9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscape Contractor

9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscape Contractor

Creating your dream garden is an exciting journey, but it’s not without its pitfalls. Many homeowners unknowingly make mistakes that lead to delays, wasted money, or results that don’t quite live up to their expectations. In this post, we’ll cover the 9 most common mistakes homeowners make when hiring a landscape contractor and how to avoid them. Let’s dive in!

1. Falling into the “Accountability Dead Zone”

One of the biggest mistakes is hiring separate companies for the design and build phases of your garden. While it might seem logical to split the “artistry” from the construction, this often creates an accountability gap. If something goes wrong, the designer may blame the contractor and vice versa, leaving you stuck in the middle.

How to avoid it: Choose a contractor who offers a combined design-and-build service. This ensures seamless communication and keeps accountability in one place.

2. Over-Designing Without Considering Functionality

It’s easy to get swept up in grand ideas for your garden – from waterfalls and sculptures to pizza ovens and hot tubs. While these features look amazing on paper, they might not fit your lifestyle or space.

How to avoid it: Balance beauty with practicality. Think about how you’ll use the garden daily. Will it meet your needs? Is it easy to navigate? A well-designed garden combines aesthetics with functionality.

3. Ignoring Drainage and Rainwater Management

Rain can turn a poorly designed garden into a swamp. Without proper drainage, water pools in low areas, causing long-term damage.

How to avoid it: Conduct a site survey before construction begins to understand how water flows through your property. Your contractor should install adequate drainage solutions to keep your garden dry and functional, even during heavy rains.

4. Underestimating Maintenance Needs

A beautiful garden requires ongoing care. Many homeowners forget to factor in the time, effort, and cost of maintenance, leading to overgrown plants, dirty patios, and neglected features.

How to avoid it: Be realistic about your capacity for upkeep. If you’re not ready for high maintenance, opt for simpler designs and low-maintenance plants.

9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscape Contractor

5. Skimping on Site Preparation

A strong foundation is key to a long-lasting garden. Cutting corners on soil preparation, drainage, or base layers might save money initially but can lead to costly repairs later.

How to avoid it: Ensure your contractor prioritises thorough site preparation. Proper groundwork lays the foundation for a durable and thriving garden.

6. Poor Timing of Construction

Starting construction in the middle of summer might seem like a good idea, but it often leads to delays and disruptions—especially if you’re hoping to use the garden during peak season.

How to avoid it: Plan your project for the off-season (late autumn to early spring). This ensures your garden is ready to enjoy when the warm weather arrives.

7. Avoiding Budget Discussions

Budgeting can be uncomfortable, but avoiding the topic leads to mismatched expectations and wasted time. Falling in love with an elaborate design that’s outside your budget is a common pitfall.

How to avoid it: Be upfront about your budget from the start. This helps the contractor design within your financial limits, saving everyone time and frustration.

8. Forgetting to Budget for Maintenance

A well-designed garden isn’t a one-time investment. It requires ongoing care to keep it looking its best. Many homeowners overlook the need for a maintenance budget.

How to avoid it: Plan for aftercare from the beginning. Set aside a portion of your budget for maintenance tasks like pruning, cleaning, and irrigation system checks.

9. Hesitating to Start

Waiting too long to begin your landscaping project can be costly. Prices for materials and labor tend to rise over time, meaning delays could make your dream garden more expensive.

How to avoid it: Start planning as soon as possible. Even if you’re not ready to begin construction, locking in a design now can help you avoid future price increases.

9 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Landscape Contractor

In Conclusion

Designing and building a garden is a rewarding experience, but avoiding these common mistakes can save you time, money, and frustration. By planning ahead, working with a reliable contractor, and focusing on both design and functionality, you’ll set yourself up for success.

Whenever you’re ready, we’ll be happy to come along and help you plan your garden upgrade. To get one of the friendly design team to take the stress out of designing your garden click below.

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Jodie Fedorko

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Jodie Fedorko

Jodie Fedorko is a distinguished garden designer and horticulturist based in the United Kingdom. She gained national recognition in 2015 when, at the age of 21, she became the youngest designer to receive a Silver Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for her creation, "The Old Forge," an Artisan Garden for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

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