How to Choose a Landscape Gardener: Key Tips for Finding the Right Professional
How to choose the right landscape gardener for my project? It seems like an obvious question, but the correct answer lies deeper than a convincing advert. In an ideal world, you would use a known and recommended tradesman whose work you have seen and liked, but this is not always an option.
Whether you’re planning a complete redesign, a simple planting project, or ongoing maintenance, selecting a skilled and trustworthy professional is essential. With so many landscapers available, it can be challenging to know who to hire.
At Heath Landscapes & Garden Design, we specialise in creating bespoke outdoor spaces that combine style, functionality, and lasting quality. We have many years of experience and are a leading landscaping company in the region, so we know what makes a good landscape gardener very well.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to choose a landscape gardener with confidence, covering everything from checking credentials and reviewing past work to understanding quotes and communication. By following these tips, you can ensure your garden project is in capable hands and achieves the results you envision.
How To Choose A Landscape Gardener
When looking for the right landscape gardener, it’s important to know what to check and consider before making a decision.
From qualifications and experience to previous projects and client reviews, paying attention to these key factors will help you choose a professional who can bring your garden vision to life.
1) Reviewing Past Work: Portfolio, Reviews and References
When searching for how to choose a landscape gardener, you cannot avoid portfolios. Portfolios and past projects are a way for landscaping professionals to demonstrate their skills, experience, and the kind of work they do.
Portfolios are a great way to not only see whether a company is skilled, but also whether they can provide the kind of garden design or service you desire. When looking through their previous work, make sure it is in line with the type of design you want. If the photos are only of small patios and fence repairs, it could be that the company are not right to take on a large-scale build, and you will need to look elsewhere.
2) Credentials, Insurance and Professionalism
To determine whether a landscape gardener is suitable for your project, you also need to look into their credentials and overall professionalism.
Consider questions such as:
- Do they talk knowledgeably about their trade?
- Can they advise on all aspects of the job layout, design, construction process and materials and more?
- Can they put forward ideas and solutions?
It is vital that your landscape gardener is not only skilled, but certified and has experience working with the specific conditions of the region. This is one of the best benefits of working with local garden designers, as we share in our post Why Choose A Local Garden Designer?
When assessing their credentials and skills, look into the quote they provide. This can be a great demonstration of their professionalism and commitment to the work. At this stage, you should also make sure that when the quote is received, detailed, clear and the job specifications are laid out appropriately.
3) Communication and Customer Service: Do They Care?
This is almost as important as the work they carry out. If you are working for someone, you have to care about the project, as this will encourage better work. A landscape gardener can demonstrate their interest in your project in various ways, as well as their interest in the work as a whole.
While our landscapers at Heath Landscapes & Garden Design do this work for a living, we are also passionate about what we do. We take garden design and landscaping very seriously, offering comprehensive and bespoke solutions to our clients.
This encourages us to do the best job possible. Building on both our portfolio and knowledge of our trade is always the priority, even if this means reducing profit margins.
To understand how much support our passionate team provides, see our post The Ultimate Guide to Garden Design: Concepts, Costs, and Construction. We provide a comprehensive solution to garden design and are always interested in expanding our skills in this area.
4) Pricing, Scope and What’s Included
We emphasise the correct price rather than a low price. If you want a high-end job, then you have to expect to pay more in order to get the outcome you want.
Garden makeovers, paving installations, and planting expertise are investments, and you should budget according. Be wary of landscape gardeners who claim to offer low prices; if it seems too good to be true, then it usually is. Most landscaping professionals, like our team, can accommodate varying budgets through customisation, material choices and personal care.
To learn more about our costs and what you can expect, see our post How Much Does A Garden Makeover Cost?
Beware of Very Cheap Quotes & Avoid Haggling
Although it may seem tempting, it would never be advised to ask a tradesman to reduce their prices. A price drop invariably means a drop in quality. That said, there is nothing wrong with asking if there is a way to adapt the job to come within budget.
At Heath Landscapes & Garden Design, we pride ourselves on a design-to-budget service where we find a way to deliver the best garden possible for your needs.
There are usually compromises that can be made where you still receive a great job and the tradesman can earn a living. On the other hand, a straight price drop with no compromise on the customer’s part leads to an unhappy tradesman working on your project and potentially standards dropping and corners being cut.
5) Making Your Decision
Sometimes what’s most important is that you feel comfortable with the contractor. This person and their team are potentially going to be in your garden for weeks or even months; therefore, you need someone you can trust, someone who makes you feel confident, and someone who makes you feel like your job is important to them.
Most importantly, you need someone who will carry out the job to the highest standard.
Conclusion
Knowing how to choose a landscape gardener is essential to ensure your garden project is completed to the highest standard. By carefully checking credentials, reviewing past work, understanding quotes, and assessing communication skills, you can select a professional who meets your needs and vision.
Taking the time to make an informed choice will help you create a beautiful, functional outdoor space that you can enjoy for years to come. Get recommendations if possible; view photos, but also ask to see the work in person for the clearest image of what the company can provide.
If the tradesman doesn’t make you feel confident and at ease, then seek another one. Likewise, don’t pick the lowest price because it’s the cheapest, but rather pick the tradesman who best ticks all the boxes.
Contact Us Today
If you would like to discuss your next garden design and landscaping project with us then please contact us today for more information.
FAQs
What credentials should I check when hiring a landscape gardener?
When you contact a gardener or landscaper, always check they have public liability insurance, to protect both your property and them in case of accidents, and appropriate experience with projects similar to yours. Relevant qualifications or a history of previous work are also good indicators of reliability.
How many quotes should I get before choosing a landscape gardener?
It’s wise to request at least two to three quotes so you can compare the scope of work, materials, labour costs and any additional services offered. This helps ensure you’re comparing like‑for‑like and not just the lowest price, but also quality and clarity.
Why is checking a gardener’s previous work and references important?
A portfolio of past projects lets you see the gardener’s style, craftsmanship, and whether they have experience with projects like yours. Talking to references or reading reviews helps you understand not just the end result but also reliability, communication, and how the gardener handles unexpected issues.
