Best 5 Landscaping Companies in Rochester, MN

DIY Options vs. Professional Services

You may have some basic lawn maintenance knowledge, but landscaping requires advanced skills, heavy equipment, and intense labor. More complicated projects, such as adding a fire pit or irrigation system, also necessitate machinery and construction experience.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping can work for smaller projects, such as adding a flower bed or removing overgrown plants. However, you should consider hiring a professional landscaping contractor if you’re doing a total yard overhaul or lack basic lawn expertise.

Professional landscape designers and architects can enhance your lawn, recommend the most cost-effective upgrades, and help develop a long-term landscape maintenance plan. These professionals have the skills and expertise to elevate your outdoor space. Contactors that offer lawn care services can improve the health of your lawn and prevent you from making costly mistakes.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Rochester Landscaping Company

Reputation and experience are important considerations when hiring a landscaper, but you also want to ensure that the provider offers the services you need at a reasonable price. Keep the following considerations in mind when hiring a landscaping contractor.

Services Offered

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

You should hire a full-service landscaper 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 landscaping rock projects, adding hardscapes, and gardening. They can also help install fire pits, retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, and other architectural elements, and some even provide lawn maintenance services.

Licensing and Experience

Most landscapers are trained and certified in areas like lawn maintenance, horticulture, and outdoor design. Your provider should hold the appropriate licensure from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. It might also employ the following certified professionals:

• 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, such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals and the Professional Landcare Network. While not mandatory, these certifications are an added bonus. Your landscaper should be fully insured and bonded; most providers have liability insurance for protection against property damage or bodily injury. Request an insurance certificate or insurance numbers to confirm a company's coverage.

Reputation and Reviews

Seek out companies with positive customer reviews and strong reputations. Read about the company on third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau. Read negative and positive reviews to gauge how a provider treats its customers. Avoid companies with mainly negative reviews and frequent mentions of unreliable customer service, poor project results, or delayed projects.

Work Portfolio

Most landscaping and maintenance companies will have before and after photos of previous projects to demonstrate the quality of their work. Request your provider'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 is an important consideration both during and after a landscaping project. Ask your landscaper about its best practices for water conservation, waste management, and eco-friendly material options; you can also ask for maintenance recommendations. Landscapers should choose native plants (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

You should request quotes from multiple companies to learn about pricing and services. Most companies offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, offer recommendations, and review project plans. You’ll receive a detailed quote of expected project costs, including labor and materials. You can use competing quotes to help negotiate a better price.

Landscaping Costs in Rochester

In Rochester, you can expect to spend approximately $23–$34 for landscaping, depending on project type and size. Significant yard work such as resodding will be more expensive than easier tasks like gardening and mowing. Pricing will vary based on your chosen materials. For a bigger yard, your provider may charge by the acre. Bigger projects necessitate more labor, which will increase the total price. Here's the average cost of landscaping by project type:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$12,711 - $16,948
Landscaping Design	$1,730 - $2,307
Landscaping LandGrading	$403 - $2,415
Landscaping Mulch	$24 - $121
Planting FlowerBeds	$81 - $1,610
Planting Trees	$211 - $352
Sodding	$40 - $48
Swimming Pool	$30,592 - $80,506