Landscape maintenance

Why hire a professional landscape contractor?

There are plenty of landscape contractors to choose from if you need professional landscaping services. Some are very good and some are not so good and it can be a daunting task knowing how to choose the company that is right for you. You do want a legal, legitimate professional landscape contractor working on your property for many reasons. Your property is the largest investment you have, so why would you leave it to unprofessional, uninsured, and unlicensed amateurs? You would certainly make sure your electrician, your plumber, and your other contractors were properly insured and qualified, so make sure your Landscape contractor is a Professional too? ASK TO SEE THEIR INSURANCE. Did you know that if someone is working on your property and they are not insured - if they get hurt you are personally liable.

What to look for when hiring a Landscape Professional.

1. Don't hire someone because they're inexpensive. This is probably the most costly mistake a consumer makes. When confronted by an inexpensive price, ask to see a breakdown of how they came up with the price. In many cases, they didn’t even calculate a price, but used a linear measurement cost or took a calculated guess. After this initial review, you will probably understand why their rates are low. Remember, Cheaper isn’t Better.
CHEAPER COULD BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE LONG RUN.

  1. 2. Get a written estimate, which says exactly what they are going to do.

3. Ask about the following business information:

  • . HST Registration Number or Registry of Joint Stock Number
  • . Liability Insurance / Workman's Compensation

4. You should also:
Ask for references
Review their portfolio and consider the contractor’s experience, design style and testimonials.
Ensure your contractor follows Landscape Nova Scotia’s specifications.
Membership in a recognized provincial organization means that the company is taking steps to stay current and informed in their chosen field. Ask if they belong to Landscape Nova Scotia, and ask to see their current membership card.














Why are there such great differences in quoted prices between companies?

To call yourself a landscape contractor requires no recognized formal qualifications, however today your landscaper needs to be skilled in many varied disciplines, requiring a broad spectrum of knowledge in landscape hardscape, environmental horticulture, soils, plants and trees, site grading, garden structures and a passion for what he/she is creating. Our staff are some of the best landscape professionals in the business. Most have diplomas or degrees in Landscape Horticulture and Landscape Tech. Our crews are kept up to date with the latest new products and trends and have close relationships with our landscape suppliers. Groundcover Landscape has been proactive in Industry training and we are proud to employ well trained, qualified staff with the skills and knowledge to undertake your project confidently and make it a pleasant experience. The firm that you contract to either maintain your landscape or carry out a landscape installation has to demonstrate clearly, its ability to do so and the cost at the end of the day is well worth it.

Are estimates free?

Yes, our estimates are free, however you will need to know what you want so we can estimate the price. If you have no idea what you want or need some guidance, then you can utilize our professionals to consult with you at an hourly rate.

How much will my landscaping cost?

Landscaping should be budgeted like any other project and will cost as little or as much as you want to spend. We calculate the cost of your project based on the choice of materials and the labour and equipment required to install it.
Our labour rates are $60 an hour per crew person assigned. Most of our projects require a team of three, including a foreman with two skilled landscape technicians and a truck and tools, so would be budgeted and calculated at $1,800 per day.
Many of our projects will require heavy equipment and our hourly rates with a skilled operator are budgeted and calculated as follows -
Caterpillar 303 Excavator – $85 per hour
Bobcat MT55 Loader – $60 per hour
One Ton Dump Truck – $65 per pick-up and delivery
Five Ton Dump Truck – $75 per pick-up and delivery

There are 3 ABC’s to think about.
A. Best Quality
B. Best Service
C. Best Price
When comparing quotations, you shouldn’t expect the lowest price from the company that will accomplish the highest quality with the finest long lasting results.

Pick 2 because you can’t have all three!