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About This Landscaping Blog

Written by a landscaper local to the city of Toronto, this blog is written to inform and educate homeowners looking to undertake a landscaping project whether it be a with a contractor or DIY.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Homeowner Education - Choosing a Landscaper

One of the most common homeowner errors is to tackle their yard a little at a time over a longer period of time. They clear areas, begin to plant and continue without a plan. When all is said and done the outcome is often a jungle of plantings and gardens that attribute to a disorganized feel. Planning out your Toronto landscaping project will see your end product adding value to your lifestyle.

Another prevalent homeowner error is their failure to do research prior to hiring a contractor. Due to the nature and licensing requirements of landscaping it is fairly easy for anybody to start a landscaping business, even with minimal experience. Educating yourself on industry standard procedures for installing landscape products is beneficial. Most popular manufacturers have the minimum installation requirements for their products listed on their website. Go take a look! A good contractor will educate you on installation procedures before starting the job.

Probably the most often ignored piece of advice when hiring any contractor is to check references. Some will say that it's pointless because its likely the contractor will give you the names and numbers of only the satisfied customers. The real questions you want to ask the references are more in depth. For example: Was your project on budget? Was your project on time? Were they considerate and flexible towards your family? Did they clean up and repair any damage created in the process? There are many more you can ask but the previous mentioned should get you started.

Steps to Success as a Homeowner

1.) Get a plan and follow it! Avoid planning as you go to assure flow within the design.

2.) Always do your research! Licensing for landscapers is rare, educate your self on standard install procedures.

3.) Check your contractors references! This should not have to be mentioned, ask in depth questions.