DIY Options vs. Professional Services
Many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance knowledge, but landscaping needs more advanced skills. Completing a full-scale landscaping project requires intense labor and heavy equipment. Adding more complex elements, such as a fire pit or irrigation system, requires construction and machinery expertise.
Small landscaping projects, such as adding flower beds or removing overgrown plants, can be easy projects to DIY. If you don't have the needed lawn expertise or are looking for a complete yard overhaul, we recommend hiring a professional.
Professional landscape architects and designers can enhance your lawn, recommend the most cost-effective upgrades, and help develop a long-term maintenance plan. These professionals have the knowledge and skill set 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 Newport News Landscaping Company
You should consider factors such as your services needs and budget as well as a company's experience when choosing a landscaping company. Keep the following considerations in mind when shopping for landscaping contractors.
Services Offered
Consider your lawn's needs when choosing a landscaping provider. Some companies offer lawn care services—including mowing, pruning, controlling weeds, mulching, and fertilizing—to help improve your yard health and maintenance. These companies often also offer pest control and tree removal services.
You should 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 gardening, adding hardscapes, and landscaping rock projects. They can also help install sprinkler or irrigation systems, fire pits, retaining walls, and other architectural elements. Some even offer lawn maintenance services.
Licensing and Experience
Most landscapers are trained and certified in areas like horticulture, outdoor design, and lawn maintenance. Your provider should hold the appropriate licensure from the Newport News 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
Look for a provider with an excellent reputation and positive customer reviews. Check both positive and negative reviews on third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau to get a feel for how a company treats its customers. You want to avoid providers that have frequent mentions of delayed projects, poor project results, or unreliable customer service, 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 for photos of projects similar to yours, to see how yours might look and even get some inspiration.
Sustainability Practices
Sustainability is important to consider both during and after landscaping work. Ask your provider about its best practices for eco-friendly material options, waste management, and water conservation; you might also ask for maintenance recommendations. Landscaping providers should opt for native plants (such as trumpet honeysuckle, climbing aster, and narrowleaf sunflower) when planting new vegetation, and they shouldn't allow their work to affect your existing vegetation.
Cost
Many companies offer free consultations, during which a contractor will review your outdoor space, offer recommendations, and go over project ideas. Your detailed quote will cover project expenses like materials and labor. We recommend getting multiple quotes from different companies, which you can then use to compare rates and services and sometimes negotiate a better price.
Landscaping Costs in Newport News
Landscaping typically costs $23–$35 per hour in Newport News, depending on project type and size. Simple tasks like mowing or gardening will cost less than significant yard work, such as resodding. 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. Here's the average cost of landscaping by project type:
| Landscaping Service | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Deck | $12,837 - $17,116 |
| Landscaping Design | $1,764 - $2,352 |
| Landscaping LandGrading | $405 - $2,427 |
| Landscaping Mulch | $24 - $121 |
| Planting FlowerBeds | $81 - $1,618 |
| Planting Trees | $212 - $354 |
| Sodding | $40 - $49 |
| Swimming Pool | $30,746 - $80,910 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Landscaping in Newport News
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 can I negotiate pricing with a landscaping company?
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