Best 5 Landscaping Companies in Washington, DC

DIY Options vs. Professional Services

Many homeowners have a basic level of lawn maintenance knowledge. However, landscaping necessitates more advanced skills. A large project might require intense labor and heavy equipment. Complicated projects such as fire pits or irrigation systems require additional machinery and construction expertise.

You can DIY some landscaping projects, such as removing overgrown plants or adding flower beds. However, if you lack the needed lawn expertise or if you want to do a total yard overhaul, we recommend hiring a landscaping contractor.

Professional landscape architects and designers have the skills and knowledge to elevate your outdoor space. They can recommend the most cost-effective upgrades and create long-term plans for landscape maintenance. If they also offer lawn care services, contractors can help improve your yard health, and you'll avoid making expensive mistakes doing it on your own.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Washington Landscaping Company

Hiring the right landscaper comes down to certain factors, such as your budget, your service needs, and the company’s experience. Consider the following factors when hiring a landscaping contractor.

Services Offered

Different landscaping providers serve different lawn needs. Some providers focus on services to help with the health and maintenance of your yard, such as controlling weeds, mowing, mulching, fertilizing, and pruning. These providers also often offer pest management and tree cutting services.

Choose full-service landscaping if you're planning a full revamp of your yard or want new outdoor elements, such as a fire pit. Full-service companies specialize in outdoor upgrades and designs, including landscaping rock projects, gardening, and adding hardscapes. They can also help install retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, fire pits, and other architectural elements. Some offer lawn maintenance services.

Licensing and Experience

Your landscaper should possess the appropriate licenses from the Washington city government. Contractors often also have advanced training and certification in areas such as outdoor design, lawn maintenance, and horticulture. Your provider may have the following certified members on staff:

• Certified fertilization or pesticide specialists
• Licensed arborists
• Licensed horticulture specialists
• Licensed or certified landscaping designers or architects

It might also have certifications from professional organizations, including the Professional Landcare Network and the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Although these certifications aren’t mandatory, they’re an added bonus. Landscapers typically have liability insurance to protect against bodily injury or property damage. Your contractor should be fully bonded and insured. Make sure to request a certificate of insurance or insurance numbers to confirm coverage.

Reputation and Reviews

Seek out companies with positive customer reviews and strong reputations. Check third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau. Explore both positive and negative reviews for each company to gauge how it treats its customers. Stay away from companies with mainly negative customer reviews and frequent mentions of delayed projects, poor project results, or unreliable customer service.

Work Portfolio

Most landscaping and maintenance companies will have before and after photos of previously completed projects to showcase their work to potential customers. Ask to see the company's portfolio. You can specifically ask to see other projects similar to yours, so you can see how your yard might look, and even get some inspiration.

Sustainability Practices

Sustainability practices can include water conservation, eco-friendly material options, and waste management, and they're an important consideration when hiring a landscaper. Landscaping work shouldn't impact your existing vegetation. Additionally, your landscaper should choose native plants, such as trumpet honeysuckle, climbing aster, and narrowleaf sunflower. Ask your contractor about sustainability practices for projects like yours, and get recommendations for ways to reduce maintenance costs, waste, and water consumption.

Cost

Many companies offer free consultations. During this process, the contractor will review your outdoor space, offer recommendations, and discuss project plans. Your detailed quote will outline project costs such as labor and materials. We recommend getting multiple quotes from different companies, which you can then use to compare rates and services and sometimes negotiate a better price.

Landscaping Costs in Washington

Landscaping in Washington generally costs between $28 and $42 per hour. These figures depend on things such as project size and type. Bigger projects, such as resodding, will be more expensive than simple lawn tasks like mowing or gardening. Factors like the size of your yard and the materials you choose will affect your final price. For larger yards, a provider may charge by the acre. Large-scale projects need more labor, which will increase costs. Here's the average cost of landscaping by project type:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$13,035 - $17,380
Landscaping Design	$2,139 - $2,852
Landscaping LandGrading	$427 - $2,561
Landscaping Mulch	$26 - $128
Planting FlowerBeds	$85 - $1,707
Planting Trees	$224 - $373
Sodding	$43 - $51
Swimming Pool	$32,433 - $85,351