DIY Options vs. Professional Services
While many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance skills, more specialized knowledge is needed for landscaping. Full-scale landscaping employs heavy equipment and intense labor. More complex elements, such as irrigation systems or fire pits, need construction and machinery experience as well.
You can DIY some landscaping projects, such as adding flower beds or removing overgrown plants. However, if you don't have basic lawn expertise or if you want to do a total yard overhaul, we recommend hiring a landscaper.
Professional landscape architects and designers have the skill set to elevate your outdoor space and the knowledge to create a long-term maintenance plan. A local professional can explain the most cost-effective upgrades, and one who offers lawn care services can improve your yard health. Hiring a professional also prevents you from making costly mistakes.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an Southaven Landscaping Company
Selecting the right landscaping company involves finding one with good experience that also fits your service needs and budget. Consider the following factors when hiring a landscaping contractor.
Services Offered
Consider your landscaping needs before choosing a provider. Some providers offer lawn care services—such as pruning, controlling weeds, mowing, mulching, and fertilizing—to help improve your yard health and maintenance. These companies often also offer pest control and tree clearing services.
You should hire a full-service landscaping company if you're adding new outdoor elements (such as a fire pit) or planning a revamp of your whole yard. These providers specialize in outdoor upgrades and designs, such as adding hardscapes, landscaping rock projects, and gardening. They can also help install retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, fire pits, and other architectural elements, and some also provide lawn maintenance services.
Licensing and Experience
Your landscaper should possess the appropriate licenses from the Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry. Most contractors also have advanced training and certification in areas such as outdoor design, horticulture, and lawn maintenance. 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
We suggest checking third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau to gauge a company's reputation and customer experience. Stay away from companies with largely negative reviews or frequent mentions of unreliable customer service, delayed projects, or poor project results. Try to choose a provider with positive customer ratings.
Work Portfolio
Request to see a portfolio of your landscaping contractor's past work. Most landscaping and maintenance companies are happy to share projects and designs with potential customers, including before and after photos. Ask for photos of past projects that are similar to your own design ideas to get an idea of how yours will look.
Sustainability Practices
Ask your landscaper about their sustainability practices, including eco-friendly material options, water conservation, and waste management. Your provider can explain its own sustainability practices and offer recommendations for sustainable maintenance, including how to reduce cost, water consumption, and waste. When planting vegetation, your landscaper should choose plants native to your area, such as trumpet honeysuckle, climbing aster, and narrowleaf sunflower. Any work completed shouldn't have an impact on your existing vegetation.
Cost
You should request quotes from multiple companies to learn about services and pricing. 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 may wish to use competing quotes to negotiate a better price.
Landscaping Costs in Southaven
Landscaping in Southaven generally costs between $26 and $39 per hour. These figures depend on things such as project type and size. Bigger projects like resodding will be more expensive than simple lawn tasks like mowing or gardening. Factors like materials and the size of your yard will affect your final price. For larger yards, a provider might charge by the acre. Large-scale projects need more labor, which will increase costs. Here's the average cost of common landscaping projects:
Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Deck | $11,806 - $15,741 |
Landscaping Design | $1,948 - $2,598 |
Landscaping LandGrading | $415 - $2,493 |
Landscaping Mulch | $25 - $125 |
Planting FlowerBeds | $83 - $1,662 |
Planting Trees | $218 - $363 |
Sodding | $42 - $50 |
Swimming Pool | $31,574 - $83,090 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Southaven
What are some 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 should I negotiate a price with a landscaping company?
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