How to choose right
Landscape Contractor or Design?
As
you drive through subdivisions you see places being landscaped by
professionals. Now comes the question. Are those Landscapers truly
professionals?
There
is a problem is in the industry. Some guy, buys or leases himself a truck,
decides to cut grass for customers, than pays the membership fee to
Landscape Ontario, gets stickers for his truck and suddenly he is a
professional. Be aware of such fly by night “Landscapers”.
Usually when something turns wrong, you never see them again, or they do
repairs, just to make you happy but it is not really repaired well.
Usually it is just quick fix. Next year you have bigger problem and
“Landscaper” is long gone, or too bad, guarantee is over. Isn’t that
a heart braking? You paid for it and now you have to pay again to have it
repaired or removed.
Landscaping
is an investment;
it is wise to check carefully how you invest your money and what will be
final appearance.
Good
landscaping with tasteful design does upgrade your house. You may invest
$ 7 000.00 and your house will gain in resale value $ 12- 15 000.00
or more. $ 20 000.00 investment can upgrade value $ 30 000.00-50 000.00 or
more. Poor or unsuitable design for your type of house can degrade value
of your house. You can ask for financing at the Bank or your chosen
Landscaping Company may have a payment plan available.
How
to protect your self? Best
thing is, get informed, look through books and magazines, and see
your neighborhood. Always choose landscaping company if owner or operator
can show you his own place. At the same time you will see from where he
is operating his business (or quality of work) and in case something
turns wrong you know where to find him. Also that he is not operating his
business from his truck and mobile phone only. Check with Chamber of
Commerce in the area, how long he is a member and in business. Speak with
his previous customers from last year and many years before. If you
find everything satisfactory, you are on the right track.
Do
you have right design for your house? I mentioned previously – get
informed! Here are a few tips on what to watch for, or what could go wrong
in the design. Reject any contractor who comes with these types of ideas. Most
common mistake is over planting. Students, who work for garden
centers, usually do such design in order to sell more plants to you and
design is very cheep. You get what you pay for. You would like some stones
in your garden? Oh yes, they are nice and give your house a special look.
If you get stones for front of your house any smaller than 2’ you are
just degrading your house. Size of stones should be in scale with your
house. Style and color of the stones is important. Stones are creations of
nature so they have to be arranged in the form of nature. Never place
the stones in the row. This is a very bad mistake. If you do
not want big rockery, stones could be arranged in groups 3pc + 1pc or 5ps
+ 3pc + 1pc. Never place the stone, plant, stone, and plant and so on. If
you want rockery, never use main stones smaller than 2’. If you
do, you will never stop weeding and plants will soon cover your
mini-stones with weeds nicely crawled over. Trees can be used as
screen for privacy or wind protection. Never plant trees in the row,
unless you want to create alley of the trees by your driveway
and than choose only suitable for this purpose, which are Maples,
Lindens, Honey Locusts, Ash and other deciduous and stately shaped trees,
never Birch, Aspen, Spruce, Pine, Fir …these trees can be planted in
groups for privacy and beauty. Just look around and you will be able to
recognize some mistakes already, if it is your garden, it can be
reorganized and improved easily.
Shrubs
are very decorative articles in the garden. Do not plant sampler patch.
It looks messy. Use some plants as uniform basics
and add some others for contrast. For good arrangement it needs to have a
gift and talent to accomplish elegant look. You specially
need to be choosier for the front yard. Entrance should be inviting and
interesting, elegant and suitable for your house..
Waterfalls are in demand and for the right reason; sound of water
in the garden is very relaxing. To build a nice looking waterfall,
is an art,
choose the experienced artist. Solid foundation and right sound
of water is important. If you want a
waterfall, it should look as natural as possible, unless you want just
sound of water and architectural or sophisticated look, made of
This
is just brief sample of helpful information to consider, before you make
your investment. If you need some more
information or you need help with your gardening needs, please call us.
