Here are steps that will help you as you move forward in choosing a landscaping service.

1. Define Your Needs and Your Budget

   Are you looking for someone to just help you with the mowing of your lawn and weeding twice a month or are you looking at replacing a cracked walkway or replace your lawn completely? Or are you ready to act on your latest and greatest landscaping inspiration and totally level your existing yard in favor of your new ideas. Know in advance what you want to do, and "why" you want to do it. Also, clearly define your budget. Unless you're rolling in dough and money is no object, you need to draw a line in the sand and do your absolute best to stick to it. It's very easy to start a project with a certain figure in mind and have that balloon to an astronomical number as you talk with a designer or professional landscaper. Also find out what method of payment they accept.

    

2. Do Some Inspirational Research

   If you haven't already done it, spend some time looking through various landscape design books at your library or purchase some to browse through. Take time to drive around your neighborhood and check out what your neighbors have done in their yards. Look at layouts, color combinations, walkway and driveway patterns, types of trees and flowers, etc. You may think you know exactly what you want but the more you see, the more research you do, the more comfortable you will feel with your final decision moving forward.

    

3. Roughly Plan Your Timeline

   Once you find a landscaper, they may be busy two weeks out, six weeks out, or six months out. Their schedule needs to coincide with your schedule. If you're using multiple services, i.e. a designer and an installer, and you're doing the sub-contracting, there are multiple schedules you will need to juggle.

   Ideally, depending on where you live, you want to have the work done outside the rainy season so plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time. If you're planting new flower beds and foliage, you may want to find out when the best time of year to plant those items are and consider that in the equation as well. You don't want to rush things unless it's imperative, i.e. you need to sell your house within the next couple of months. That decision alone will will play a part in who you select as your landscaper. While everyone wants their projects finished as quickly as possible, patience and careful planning will clearly cause the least amount of stress.

   Lastly, find out how many other outside jobs they'll be working on at the same time they're doing your job. Ideally, you want them on your job from start to finish but sometimes this can't be helped. If they juggle too many jobs at once though, you may see them only a couple of days per week and the job could drag on for weeks, or worse...months. Express your concerns to them regarding delays.

    

4. Research Landscaping Services

   There are many ways to research landscapers...from online directories like this one, to the yellow pages, to asking friends and family. Over 40% of landscapers or services are chosen based on referrals. The second largest piece of research pie is done via the Internet (a close second), with the yellow pages and direct mail a distant third. Wherever you begin, it's important that you shop around.