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6/19/2020

Choosing a landscaper

25 Comments

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What is a S330 Landscape & Recreation Contractor?

All contractors are not alike and not all 'lawn care' companies are licensed to do landscaping work.  A general lawn care business license allows you to do just that, lawn care and basic sprinkler repair.  Full yard installation, sprinkler systems and hardscape features require additional experience and knowledge in plumbing, electrical and building code.

All specialty licensed landscape contractors must
  • Have at least 4 years of experience working under a licensed landscape contractor
  • Take a 25 hour pre-licensure course
  • Pass the Utah Business & Law Exam which covers: Business Organization, Licensing, Estimating and Bidding, Contract Management, Project Management, Labor Laws, Lien Laws, Financial Management, Risk Management, Tax Laws and Safety
  • Pass the State Landscaping Trade Exam to ensure knowledge in: Planning and Estimating, Reading blueprints, Project planning, Botanical names of plants and care, Pre-construction site planning, Pre-construction site demolition and preparation, Trenching and grading, Hardscape Installation, Flatwork, Masonry, Structures, Water features, Drainage, Irrigation, Lighting, and Plant Installation, Landscape repair and maintenance, Employee and Job site safety
  • And show proof of liability insurance, worker’s compensation coverage and proper business licensing
 
 
And while landscapers can provide a beautifully mowed lawn, they know a lot more than just how to walk in a straight line… 😉
 
Unfortunately the landscape trade is the least regulated of all the trades, so we hear a lot of stories when fixing the work of unqualified lawn companies who cut corners or just plain aren't educated in landscaping contracting.
 
There are 3 things we educate people on when looking for a landscape contractor or any contractor. One is that they are a 'landscape' contractor, not just a general contractor or just have a lawn business.  They should be licensed with DOPL (the 4 Digit Identifier for landscapers is 5501), have a State Business License AND a City Business License. They should have commercial insurance and you should request a COI or Certificate of Liability Insurance for large jobs.  Look for a website. Many dishonest contractors won’t have a website or online presence to prevent negative reviews and limit contact with customers. Just having a basic website means they are business minded, more professional and not just a come-and-go start up.  Lastly, get 3 bids and never go with the cheapest because you always get what you pay for in landscaping. The term 'dirt cheap' isn't a real thing, good dirt is actually quite expensive…
 
Most importantly…. Great landscapers will usually be booked throughout the season and because they are honest, they won’t ‘fit you in’ or rush a current job just for more business.  You will need to be put on their schedule to 'wait in line'.  They care about each customer and will dedicate their full attention to the current project.  If you call a landscaper and they are several weeks out, it's because they are good, honest and worth the wait and won't skimp on quality! 


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25 Comments
Sharon Guerra link
2/27/2022 12:51:54 pm

Many dishonest contractors won’t have a website or online presence to prevent negative reviews and limit contact with customers. I truly appreciate your great post!

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Thomas Clarence link
2/28/2022 02:25:58 pm

You made an interesting point when you mentioned that it is a good idea to find a landscaper that cares about their customers. This seems like a good idea because they will want to do their best work. A landscaper that cares about people will probably have good reviews.

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Frank Godinez link
5/4/2022 02:39:09 pm

One is that they are a landscape contractor, not just a general contractor or just have a lawn business. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Reply
Kate Hansen link
8/15/2022 03:21:12 pm

It helped when you said that they should be able to show proof of liability insurance. My husband and I moved into our very first home a couple of weeks ago, and we want to start remodeling the landscape with a landscaper. We'll keep these tips in mind as we search for a landscape contractor.

Reply
Mia Evans link
8/15/2022 10:55:04 pm

I totally agree when you said that the landscaping services should be licensed with the DOPL and have a state business license as well. I will share this tip with my best friend who called me earlier due to the issue in her grasses. It seems that there have been patches left on their front yard after the heavy rain and strong wind happen to their location all afternoon.

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Millie Hue link
8/25/2022 07:00:40 pm

It got me when you said that landscapers can do more than just keeping a lawn beautifully mowed. I guess they can definitely offer quality landscape installation services because they are professionals. I plan to get my front yard done this year to prepare for the autumn season, since I definitely want to have pumpkins and decorate with hay for Halloween.

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Victoria Addington link
9/14/2022 08:39:10 pm

It's great that you discussed that great landscapers devote their full attention to the present project. My mother wants to boost the look of our landscape. I should advise her to hire a reputable contractor to handle her landscaping project.

