shopping for landscaping contractors.
Services Offered
It’s important to assess your landscaping needs before selecting a provider. If you need assistance with yard health and maintenance, find one that offers lawn care services. These services may include mulching, fertilizing, controlling weeds, pruning, and mowing. Some companies provide additional pest management services and tree removal.
You should hire a full-service landscaping company if you're revamping your entire yard or adding new elements, such as a fire pit. These providers specialize in outdoor upgrades and designs, such as gardening, landscaping rock projects, and adding hardscapes. They can also help install retaining walls, fire pits, sprinkler or irrigation systems, and other architectural elements. Some even offer lawn maintenance services.
Licensing and Experience
Landscapers often have advanced training and certification in areas like lawn maintenance, outdoor design, and horticulture. Your provider should hold the appropriate licensure from the Flagstaff city government. It might also employ the following certified staff members:
- Certified fertilization or pesticide specialists
- Licensed arborists
- Licensed horticulture specialists
- Licensed or certified landscaping designers or architects
Reputation and Reviews
We recommend using third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of a provider's customer experience and overall reputation. Avoid companies with largely negative reviews or frequent mentions of poor project results, unreliable customer service, or delayed projects. Try to find a provider with positive customer ratings.
Work Portfolio
Many landscaping and maintenance companies are happy to share photos of previous projects with prospective customers. Ask to see a portfolio of landscaping designs and projects, ideally ones that are similar to the ideas you have for your yard. Often, companies have before and after photos to illustrate the quality of their work.
Sustainability Practices
Sustainability practices may include water conservation, waste management, and eco-friendly material options, and they're an important consideration when choosing a landscaping company. Landscaping work on your property shouldn't impact your existing vegetation. Additionally, your landscaper should choose native plants, such as desert marigold, blackfoot daisy, and desert sand verbena. Ask your landscaper about sustainability practices for projects like yours, and get recommendations for ways to reduce maintenance costs, waste, and water consumption.
Cost
Many landscapers offer free consultations. During this process, a contractor will review your outdoor space, make recommendations, and discuss project plans. Your detailed quote will cover project expenses like materials and labor. We recommend getting multiple quotes from different companies, which you can then use to compare rates and services and sometimes negotiate a lower price.
Landscaping Costs in Flagstaff
Generally, landscaping costs $23–$34 per hour in Flagstaff. These costs vary based on project type and size. Less complicated work, such as gardening or mowing, will be less expensive than a larger project like resodding. Depending on your yard's size, the company may charge by the acre. Larger or more complex projects require more labor, increasing the price. Pricing will also vary depending on your selected materials. Here's the average cost of common landscaping projects:
Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Deck | $11,970 - $15,960 |
Landscaping Design | $1,723 - $2,298 |
Landscaping LandGrading | $402 - $2,413 |
Landscaping Mulch | $24 - $121 |
Planting FlowerBeds | $80 - $1,609 |
Planting Trees | $211 - $351 |
Sodding | $40 - $48 |
Swimming Pool | $30,562 - $80,425 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Flagstaff
What are warning signs of a bad landscaping company?
What are the benefits of landscaping?
Are landscapers the same as gardeners?
What is a landscape designer?
How can I negotiate pricing with a landscaping company?
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