What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Landscaper?

Ask these five questions, in this order, before you sign any landscape contract: (1) Can you email me a Certificate of Insurance for general liability AND workers' compensation? (2) Will the same crew be on my property every visit, or do you subcontract? (3) Can I get a written, fixed-price quote with scope and exclusions in writing? (4) What happens if something goes wrong after the install, and what is your warranty? (5) Can you give me three references from completed jobs in my zip code from the last 12 months? The answers separate professional landscapers from cheap operators in under five minutes.

We have heard the bad-hire stories from new customers all over DFW. Every one of them traces back to skipping one of these five questions. The list below is exactly what we tell our own friends and family to ask when they are vetting a landscaper, including when they are vetting us.

Key Takeaways

• These five questions take 5 minutes on a phone call. They save thousands in re-work.
• Most cheap operators flunk question #1 (insurance). That alone narrows the field by half.
• Subcontracted crews vary in quality and accountability. Knowing matters more than people think.
• Brand-new operators rarely have 3 local zip-code references from the last 12 months. Be wary of "we just started but we're great."
• See our full landscaper hiring guide for the broader framework.

Question 1: "Can You Email Me a Certificate of Insurance for General Liability AND Workers' Comp?"

This is the single most important question. A real landscaper will email you the COI from their broker the same day, name your property as additional insured if you ask, and tell you the broker's name so you can verify the policy is active.

Why both:

• General liability covers damage to your property: a crew member backs the trailer into your fence, drops a paver through your window, or kills a tree they were supposed to prune. Without GL, you are paying out of pocket.
• Workers' compensation covers crew injuries. Texas does not legally require it, which is exactly why low-bid operators skip it. If a crew member gets hurt on your property and the landscaper does not carry workers' comp, your homeowner's policy is the next stop.

The wrong answers:

• "We're a small operation, we don't need it."
• "I'll get you that next week."
• "Trust me, I've never had a problem."

Any of those, end the conversation. Move on to the next landscaper.

Question 2: "Will the Same Crew Be On My Property Every Visit, or Do You Subcontract?"

The honest answer ranges from "yes, the same W-2 employees every week" to "we use day-labor crews that change weekly." Both can work, but they are very different services.

In-house crews are more expensive and more accountable. The team that walks your property to estimate is the team that does the work. They learn your gate code, your irrigation controller, your dog's name. When something needs follow-up, the same supervisor handles it.

Subcontracted crews vary in quality, speak different languages, may rotate weekly, and often do not know what was promised on the original estimate. The cost is lower. The accountability is lower too.

The wrong answers:

• Evasive: "we have a great network of partners."
• Defensive: "what does that even matter?"

Ask the question, accept the answer, and decide if the model fits what you want.

Question 3: "Can I Get a Written, Fixed-Price Quote With Scope and Exclusions?"

Verbal pricing is the single biggest source of post-job arguments in landscaping. A real landscaper writes:

• Scope: what is included (e.g., "remove existing turf, grade and amend soil, install 1,200 sq ft of Palisades Zoysia, water-in, leave watering schedule")
• Exclusions: what is not included (e.g., "does not include sprinkler head replacement, fence repair, or tree removal")
• Price: a single fixed dollar amount, not "$X per hour" or "we'll see how it goes"
• Timeline: when the work starts and how many days it should take
• Payment terms: typically deposit on signing, balance on completion for larger jobs

The quote should be a one or two-page PDF or email document. You should have it within 48 hours of the on-site visit. If a landscaper resists writing things down, they are protecting their right to upcharge on the back end.

Day-rate pricing red flag: "We'll work for $X/day and you can see how it goes." This transfers all the risk to you. A two-day job suddenly becomes a four-day job because of "unexpected complications." Fixed price means the crew has skin in the game to finish properly.

Question 4: "What Happens If Something Goes Wrong After the Install? What Is Your Warranty?"

Stuff goes wrong. A section of sod does not root. A retaining wall settles unevenly. A flagstone walkway shifts after the first heavy rain. The question is not whether anything will ever go wrong. The question is how the landscaper handles it.

