Design & Ideas · February 4, 2025
What Should I Ask Before Hiring a Landscape Designer?
Updated May 30, 2026
The right questions up front save you money and headaches later. Here is what to ask any landscape designer or design-build contractor before you sign.
AI-generated audio summary. For the full detail, read on.
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
This is the first filter. In California, landscape construction work should be done by a C-27 licensed contractor who carries bonding and liability insurance. Ask for the license number and verify it — it protects you if something goes wrong.
Do you design and build, or just design?
A design-only firm hands your plan to a separate contractor, which can create gaps and finger-pointing. A design-build landscaper owns the whole project — design through installation — so there is one accountable team. Know which model you are hiring.
Can I see recent local projects and references?
Ask to see completed projects similar to yours, ideally in your area, and request references you can actually call. Real local work tells you far more than a generic portfolio.
How do you handle estimates and changes?
You want a clear, itemized estimate up front and a defined process for any changes once work begins. Vague, lump-sum quotes are where budgets go sideways.
What warranty do you offer?
A confident contractor backs the work. Ask what is warrantied and for how long — we back our work with a one-year warranty on parts and labor, for example.
Still deciding?
If you are weighing a designer, an architect, or a design-build landscaper, our guide to landscape designer vs. architect breaks down which one most homeowners actually need. Or get a free consultation and we will walk you through it.
Watch & Learn
The Top 5 Questions You Should Ask a Landscape Designer
A clear explainer on the subject, from Better Homes & Gardens.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a landscaper before hiring them?
Confirm they are licensed, bonded, and insured; ask whether they design and build or only design; request recent local projects and references; insist on a clear, itemized estimate and how changes are handled; and ask what warranty they offer. Vague answers are a red flag.
How do I verify a landscaper's license in California?
Ask for their license number and check it on the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website. Landscape construction should be done by a C-27 licensed contractor who is bonded and insured.
Should I hire a design-only firm or a design-build landscaper?
A design-only firm hands your plan to a separate contractor, which can create gaps. A design-build landscaper owns the whole project — design through installation — so there is one accountable team and the plan you approve is what gets built.
Have a project in mind?
Get a free, no-obligation consultation with the All Seasons team.
