It amazes me that people will often hire a landscaper simply because they saw the contractor working in their neighbourhood, and with the belief that, 'If my neighbour hired them, then it's OK for me to hire them also.' Knowing how to select a good landscape builder or maintenance contractor can be a little daunting but asking the right questions can make the selection easier.
There's plenty of information on the Internet describing how to choose a good contractor. Much of that information focuses on checking your local better business bureau, chamber of commerce or area industry association for company membership as well as asking for past client references. Those organizations do some good work but they have no legal authority, know little of a contractor's work history and many companies are not members of such organizations.
When it comes to asking for references, it's always a good idea - after all, who else will give you the real story other than a previous client? Beyond those basic suggestions there are several other questions to ask any prospective landscape contractor before you hire them. Start by asking if they have staff with relevant training, such as horticulture certificates, provincial journeyman papers or, at the very least, industrysponsored training. Training is a good thing, but experience counts for a lot in any industry, so ask if the contractor has a background that's relevant to the needs of your specific project. Asking to see a photo portfolio of past projects is also a good idea and it will show the standard and quality the contractor is capable of.
One of the most important questions to ask any prospective contractor is: How would they solve the particular issue you have? I've said this many times before, the single most valuable contribution an experienced landscape contractor can provide is the supply of new ideas and cost-effective options you may not have thought of. Any monkey can drop in and say, 'Yes we can build that' or 'prune that' or 'plant that,' but we do not need monkeys in our gardens.
We need professionals who can provide ideas that are creative and affordable.
There have been many times I have been called to someone's home to provide a price to build or complete a project, however, more than 75 per cent of the time, my alternate suggestions have resonated with the client and they have followed my advice or a modified version of what they initially wanted.
For landscape construction projects, ask your contractor for a written contract that clearly defines the scope of work, cost, schedule, types of materials and all other issues related to the project. A contract clarifies outcomes and levels the playing field for the client and the contractor.
Along with a contract, a design drawing may be needed. Not all projects require drawings, especially small or simple projects; however, a drawing is important for detailed or complex projects and it allows for proper space planning, material selection and design outcomes to be realized. Design drawings take time and skill to produce, so please pay fairly for such services. After all, you wouldn't work for free would you? One of the biggest complaints from landscape contractors is that clients are not educated or sophisticated enough to understand new ideas or complex solutions. Rubbish is what I say to that. Any idea clearly explained with pros and cons can be understood by anyone.
The second complaint from contractors is that people want what they want and if the contractor doesn't comply, they will lose the job. Not true. When it comes to building or maintaining gardens, it's the contractor who should know how to do the work best and advise the client accordingly. Anything less is monkey business.
I have turned down many projects because people want crazy, illegal, unsafe or ugly things built. In those cases the customer is not always right.
When it comes to landscape maintenance, customers and contractors are equally to blame for the poor quality, unsustainable and mindless standards in use in the industry. The days of shearing every plant, scraping every last bit of organic matter from the beds and fertilizing the hell out of everything must end if we are to grow truly beautiful, sustainable and healthy gardens.
If your landscape maintenance contractor does not offer new ideas, perhaps you should ask. If your contractor has no new ideas, perhaps it's time for a new contractor.
Those are only a few of the questions to ask any prospective contractor. Ultimately, you should have a good level of communication with the contractor, feel a certain level of trust that the contractor can and will do as they say, not feel pressured, and be provided with useful ideas at a good price.
Todd Major is a journeyman horticulturist, garden designer and builder, teacher and organic advocate. [email protected]
