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.
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 completing a 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 knowledge to elevate your outdoor living space. Contactors that also provide lawn care services can improve the health of your lawn and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an Harrisonburg Landscaping Company
Aim to hire a landscaper that offers the services you need at a reasonable price. You also want to know that your provider has a good reputation. Keep the following considerations in mind when hiring a landscaping contractor.
Services Offered
Consider your landscaping needs before choosing a company. Some companies offer lawn care services—such as mulching, controlling weeds, pruning, mowing, and fertilizing—to improve your yard health and maintenance. These companies often also offer pest control and tree removal 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 designs and upgrades, such as landscaping rock projects, gardening, and adding hardscapes. They can also help install sprinkler or irrigation systems, fire pits, retaining walls, and other architectural elements, and some also provide lawn maintenance services.
Licensing and Experience
Landscapers often have advanced training and certification in areas such as outdoor design, horticulture, and lawn maintenance. Your provider should hold the appropriate licensure from the Harrisonburg 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
Reputation and Reviews
Look for companies with positive customer reviews and strong reputations. We recommend checking third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau. Look for both positive and negative 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
Ask for a portfolio of your landscaping company's previous work. Most landscaping and maintenance companies are proud to share designs and projects with potential customers, including before and after photos. You can ask for photos of past projects that are similar to your design ideas to get an idea of how yours will look.
Sustainability Practices
Sustainability is an important consideration both during and after landscaping work. Ask your provider about its best practices for waste management, eco-friendly material options, and water conservation; you might also ask for maintenance recommendations. Landscapers should opt for native plant life (such as trumpet honeysuckle, climbing aster, and narrowleaf sunflower) when planting new vegetation, and they shouldn't let their work affect your existing vegetation.
Cost
Many companies offer free consultations. During this process, a contractor will review your outdoor space, offer recommendations, and go over project ideas. Your detailed quote will outline project costs such as materials and labor. We recommend getting quotes from multiple companies, which you can then use to compare rates and services and sometimes negotiate a lower price.
Landscaping Costs in Harrisonburg
In Harrisonburg, you can expect to pay roughly $22–$33 for landscaping, depending on project size and type. Significant yard work such as resodding will be more expensive than more straightforward tasks like mowing and gardening. Bigger projects need more labor, which will increase the final cost. Depending on the size of your yard, the company might charge by the acre. The price will also be influenced by the materials you choose. The table below shows the average cost of different landscaping services:
Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Deck | $11,864 - $15,819 |
Landscaping Design | $1,655 - $2,207 |
Landscaping LandGrading | $398 - $2,389 |
Landscaping Mulch | $24 - $119 |
Planting FlowerBeds | $80 - $1,592 |
Planting Trees | $209 - $348 |
Sodding | $40 - $48 |
Swimming Pool | $30,255 - $79,618 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Harrisonburg
What are some warning signs of a bad landscaper?
What are some benefits of landscaping?
Are landscapers the same as gardeners?
What is a landscape designer?
How can I negotiate a price with a landscaping company?
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