DIY Options vs. Professional Services
Although many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance knowledge, landscaping requires more advanced skills. Completing a full-scale landscaping project requires intense labor and heavy equipment. More complex elements, such as fire put or irrigation systems, require construction and machinery expertise.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping works 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.
Hiring a landscape designer or architect helps you avoid costly mistakes. Professionals have the knowledge and skills to elevate your outdoor living space, recommend cost-effective upgrades, and help develop a long-term maintenance plan.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an Grand Island Landscaping Company
Reputation and experience are important considerations for choosing a landscaper, but it's also important that the provider offers the services you need at a reasonable price. Consider the following factors when shopping for landscaping contractors.
Services Offered
You should know what services you need before picking a provider. Some companies offer lawn care services focusing on yard health and maintenance. These services may include pruning, fertilizing, controlling weeds, mulching, and mowing. Many also offer pest management solutions and tree removal services.
Look for a full-service landscaper for full-yard revamps or to install elements such as retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, or fire pits. These providers specialize in outdoor upgrades and designs, including gardening, landscaping rock projects, and adding hardscapes. Some provide lawn maintenance services in addition to architectural and design services.
Licensing and Experience
Most landscapers are trained and certified in areas like outdoor design, horticulture, and lawn maintenance. Your provider should have the appropriate licenses from the Grand Island city government. 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
Reputation and Reviews
You want a contractor who has an excellent reputation and positive customer reviews. You can read both negative and positive reviews on third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau to get a feel for how a provider treats its customers. Avoid providers that have frequent mentions of unreliable customer service, delayed projects, or poor project results, or that have overall poor reviews.
Work Portfolio
Most landscaping and maintenance companies have before and after photos of past projects to demonstrate the quality of their work. Request your provider's portfolio. You can specifically ask to see other projects similar to yours, to see how yours might look and even get some inspiration.
Sustainability Practices
Sustainability practices are essential for any landscaper. These practices include waste management, water conservation, and eco-friendly material options. Landscaping contractors should select native plant life—such as swamp milkweed, wild columbine, and cup-plant—for best results. Any work on your property shouldn't affect your existing vegetation. The company should advise you of sustainability practices for your project and offer recommendations for reducing maintenance costs, water consumption, and waste.
Cost
Many providers offer free consultations. During this process, a contractor will review your outdoor space, make recommendations, and go over project plans. Your detailed quote will cover 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 lower price.
Landscaping Costs in Grand Island
In Grand Island, you can expect to pay approximately $21–$31 for landscaping, depending on project size and type. Significant yard work such as resodding will be more expensive than easier tasks such as mowing and gardening. Pricing will vary based on your chosen materials. For a bigger yard, your provider might charge by the acre. Larger projects necessitate more labor, which will increase the total cost. The table below breaks down the average cost of common landscaping projects:
Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Deck | $11,878 - $15,837 |
Landscaping Design | $1,562 - $2,083 |
Landscaping LandGrading | $393 - $2,355 |
Landscaping Mulch | $24 - $118 |
Planting FlowerBeds | $79 - $1,570 |
Planting Trees | $206 - $343 |
Sodding | $39 - $47 |
Swimming Pool | $29,835 - $78,514 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Grand Island
What are some warning signs of a bad landscaper?
What are the benefits of landscaping?
Is a landscaper the same as a gardener?
What is a landscape designer?
How do I negotiate a price with a landscaping company?
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