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 Houston landscapers offer a full range of services including consultation, landscape design, installation and landscape maintenance. Landscapers usually specialize in one or more areas and subcontract related installation elements such as outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, water fountains, other outdoor fireplaces, arbors, and landscape lighting.
Getting Started With a Houston Landscaper
When contemplating hiring a landscaper, you typically begin with an initial meeting with them where you have an opportunity to discuss the overall design intent, program elements, the garden design approach, the overall aesthetics, and your personal landscape ideas, needs, likes and dislikes. The next meeting may include landscape designs, landscape plans and cost estimates. In providing landscape services, a professional should work patiently to help you define the scope of your landscape project, project phasing, scheduling, selection of all materials and construction methods, and final cost.
Once you have approved the landscape design, your landscaper is ready to begin installation. As mentioned earlier, many landscapers act as a “general contractor” and oversee the entire landscape installation, including drainage systems, irrigation systems and hardscape elements. The fees for these services are charged as a percentage of the total job cost to cover the project administration and management.
During the landscape installation phase, Houston landscapers will usually include all plant materials and subcontracted elements in their total project price. Once the irrigation and lighting contractors finish their work, the planting can be completed by putting in all shrubs, groundcover, and seasonal color. After this step, mulching and cleanup commence. Then the irrigation and lighting contractors return for their final adjustments.
During the implementation the importance of tree preservation and tree protection must be emphasized. Pre-construction activities include protective tree fencing, borer applications on sensitive trees, temporary drainage and elevated bridges to protect tree roots. Proper grading and soil preparation around large trees is another delicate issue. The foresight to understand the impact of changing grades on mature trees is crucial, so make sure your landscaper is well versed in this area of expertise.
Finally, landscape maintenance is one of the most important ongoing services to insure that your garden design develops into a mature and beautiful outdoor environment. Whether its residential landscape maintenance or commercial landscape maintenance, contracts include proper trimming of plant material and mowing of all lawn areas. Houston landscapers should have a methodical feeding program that boosts the varying plant health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants. Water management through continual inspection of the irrigation controller, heads, and seasonal watering times is the foundation for lawn, shrub and tree health. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of a complete and continually proactive maintenance program.
A Word to the Wise
It should be noted that some homeowners want to act as general contractors for their landscaping projects in order to conserve capital. Sadly, this choice can lead to some real casualties during the project. Difficulties can arise from the misunderstanding of trade terminology, scheduling demands and coordination issues, selection of materials, installation techniques, material availability and construction techniques. A subcontractor will respond much better to a seasoned general contractor who understands the work and with whom they have a good relationship based on past experience. The best landscapers in Houston have years of experience to make sure the end results exceed your expectations.
If you are interested Houston landscapers, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high-end residential landscape services and garden design services discussed above for the Memorial villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255
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