What Do You Want To Do?

Are you looking for a professional landscaper to maintain or manage a property, renovate an existing garden or design and/or install a new landscape? The professional you select should have certain qualifications.

Some time before you meet with your contractor, take a tour of your yard, and make a list of improvements or features you think you might want to add:

If you like to entertain outdoors, for example, consider an outdoor kitchen — one of today's hottest amenities. You can have the latest, greatest outdoor grill, a refrigerator, sink — even an icemaker. "We've done some fun things," says landscape contractor Tom Raeth, president of Lafayette Tree and Landscape in Lafayette. "We've even built an outdoor pizza oven."

Fountains and water features are among the most popular landscape features today. "A water feature can add enormous pleasure to your landscape and to your inner peace and solitude," says Brad Stewart, superintendent and water feature specialist at Bertotti Landscaping of Petaluma. "Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but in my view it has a monumental impact on your yard and on your personal well-being." Many contractors have stunning photographs of the features they've created, so ask to take a look. And because a picture is worth a thousand words, showing your contractor photos you collect from websites, books and magazines is a great way to convey your ideas and priorities.

A good plan will include a professionally installed, inground irrigation system with automatic timer. Ask your contactor about the latest water-conserving devices; there are a slew of them, including meters that measure rainfall and shut off your system when Mother Nature is on the job.

Hiring A Landscape Contractor

If the price of your job is $500 or more (including costs of labor and materials), state law requires that the person or company doing the job be licensed by the Contractors State License Board.

One of the best ways to find a contractor is to use the Contractor Search feature on the CLCA website. You can search for a CLCA contractor by city, and by landscape specialty. Say, for example, you live in Sacramento and want to put in a patio, specialty garden, water feature or any one of about two dozen categories that are offered. You simply fill in the city name, check the specialties you're interested in, click on search, and names and phone numbers of CLCA members that fit your criteria will pop right up.

Once you have a list of prospective contractors and have your initial meetings, ask to visit jobs each contractor has completed. If possible, talk to the homeowners and ask if their expectations were met. Also ask your contractor about liability and workers' compensation insurance. In fact, CLCA recommends that you ask to see written proof of insurance policies. The CLCA website has a wealth of information about hiring, contracts and payment terms, so make sure to check out Hiring A Licensed Landscape Contractor, on the CLCA.org homepage.

Here are some key things you should look for in a prospective contractor to help ensure that your landscaping experience is professional and positive.