Real answers sound like:

• For sod: "If you follow the watering schedule we leave with you and a section does not root within 30 days, we come back and re-lay that section at no cost."
• For hardscape: "Workmanship warranty is one year. Materials carry the manufacturer's warranty (typically 5 to 25 years for pavers)."
• For landscape design: "If a plant we install does not take within 90 days, we replace it."

Fake answers sound like:

• "Yeah, we stand behind our work."
• "Just let us know if anything comes up."
• "We've never had any issues."

You want the warranty in writing on the quote. If a landscaper will not put a warranty on paper, they are not planning to honor it.

Question 5: "Can You Give Me Three References From Completed Jobs in My Zip Code From the Last 12 Months?"

Three is the magic number. One reference can be a family friend doing a favor. Three references force a track record.

Zip code matters because a landscaper who works mature Lakewood pecans is solving a different problem than a Frisco new-build crew. Local-to-you matters because they know your soil, your HOA, your watering rules, and your neighborhood.

Last 12 months matters because crews change, owners retire, business quality drifts. References from five years ago are not predictive.

When you call the reference, ask three things:

1. Was the work done on time?
2. Did the final price match the quote?
3. Would you hire the same crew again?

The third question gets the most honest answer because it is forward-looking. People who would not hire the crew again will tell you why.

If a landscaper cannot produce three local recent references, they are either brand-new (which has its own risk profile) or their existing customers will not vouch for them. Either way, you have more research to do.

DFW-Specific Bonus Questions

Once a landscaper passes the five gate questions above, the next layer of questions confirms they actually know North Texas landscaping:

• "How do you prep for our clay soil?" Right answer involves grading, amendment, and depth. Wrong answer is "we just lay it down."
• "What grass do you recommend for my specific yard, and why?" Right answer depends on sun, shade, and use. Wrong answer is the same grass for every yard.
• "Do you handle HOA approval paperwork?" Right answer is "yes, included in the estimate." Wrong answer is "you'll need to handle that yourself."
• "What is your service area?" Right answer is a tight cluster. Wrong answer is "everywhere in DFW plus Houston and Austin."

For more on how DFW-specific factors shape landscaping decisions, read our Complete DFW Landscaping Guide. It covers grass types, watering rules, soil prep, and the full seasonal calendar.

A Note About Pricing

You will probably notice that "what does it cost?" is not on this list. That is intentional. Price is the easiest thing to compare and the worst signal of quality. The lowest bid is almost always the lowest bid for a reason: cheaper materials, smaller crew, uninsured operators, skipped prep work. The most expensive bid is usually overpriced for what you get too.

The right question is not "how much?" It is "is this scope correct, the references real, the insurance valid, and the warranty in writing?" Once those are confirmed, the price question becomes manageable.

For honest ranges by service, see our DFW landscaping pricing guide. Real numbers, real cost drivers, no anchor pricing.

What Asking Us These Five Questions Looks Like

For the record, here is how we answer the same five questions every prospective customer:

1. Insurance: Yes. We email the COI within 24 hours of request, name your property as additional insured if asked, and carry both general liability and workers' compensation. Our broker is verifiable by phone.
2. Crew: In-house W-2 employees only. We do not subcontract our core services (sod, lawncare, hardscape, holiday lighting, landscape design). The crew that estimates your job is the crew that installs it.
3. Written quote: Yes. Fixed-price PDF emailed within 48 hours of the on-site visit. Scope, exclusions, timeline, and price all in writing.
4. Warranty: 30-day sod re-lay if you follow the watering schedule. 1-year workmanship warranty on hardscape. 90-day plant establishment warranty on landscape design installs. All in writing on the quote.
5. References: We will give you three names with phone numbers from completed DFW jobs in the last 90 days, weighted toward your zip code if possible.

Ready to put us through it? Request a free estimate and start asking. We answer the phone in person at 469-671-8467.