01
Know who they are
- Business identity & trading history
- Relevant landscaping experience
LANDSCAPER GUIDE
How to check a landscaperbefore you hire.
Practical guidance on groundworks, drainage, materials, permissions, waste and the written scope behind a lasting outdoor project.
Check a landscaperAt a glance
For landscaping work, pay particular attention to:
02
Check site responsibilities
- Insurance & site responsibilities
- Planning, boundaries & permissions
- Waste removal & carrier registration
03
Understand what sits underneath
- Design, levels, drainage & materials
- Payment structure
04
Plan for completion & aftercare
- Completion, planting & maintenance
- Written agreement
What to verify
The essentials at a glance.
Open any area to see the detailed checks, questions to ask and what good looks like.
Practical conversations
Questions worth asking
Resolve the responsibilities, assumptions and practical details that matter before work begins.
How will levels and drainage work?
Resolve this point before work begins.
Are boundaries clear?
Resolve this point before work begins.
Who removes and disposes of waste?
Resolve this point before work begins.
What sub-base / ground preparation is included?
Resolve this point before work begins.
What materials and grades are specified?
Resolve this point before work begins.
How are unforeseen ground conditions handled?
Resolve this point before work begins.
Look for a coherent pattern
Evidence that supports confidence
Look for several consistent signals rather than relying on any one claim or profile.
- Relevant hard / soft landscaping experience
- Clear groundworks / drainage specification
- Current insurance
- Responsible waste arrangements
Resolve uncertainty
Things worth investigating
Not automatic failures — prompts to look more closely.
- Drainage left vague
- No ground-preparation detail
- Boundary / planning issues dismissed
- Unclear waste disposal
Protect the project
Before you agree the work
Turn the check into a clear project agreement.
Clarify levels and drainage before work begins.
Clarify materials / sub-base before work begins.
Clarify waste responsibility before work begins.
Clarify aftercare and snagging before work begins.
Useful answers
Landscaper hiring FAQs
Straightforward answers to common questions about hiring a landscaper.
Does a landscaper need a licence?
There is no single licence every landscaper must hold. Specific activities can bring separate requirements, such as waste-carrier registration, planning / tree controls or specialist work.
Should I check waste-carrier registration?
Where the contractor is transporting waste and registration is required, it is a useful check. Registration arrangements differ across UK nations.
Check before you commit
Ready to check this landscaper?
Check the landscaper's details and get a clearer view of the evidence before you commit.