Best 5 Landscaping Companies in San Marcos, TX

DIY Options vs. Professional Services

While many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance skills, more specialized knowledge is needed for landscaping. Full-scale landscaping employs intense labor and heavy equipment. More complex elements, such as irrigation systems or fire pits, need machinery and construction experience as well.

Small landscaping projects, such as adding flower beds or removing overgrown plants, can be easy projects to DIY. If you don't have basic lawn expertise or are planning a total yard overhaul, we recommend hiring a professional.

Hiring a landscape designer or architect helps prevent you from making expensive mistakes. These professionals have the skills and know-how to elevate your outdoor space, recommend cost-effective upgrades, and help develop a long-term maintenance plan.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an San Marcos Landscaping Company

Selecting the right landscaping company comes down to certain factors, such as your service needs, your budget, and the company’s experience. Keep the following considerations in mind when shopping for landscaping contractors.

Services Offered

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

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

Licensing and Experience

Landscapers often have advanced training and certification in areas such as horticulture, lawn maintenance, and outdoor design. Your provider should have the appropriate licenses from the San Marcos city government. It might also employ the following certified staff members:

• 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. While not mandatory, these certifications are an added bonus. Landscaping companies should be fully insured and bonded. Contractors should have liability insurance for protection against bodily injury or property damage. Request a certificate of insurance or insurance numbers to confirm coverage.

Reputation and Reviews

We suggest using third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of a provider's reputation and customer experience. Avoid companies with largely negative reviews or frequent mentions of delayed projects, unreliable customer service, or poor project results. Try to select a company with positive customer ratings.

Work Portfolio

Most landscaping and maintenance companies have before and after photos of previously completed projects to demonstrate the quality of their work. Request your provider's portfolio. You can specifically ask for photos of projects similar to yours, so you can see how your yard might look, and even get some inspiration.

Sustainability Practices

Ask your landscaping contractor about their sustainability practices, including water conservation, waste management, and eco-friendly material options. Your provider can explain its own sustainability practices and give you recommendations for sustainable maintenance, like how to reduce cost, waste, and water consumption. When planting vegetation, your landscaper should select native area plants, such as desert marigold, blackfoot daisy, and desert sand verbena. Any work completed shouldn't affect your existing vegetation.

Cost

You should request quotes from multiple companies—this lets you compare services and cost and may even help you negotiate a lower price. Many companies offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, talk about project plans, and provide recommendations. Your detailed quote includes information about various project costs, such as labor and materials.

Landscaping Costs in San Marcos

In San Marcos, you can expect to pay approximately $22–$33 for landscaping, depending on project size and type. Significant yard work like resodding will be more expensive than more straightforward tasks like mowing and gardening. Factors such as materials and the size of your yard will impact your final price. For larger yards, companies might charge by the acre. Bigger projects will require more labor, which will increase costs. The table below shows the average cost of common landscaping projects:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$13,076 - $17,435
Landscaping Design	$1,676 - $2,234
Landscaping LandGrading	$399 - $2,396
Landscaping Mulch	$24 - $120
Planting FlowerBeds	$80 - $1,597
Planting Trees	$209 - $349
Sodding	$40 - $48
Swimming Pool	$30,347 - $79,860