Your yard is a critical piece of your home. It’s where kids play, where you host friends for barbecues and parties, and where the whole family relaxes on sunny weekends. And your yard can also add to your home’s value.
A great yard increases the value and worth of your home – and that’s important whether you’re looking to sell or simply upgrade your property. Landscaping, which includes the design of your yard and all the plants in it, can completely change the look and feel of your home too.
But trying to landscape your own yard isn’t easy. And when you try to hire a professional to tackle the job, it can be hard to figure out who’s the best for your yard’s needs. What kind of professional do you need?
Here are the three main types of landscaping experts, and how each one is unique.
Landscaper
The Job: Landscapers do the physical work of creating the yard of your dreams. They handle tasks like planting, removing or modifying plants, and putting down sod or a new lawn. A landscaper can plant trees or flowers, replace existing plants, and even create new planting beds. Some landscapers do offer maintenance services too, meaning they’ll mow your yard, fertilize plants, and even rake leaves.
Hire a Landscaper For: Planting, soil, or lawn needs, as well as regular maintenance. You’ll want to have an idea or plan already in place for the design and layout of your yard. Then, a landscaper can plant any plants where you’d like them or perform other tasks like plant removal.
Landscape Designer
The Job: Landscape designers are experts in horticulture or plants, often with nursery and design experience in their background. These professionals will design a landscape specifically for your home, drawing up a blueprint for your yard and recommending the optimal placement for each type of plant, fixture, or other features. Landscape designers will ensure you plant the right plants in the right places, helping avoid expensive mistakes.
Hire a Landscape Designer For: Designing a landscaped yard from scratch. Landscape designers are especially helpful if you aren’t sure what to do with your yard. You don’t need to have any knowledge at all – your landscape designer will be able to create blueprints and make recommendations.
Landscape Architect
The Job: Landscape architects are the most advanced landscaping experts. These professionals handle very complicated or complex landscaping challenges. For example, a landscape architect can restructure your yard, dig up the entire yard, or work on larger residential jobs. These professionals typically have specialized education and training to be able to handle custom projects that need engineering, planning, and surveying.
Hire a Landscape Architect For: If you aren’t sure what you want, or if you’re considering big landscaping changes. A landscape architect can handle ideas like changing the lay of the land, altering the shape and slope of your yard, or even complex redesigns. Any project that requires more in-depth planning and advice than placing plants or designing the placement of current fixtures needs a landscape architect.
Find the Best Local Professionals Online
Now that you know what different types of landscaping professionals exist, you’ll have an easier time narrowing down your options. Before you begin searching for the right person or team for your yard, you can decide which one is best suited for your tasks. Do you need someone to help you plant seasonal flowers? Or are you seeking someone who can help you overhaul your entire yard?
No matter the project on your plate, you can create the perfect yard with the help of a local landscaping professional. And a professional’s help can ensure you add value and curb appeal to your home in the process. There’s no better way to make sure you’re making a smart investment than by enlisting the help of an expert.
To find top-rated landscaping professionals in your local area, you’ll want to search online. It’s the easiest way to find local companies and compare them all to one another. You can search for specific types of landscapers – or landscape designers and landscape architects – and look at their pricing and past work. With an online search, you’ll also find that many landscaping pros offer free quotes or consultations. Take advantage of these benefits to get the yard you’ve always wanted!
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