Key Factors to Consider Before Starting a Landscaping Installation Project
A good landscaper can help you get your project moving on time. But there are many questions you should ask them to ensure your project is done correctly and on time.
Landscaping businesses should have general liability insurance covering accidental damage to customer property. They also need a business license and employer identification number (EIN) or tax ID.
Budget
Whether your landscaping installation Memphis TN project is DIY or professional, you must track expenses. A good landscaping professional will give you a quote that outlines all charges, including equipment rentals and labor costs.
The scope of your landscaping project will determine the overall payment. For example, if you want to touch up flowerbeds and trees in your yard, the cost will differ from installing a new pool or gazebo. Many soft scaping projects tally the price based on the square footage of work, so you should know what your project will entail before hiring a landscaper.
Investing in landscaping can increase your home’s value and make spending time outdoors with family and friends more enjoyable. Absorbing and releasing oxygen from trees, flowers, and bushes can also enhance your health by reducing air pollution. Additionally, good landscaping helps lessen storm runoff and enhance the water quality in nearby rivers and streams.
Design
A professional landscaping project should be well-planned and executed. The design should match the style of the home and work seamlessly with your region’s climate. The team will consider the existing architecture, views from everyday viewports, and other elements to make your dream landscape a reality.
Landscaping can also create privacy with a fence, hedge, or trees that provide a barrier between your yard and the neighbor’s property. A pond, waterfall, or other water feature is another way to add a little extra ambiance.
Using a full-service company that has design, installation, and maintenance divisions is the best way to ensure your landscape will thrive and to cut down on possible mistakes, irrigation repairs, and lighting wire cuts that can be made by other landscape companies that may not know the history of your property. It also means that your company will have a record of the installation and can more easily keep up with your maintenance schedule in the future.
Materials
When you first start a landscaping business, you will need various materials. These can include hand tools like shovels, gardening gloves, trowels, and specialized equipment such as lawnmowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers, and power mowers. You will also need larger vehicles to transport the heavier equipment.
Ensuring your landscapers have the appropriate licensing and insurance coverage before they begin working on a project is essential. It will protect you if they damage a customer’s property or are responsible for injuring a customer or employee.
It’s also important to consider the climate when choosing your plants and trees. For example, if you live in a desert climate, your landscaper should use tricky, beautiful species that withstand the intense sun and droughts. Plants like pine leaf penstemon and bunny-eared cactus are good options. They are not only attractive but can survive in the Arizona climate. Moreover, they only require a little watering.
Installation
Plenty goes into a landscaping project, whether a small plant installation and mulching to spruce up the front yard or an outdoor living area built in the backyard. Luckily, there are some precious things homeowners can do to prepare for their initial consultation with their landscape design/build professional.
Record all the physical site components that will inform the design process, such as existing vegetation, soils, topography, hydrology, aspect, and views to and from the property. Also, note any potential nuisances like noise, odors, and dust.
Consider the time of year that will be best to begin your landscaping project. Avoid landscaping during summer height when heat, dry conditions, and drought can hinder new plantings from establishing their root systems. Also, choose resource-efficient plants that thrive in your climate and reduce water usage and maintenance needs. It can be accomplished by selecting suitable species, consciously managing water use, and using eco-friendly hardscapes and preservatives.