Landscaping quotes are easy to compare on price and hard to compare on substance, because the plant list and site prep rarely get the same attention the total price does.
What to look for
- A specific plant list with quantities and sizes (a "3-gallon" shrub and a "1-gallon" shrub of the same species are not the same price or the same look).
- Soil prep and grading — new plants in poor or uncorrected soil often fail within a season, regardless of how healthy they looked at install.
- Irrigation tie-in, if you have a sprinkler system — new beds need to actually connect to it, not just sit near it.
- A plant warranty — many landscapers offer a one-year replacement guarantee on plants that don't survive; if it's not mentioned, ask.
- Debris removal included in the price, not billed as an extra dump run afterward.
A note on maintenance
Some quotes include a maintenance visit or two after installation to catch early problems; others don't. It's worth asking, since new plantings often need a check-in that a one-time install doesn't cover.