What’s landscaping?
Landscaping is a general term that describes the molding, manipulation, and deliberate reshaping of the land: flora, fauna, terrain, and elevation (or topography). Creating, enlarging, or lessening bodies of water like pools and ponds also falls under the description of landscaping. Structures like walls and fences can redefine garden borders and tiers or levels can transform steep lawns.
Detailed observation and knowledge of the environment in question contribute to the successful completion of landscaping construction.
Some popular materials include concrete, brick, stone, wood, and mulch.
What services can landscapers perform?
At the very least, landscapers deal with lawn and garden care. But they’ll be proud to tell you about their outdoor renovation capabilities, urban design, installation of vines, flower nurseries, architectural ornaments, and water fountain features.
Landscapers construct and maintain aesthetic and practical changes in the landscape. From small residential jobs to commercial and industrial jobs, these deft earth-manipulators are experienced pros when it comes to turning a steep slope into terraced lawns; unsightly, weeded, empty lots into green pastures; and boring lawns into idyllic gardens of flowers, pathways, and fountains.
They have to know about the soils and turf they’re working with; about the water table; about surveying; about construction; about site design and planning, weed and pest control.
Licensing
Some states require landscaping contractors to be licensed. Any person or company advertising or operating a landscaping business falls into this category. Additionally, any person or company using landscaping machines and equipment for commercial gain would need a license. Make sure you check whether your state requires a landscaping license before you hire a landscaping contractor. And make sure to inquire whether the contractor you want to use has an up-to-date license if it’s required.
Who should hire general landscapers?
Businesses sometimes sit at the back of a lawn or parking lot. Some parking lots have space for greenery, flowers, or architectural elements that hold plants. It improves the look of the business and can be much more inviting to patrons than a barren lot.
Think about the kinds of businesses you frequent. Do they have flowers or plants out front, or flowers in handsome ceramic containers that line the building’s exterior? Elements like this tend to be inviting simply because they are pretty. So, in other words, lots that are not tended to, or that don’t have an extra element of care, can actually repel customers.
And homes. Now here’s an obvious place that general landscaping contractors can spruce up. The lawn in front of your house can be thought of as a blank canvas. In fact, some simple changes can vastly improve its look and even increase the value of your property. Where you have a worn, cracked black asphalt walkway leading to the door, you could have a slightly wavy, terracotta or brick path leading to your front door. Beside this path, you could have a perennial flower garden that sits in rows of brick flower beds.
The pros and cons
Standard concrete is not eco-friendly. Concrete is made through a manufacturing process that is heavy on the carbon-dioxide emissions. If you prize the “green” over all else, you may find some landscaping contractors limited in the materials they offer.
Not every contractor is honest, despite apparent enthusiasm. Make sure you learn a good amount about the contractor’s experience and background. An inexperienced contractor can bring poor workmanship and heavy costs to the project.
Landscaping can add beauty to your property, but it might not necessarily be permanent beauty. Many elements that general landscaping provides are impermanent: Flower beds can grow weeds if not properly cared for; terraced lawns (that aren’t reinforced with masonry) can soon erode.
But also think of alternatives to standard concrete, like recycled concrete. Eco-friendly building possibilities like this could be available to you. Here’s another example: Most mulch and the timber used in standard landscaping is treated with toxins or artificial dyes. But some landscapers offer timber and mulch that use a more environmentally friendly ammonium copper quaternary treatment.
The bottom line
Some people aren’t happy with a boring lawn or a steep slope of grass. They want a fountain or a walkway, a patio lined with flower beds. General landscaping contractors can listen to your ideas. Then they can plan, design, and implement them.
