Before You Hire a Landscaper, Read This (Seriously)

By The Landscape Experts | July 25, 2025
top questions to ask when hiring a landscaper

Top Questions to Ask Before Starting a Landscaping Project

(Because Most “Landscapers” Have No Business Touching Your Yard)

Let’s be real: the landscaping industry is a magnet for underqualified “contractors” with a truck, a shovel, and a dream.

They show up with a clipboard, throw around words like “drainage” and “pavers,” and sell you a vision of backyard bliss. But what you don’t see is their lack of licensing, poor planning, shoddy workmanship—and the financial disaster they’ll leave behind if you’re not careful.

If you’re investing thousands into your property, you’d better be asking the right questions—and not just the polite ones. This isn’t about hurting feelings. It’s about protecting your home, your money, and your sanity.

So here’s your no-fluff, no-BS guide to vetting a landscaper the right way.

  1. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
  2. Will You Handle Permits?
  3. Do You Understand Drainage, or Are You Just Guessing?
  4. What's Your Experience With Structural Landscaping?
  5. Can I Speak With Your Past Clients?
  6. What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?
  7. Can I see a Written Scope of Work?
  8. Do You Use Subcontractors or In-House Crews?
  9. How Will You Protect My Property?
  10. Why Should I Choose You Over Every Other Guy With a Facebook Page?

❗1. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?

(And no, a city business license doesn’t count.)

This is THE question—and if they can’t answer it confidently, the conversation is over.

In Alabama, a license is required to perform landscaping and hardscaping work. That means they’re either a Licensed Home Builder or a Licensed General Contractor—not just some guy who mows grass and “dabbles” in patios.

Here’s why that license matters:

  • ✅ They've passed state-level testing

  • ✅ They’re required to carry liability and workers’ comp insurance

  • ✅ They can legally pull permits

  • ✅ They’re held to building code and enforcement standards

  • ✅ They’re authorized to build structural features like retaining walls, decks, outdoor kitchens, drainage systems, and more

If they’re not licensed and something goes wrong—you are legally and financially on the hook.

Unlicensed landscapers might be cheaper up front, but they’re almost always more expensive after the damage is done.

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❓2. Will You Handle Permits (If Needed)?

If they say, “Nah, you don’t need permits for this,” and they haven’t even looked at your property yet—that’s a red flag.

Retaining walls, structural decks, electric or gas lines, major grading—these often require permits. A licensed contractor will know when and how to pull them. An unlicensed one will just “hope it’s fine,” and leave you holding the bag when the city comes knocking.

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❓3. Do You Understand Drainage, or Are You Just Guessing?

Bad drainage design is the #1 landscaping failure we see in Mobile County.

Ask:

  • How will you slope the yard?

  • Where will runoff go during heavy rain?

  • What type of drain system are you using—French drain? Catch basin?

  • Are you using laser levels or just eyeballing it?

If they talk vaguely about “we’ll grade it out” without specifics, they are guessing—and your foundation will suffer for it.

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❓4. What’s Your Experience With Structural Landscaping?

There’s a huge difference between planting hydrangeas and building a 12' x 20' paver patio with a fire pit, sitting wall, drainage system, and steps.

Ask:

  • Are you a licensed general contractor or working under one?

  • Can you show photos of your own work (not stock photos)?

  • How do you build your base? What materials do you use? What depth?

  • Do you pour concrete footings or use compacted gravel?

A “landscaper” who can't explain how they build is just an expensive liability.

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❓5. Can I Speak With Your Last 3 Clients?

Not just your cousin who left a Facebook review—real clients with real projects.

Ask them:

  • Was the job done on time?

  • Did they stick to the budget?

  • How was communication?

  • Did the work hold up through weather?

If your contractor flinches when you ask for references, that’s your answer.

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❓6. What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?

Things happen. Rain delays. Material shortages. Crew issues.

So ask:

  • Who do I contact for project issues?

  • What’s the timeline for resolving mistakes?

  • Do you guarantee your work? For how long?

A contractor without a clear plan for problems is a problem.

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❓7. Can I See a Written Scope of Work?

You don’t necessarily need a fully itemized cost breakdown for every screw and paver—but you do need a detailed scope of work that clearly outlines what you're getting.

At a minimum, your contractor should give you a document that spells out:

  • What they’re building (patio, wall, drainage system, etc.)

  • The square footage or linear footage involved

  • What materials are being used (brand/type if known)

  • How deep the base will be, how they’ll compact it, and how it’ll be finished

  • What’s included—demolition, cleanup, disposal, etc.

  • An estimated timeline for the work

If all you get is “Backyard renovation – $8,000,” that’s a trap. You’ll never be able to hold them accountable, and they’ll change things mid-project and pretend you agreed to it.

A clear scope protects both you and the contractor—and any pro worth hiring already does this by default.

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❓8. Do You Use Subcontractors or In-House Crews?

If you’re hiring a company to do your backyard, you have a right to know:

  • Who’s doing the work?

  • Are they background-checked and trained?

  • Will the person I met with actually be managing the job?

If the answer is, “We’ve got some guys we call when we need help,”—yeah, that’s not professional. That’s chaos.

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❓9. How Will You Protect My Property?

You need a crew that respects your home—not one that leaves ruts in the lawn and tools on the roof.

Ask:

  • Will you use ground protection?

  • How will you avoid damaging existing landscaping?

  • Will you restore disturbed areas?

A good contractor plans to leave your property better than they found it.

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❓10. Why Should I Choose You Over Every Other Guy With a Facebook Page?

This is your final test. Let them sell themselves.

You’re about to trust them with thousands of dollars and your home. If their answer is just “We’re cheaper” or “We’ve been doing this a while,”—that’s not enough.

You want:

  • Accountability

  • Confidence

  • Proven systems

  • Strong communication

  • Transparent pricing

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Final Thoughts: Don’t Get Burned

Landscaping is an unregulated mess full of smooth talkers, cash-only “deals,” and half-finished patios. Don’t be another horror story.

Ask tough questions. Get clear answers. And don’t hire anyone who can’t prove they’re legit.

Want a Contractor Who Actually Passes This Test?

We’re The Landscape Experts—licensed general contractors, drainage pros, and structural builders serving all of Mobile County. We don’t do guesswork. We don’t cut corners. We do it right—and we back it up.

📍 Proudly serving Mobile, Baldwin County & the Gulf Coast
🛠 Licensed. Insured. Built to Last.
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Posted in Landscaping