DIY Options vs. Professional Services
Many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance skills. However, 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.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping works for smaller projects, such as removing overgrown plants or adding a flower bed. However, you should hire a professional landscaping contractor if you’re doing a total yard overhaul or don’t have basic lawn expertise.
Professional landscape architects and designers can enhance your lawn, recommend the most cost-effective upgrades, and help you 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 help you avoid costly mistakes.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an The Woodlands Landscaping Company
Experience and reputation are important considerations when hiring a landscaping company, but you also want to ensure that the provider offers the services you need at a reasonable price. Consider the following factors 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, controlling weeds, fertilizing, and mulching. These companies often also provide pest management and tree cutting services.
Plan to 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 adding hardscapes, landscaping rock projects, and gardening. They can also help install sprinkler or irrigation systems, fire pits, retaining walls, and other architectural elements, and some even provide lawn maintenance services.
Licensing and Experience
Most landscaping contractors are trained and certified in areas like lawn maintenance, horticulture, and outdoor design. Your provider should possess the appropriate licenses from the The Woodlands 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
We recommend using third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of a provider's reputation and customer experience. Stay away from companies with largely negative reviews or frequent mentions of poor project results, unreliable customer service, or delayed projects. Try to find a company with positive customer ratings.
Work Portfolio
Most landscaping and maintenance companies have before and after photos of previous projects to demonstrate the quality of their work. Ask to see 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
Sustainability practices might include water conservation, eco-friendly material options, and waste management, and they're an important consideration when choosing a landscaping company. Landscaping work done on your property shouldn't impact your current vegetation. Additionally, your landscaper should choose native plants, such as desert marigold, blackfoot daisy, and desert sand verbena. Ask about sustainability practices for projects like yours, and get recommendations for ways to reduce maintenance costs, waste, and water consumption.
Cost
We recommend requesting quotes from multiple companies—this allows you to compare rates and services and can even help you negotiate a better price. Many providers offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, talk about project plans, and make recommendations. Your detailed quote will include information about various project costs, such as materials and labor.
Landscaping Costs in The Woodlands
In The Woodlands, you should expect to spend around $27–$40 for landscaping, depending on project size and type. Significant yard work such as resodding will cost more than easier tasks such as gardening and mowing. Factors such as materials and the size of your yard will affect your final price. For larger yards, companies may charge by the acre. Large-scale projects need more labor, which will increase costs. Here's the average cost of landscaping by project type:
Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Deck | $12,673 - $16,898 |
Landscaping Design | $2,023 - $2,698 |
Landscaping LandGrading | $420 - $2,519 |
Landscaping Mulch | $25 - $126 |
Planting FlowerBeds | $84 - $1,680 |
Planting Trees | $220 - $367 |
Sodding | $42 - $50 |
Swimming Pool | $31,912 - $83,978 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in The Woodlands
What are warning signs of a bad landscaping company?
What are some benefits of landscaping?
Are landscapers the same as gardeners?
What is a landscape designer?
How should I negotiate pricing with a landscaping company?
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