Who this guide is for
- Homeowners hosting a landscaper for a first visit
- People who want clear, specific advice from the visit
- Anyone unsure what to prepare beforehand
- Owners with drainage or access issues to flag
Clarify your priorities and how you use the garden
Before the visit, decide how you want to use the garden and what matters most. Sharing your priorities helps the landscaper focus on what will make the biggest difference.
Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves.
- Note how you want to use the garden
- List your top priorities
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
- Mention who uses the space
Note drainage and ground observations
If parts of the garden stay wet, flood or drain poorly, note where and when. These observations help the landscaper plan and flag where technical input is needed.
Observe and document; leave drainage solutions to professionals.
- Note where water collects
- Flag areas that stay wet
- Mention any slope or level issues
- Document rather than diagnose
Gather inspiration
A few inspiration images give the landscaper a sense of the style and features you like. Clear references make the conversation more concrete.
Note features you definitely want or want to avoid.
Sort out access details
Landscaping often needs machinery and materials brought in, so access matters. Note how the garden is reached, any narrow points and where deliveries could go.
Flagging access early avoids surprises later.
- Note how the garden is accessed
- Flag narrow or awkward access points
- Identify where deliveries could go
- Mention any parking constraints
Prepare questions and constraints
Have your questions ready and note any constraints — boundaries, services, things that must stay. The more the landscaper knows, the better the advice.
Note your priorities so trade-offs are easier to discuss.
Hiring checklist
- 1Note how you want to use the garden
- 2List your top priorities
- 3Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves
- 4Note where water collects or stays wet
- 5Gather a few inspiration images
- 6List features to keep and to avoid
- 7Note how the garden is accessed
- 8Flag narrow access and delivery points
- 9Write down your key questions
- 10Note boundaries, services and constraints
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not deciding your priorities before the visit
- Forgetting to flag drainage and wet areas
- Bringing no inspiration so style is hard to gauge
- Overlooking access for machinery and deliveries
- Trying to diagnose drainage rather than describing it
- Leaving without asking the questions that matter to you
When to involve a professional
- Leave drainage, retaining and lighting electrics to qualified professionals
- Share ground and drainage observations, not solutions
- Ask the landscaper about relevant experience
- Confirm boundary ownership before discussing fixed features
- Remember technical and boundary requirements vary by location and project
Frequently asked questions
Questions readers ask about this topic
What should I prepare for a landscaper visit?
Have your priorities and how you use the garden, drainage and ground observations, a few inspiration images, and access details ready. The more the landscaper knows, the better and more specific their advice on the visit.
Should I mention drainage problems?
Yes — note where water collects, floods or drains poorly, and when. These observations help the landscaper plan and flag where technical input is needed, but leave the actual drainage solutions to qualified professionals.
Why does access matter?
Landscaping often needs machinery and materials brought in, so how the garden is reached, any narrow points and where deliveries could go all affect the work. Flagging access early avoids surprises later.
What else should I have ready?
Have your questions ready and note any constraints — boundaries, services and things that must stay. Confirming boundary ownership before discussing fixed features helps, and requirements vary by location and project.
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