When To Landscape Yourself, and When to Hire a Landscaping Contractor

Should You Hire a Landscape Contractor?

Knowing when to hire a landscaping contractor — and when to do landscape work yourself — isn't always clear.

For some homeowners, landscaping might seem like a no-brainer: Just go to the store, purchase a few plants, stick them in the ground, and water them.

For others, the prospect of doing any gardening or landscaping work may seem daunting, and they may have little idea where to begin.

In practice, the answer is often somewhere in the middle. In plenty of cases, you can probably get by doing the work on your own, and with friends and family — while in others, getting a professional to do the job is probably best.

Read on to learn a little more about when you can do it yourself, and when you might want to seek professional help.

DIY Landscaping Projects

There are a number of projects that you can almost certainly complete on your own, even if you're relatively inexperienced at landscaping. Of course, you can always higher a professional, but getting out there and doing some work independently can be personally satisfying and help build a connection to the land around you.

Basic Cleanup

Cleaning up your property typically must precede any substantial landscaping work, and luckily, that's usually something you can jump right into on your own. Raking up leaves, weeding, removing debris and large stones — these and other tasks are easy to do and can be a great way to start working on the land.

Just beware of irritating plants like poison oak — it's no fun to get started on a landscaping project and end up with a rash!

Simple Tree and Shrub Planting

Looking to brighten up your yard with a couple of trees or shrubs? Depending on the complexity of the job, there's a good chance you can do it yourself. It's important, of course, to be sure that whatever you're planting is suited to your climate. The USDA Plant Hardiness Map can help ensure you're planting something that can thrive where you live.

Another factor to consider is the size of the planting. Larger trees and shrubs are going to have larger and more complex root structures, which require extra excavation and preparation for planting. These plants will also cost more than smaller ones, and so it's important to be sure the job is done right. If you're in doubt, you might want to call a professional.

Planting Bulbs and Other Flowers

Simple flower gardening is also a good place to start for a property owner. Bulbs are easy to plant, often requiring little more than digging a small hole and sticking them in. They can provide attractive color for years.

Likewise, preparing earth and seeding flowers can also typically be done on your own. It's a fun way to experiment and explore what works well on your property.

Projects for a Landscaping Contractor

Despite your best efforts and ambitions, in some cases, it is best to bring in a professional. This doesn't necessarily mean you're not up to the job. Sometimes, more substantial excavating or other equipment is called for. In other cases, if you're dealing with expensive materials, you may get more bang for your buck by bringing in a pro.

Working With Uneven Earth

Terracing gardens, as well as planting on hilly or sloped land, can be a real challenge. In such cases, it may be best to bring in a professional. For one thing, excavating properly on a hillside takes some work (and sometimes machinery). If things go wrong, you might find yourself dealing with significant erosion, or even weakening the foundation of a given structure. In general, it's best not to take that chance.

Building Complex Plant Beds

Building a small bed or container garden is usually a pretty reasonable task you can do on your own. But if the project is large, totally new, and has the goal of including a wide array of plants as part of a substantial landscape design, it's probably best to get a professional. Professional landscapers can take a long-term look at a particular planting area and assess what will work, how different plants can complement each other seasonally, and how much space plants will need down the road.

Landscaping Near Structures

It's always important to be extra careful when doing landscaping work near an established structure. It may not always be clear where the foundation is — and you also might not realize the way a growing plant can damage the structure down the road. While planting around buildings can provide a nice aesthetic touch, it's usually best to bring in a professional to make sure everything stays safe and secure.

Contact a Santa Rosa Based Landscaping Contractor

If you're set to embark on a substantial landscaping project, a professional landscaping contractor can only help. To discuss the particularities of your landscaping project and learn how a professional might be of service, contact Canepa Landscaping.