DIY Options vs. Professional Services
While many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance skills, landscaping requires more specialized knowledge. Full-scale landscaping requires heavy equipment and intense labor. More complex elements, such as fire pits or irrigation systems, need construction and machinery experience as well.
You can handle some landscaping projects yourself. Smaller projects, such as removing overgrown plants or adding a flower bed, are easier to DIY. However, you should hire a professional landscaper for things like a complete yard overhaul, or smaller projects for which you lack the needed expertise.
Professional landscape designers and architects have the skills to elevate your outdoor space and the expertise to create a long-term maintenance plan. A professional can explain the most cost-effective upgrades, and one who also offers lawn care services can enhance your yard health. Hiring a professional also prevents expensive DIY mistakes.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an Eden Prairie Landscaping Company
Hiring the right landscaping company 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 companies cater to different lawn needs. Some providers focus on services to help with the health and maintenance of your yard, such as mulching, controlling weeds, fertilizing, pruning, and mowing. These companies often also provide pest management and tree cutting services.
You'll want a full-service landscaping company if you're planning a full revamp of your yard or want new outdoor elements, such as a fire pit. These companies specialize in outdoor designs and upgrades, including landscaping rock projects, gardening, and adding hardscapes. They can also help install fire pits, retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, and other architectural elements. Some provide lawn maintenance services.
Licensing and Experience
Your landscaping company should have the appropriate licenses from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Contractors often also have advanced training and certification in areas such as horticulture, lawn maintenance, and outdoor design. Your provider might 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
Look for a contractor with good customer reviews. You can look at third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau to verify that a company has a good reputation and provides a positive customer experience. Try to avoid companies with largely negative reviews, including reviews that frequently mention unreliable customer service, delayed projects, or poor project results.
Work Portfolio
Many landscaping and maintenance companies proudly share photos of previous projects with prospective customers. Ask to see a portfolio of landscaping projects and designs, preferably ones that are similar to your own ideas. Companies often have before and after photos to illustrate the quality of their work.
Sustainability Practices
Sustainability is an important consideration during and after landscaping work. Ask your provider about its best practices for water conservation, eco-friendly material options, and waste management; you can also ask for maintenance recommendations. Landscapers should choose native plant life (such as swamp milkweed, wild columbine, and cup-plant) when planting new vegetation, and they shouldn't allow their work to affect your existing vegetation.
Cost
We recommend requesting multiple quotes from different companies—this lets you compare rates and services and may even help you negotiate a better deal. Many companies offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, discuss project plans, and make recommendations. Your detailed quote includes information about various project costs, such as labor and materials.
Landscaping Costs in Eden Prairie
Landscaping typically costs $29–$44 per hour in Eden Prairie, depending on project size and type. Simple tasks, such as gardening or mowing, are less expensive than major yard work, such as resodding. Pricing will vary based on your chosen materials. For a larger yard, your provider might charge by the acre. Larger projects necessitate more labor, which will increase the total price. The table below breaks down the average cost of different landscaping services:
Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Deck | $13,639 - $18,186 |
Landscaping Design | $2,219 - $2,958 |
Landscaping LandGrading | $431 - $2,589 |
Landscaping Mulch | $26 - $129 |
Planting FlowerBeds | $86 - $1,726 |
Planting Trees | $226 - $377 |
Sodding | $43 - $52 |
Swimming Pool | $32,791 - $86,293 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Eden Prairie
What are warning signs of a bad landscaper?
What are some benefits of landscaping?
Are landscapers the same as gardeners?
What is a landscape designer?
How do I negotiate a price with a landscaping company?
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