Why Hire A Landscaper? 9 Really Good Reasons.

by Ben Bowen

You know your current landscape is lousy. It looks tired, takes a ton of work (and chemicals and water) to keep it looking that way. You would love to really use your outdoor space but right now it is just a bunch of lawn, bark dust, and evergreens.

What should you do when you need a new landscape?

You could DIY and you might even be happy with the results. However, there are some really good reasons to hire a design-build landscape company to do the work for you. In fact I can think of at least...

low voltage lighting by landscape contractor


9 Reasons To Hire A Landscape Company


  1. Save time. It can take months for you to decide what to do, figure out where to get all the materials, and then install a new landscape (this assumes you are busy doing things like working and taking care of your family). Get the landscape you want more quickly by working with a professional. You do what you do best and rely on your landscaper to do what they do best.

  2. Save your body. Landscaping is very hard work. I am sure you could do it, but there will usually be blisters and sore muscles to deal with.

  3. Narrow your options. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all the ideas on Pinterest, Houzz, Dwell, etc. Many landscape design concepts look amazing on social media but are not realistic for most people’s landscapes. Your landscape designer will know which ideas are good ideas for your landscape.

  4. Save money. This is a maybe, not a guarantee. A skilled designer should come up with a plan that will save you money on water, maintenance, and eventual upgrades. Doing something right the first time is usually a wise investment.

  5. Follow up. A licensed landscape contractor will stand behind your landscape installation, usually with a warranty that is at least 1 year (maybe quite a bit longer). Pick wisely and you will be happy to do multiple phases of improvement over the course of many years with the same contractor.

  6. Better plant choices. Portland weather and soil can keep thousands of plants happy. Picking from online lists, or even worse, from the random selection at your neighborhood nursery is likely to result in some poor choices. Rely on the local expertise your designer or installer has and you will get plants that work well together and love your location.

  7. Expand your horizons. This may seem to conflict with #3, but doesn’t really. There are awesome landscape concepts that you probably haven’t thought of. Your designer can push you in unexpected directions, to the benefit of your garden.

  8. Support local business. The vast majority of landscapers are small local companies. Sure, there are a couple national behemoths out there, but they don’t work on average city lots (mostly they do commercial and government maintenance). When you hire a landscaper your money stays local.

  9. Efficiency. This is easily overlooked, but most DIY irrigation systems are not water-wise. Skilled landscape technicians understand how to use high efficiency rotator nozzles, where a drip system is appropriate, and what kind of smart irrigation timer to install. Relying on their knowledge and experience will pay dividends for decades.

Are these the only good reasons to hire a landscaper? Of course not, but I think they are some of the best. If you are ready to get on the road to a new landscape contact Ross NW Watergardens for a free landscape consultation today!