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Landscaping Calgary link
9/26/2022 04:14:24 am

A large part of our business is refferals from past happy clients. The better the job you do the more you will get in residual work.

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Zachary Tomlinson link
11/3/2022 09:34:39 pm

It does make sense to find a landscaper that has a website where you could view their previous work. I also like the idea of leaving my project in the hands of someone who has done so much for other homeowners. I should keep your suggestion in mind and find a landscaper that can help me with this in the future.

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Thomas Clarence link
11/10/2022 01:40:51 pm

It's great that you pointed out that it is a good idea to find a landscaper that has at least four years of experience. I would like to find a landscaping company that can help me prepare my lawn for winter. I am hoping that preparing my lawn for winter will make it healthy when springtime comes.

Reply
Tree Services Owenboro link
12/9/2022 09:43:50 am

What a great detailed article. I appreciate you sharing.

Reply
Henry Killingsworth link
1/4/2023 11:10:54 am

It stood out to me when you mentioned that you shouldn't skimp on quality when it comes to picking a landscaper. I would think that it would be a good idea to ask the landscaper if it would be possible for you to see some examples of their work in person. It seems like it would be important to see if the quality of a landscaper's work stands up to your needs.

Reply
John Carston link
1/5/2023 01:57:27 am

It helped when you said that choosing a licensed landscaper could ensure quality work for your landscaping project. A couple of days ago, my mother told me she was hoping to find a reliable landscaping service that could upgrade the appearance and efficiency of her garden. She asked if I had any thoughts on the best option to consider. Thanks to this enlightening article. I'll tell her we can try to consult well-known landscaping company as they can provide more information about the design process.

Reply
Stepping Stones Edmonton link
1/5/2023 11:15:41 am

Thanks for sharing this insightful post.

Reply
Landscaping Medicine Hat Ab link
1/6/2023 10:39:25 am

Great Work on this article. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
1/9/2023 07:39:09 pm

I like what you said about making sure the landscaper has at least 4 years of experience. My yard needs a serious overhaul. I'll have to hire a contractor to help me with planning a remodel.

Reply
Lawn Care Calgary Ab link
1/24/2023 08:03:04 am

Thanks for sharing this post, it is very helpful article.

Reply
astro turf link
1/27/2023 05:38:10 am


A S330 Landscape & Recreation Contractor is a professional who specializes in construction and maintenance of recreational and scenic landscapes. They are responsible for ensuring that the land is suitable for public use and has the necessary amenities. This includes designing the area, erecting structures, creating pathways, planting trees and shrubs, and installing playground equipment. They may also be responsible for maintaining the area, such as mowing, trimming, and pruning. Contractors may also be responsible for constructing recreational facilities, such as sports complexes, golf courses, and parks.

Reply
Braden Bills link
1/27/2023 08:11:22 am

I want to start a big landscaping project, but I want to make sure that it's done right. It makes sense that I would want to work with a qualified landscaper to help out with this! I'll be sure to find one that is properly certified to ensure that everything works out properly.

Reply
Landscaping Red Deer link
1/31/2023 08:47:01 am

Nice article! thanks for sharing the post!

Reply
Sydney link
2/11/2023 07:43:16 am

This is very true! We actually made the mistake of hiring a landscaping company based just off the money and it ended up costing us so much more in the long run...They did an awful job and we had to get a new established company to make sure the landscaping was done right. Los Gringos Lawn & Landscape seems like a very established and good company!

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Sheena link
2/25/2023 10:33:56 pm

I agree when you say that a Landscaper should be a licensed with DOPL and has a business license too. In that way we can truly say that they do quality works also. It's a good thing also that they have websites so that we can check their previous works. In that way we can choose the perfect company that can do the job for us.

Reply
Mestica link
2/27/2023 06:13:27 am

I love the idea you pitch on your article. Also I agreed that great landscaper care about each customer and will dedicate their full attention to the current project. Very nice article, highly recommended.

Reply
TERRA Creations link
3/5/2023 08:45:54 pm

If you're in the market for a landscaping service, you'll find some helpful pointers in this piece. I concur that it is important to do some background checking before making a final choice, and that it is especially important to request references and proof of insurance. The company's expertise and degree of experience should also be taken into account. We appreciate you discussing this with us and offering your thoughts.

Reply
Daisy James link
3/23/2023 03:17:14 pm

It's good to know that you should find one that has more than 4 years of experience. My parents were at my house yesterday afternoon for a visit, and they talked about how they want to add more plants and trees to their landscape now that spring has started. I'll pass this information along to them so they can know how to find the right landscaper to work with.

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