Finding The Right Landscape Maintenance Company

Whether you're thinking about your own home, or planning for large, commercial properties, the dead of winter, before the season starts,  is the best time to find the landscape maintenance company that meets your particular needs. In almost every community across the nation, there are dozens of landscape maintenance companies available  –  everything from small, local businesses to huge, nationally recognized names that offer a range of services. While it might seem overwhelming to sift through all of the options, finding the right company now can wind up saving you time, money and frustration in the future.

As you search for a landscape maintenance company, there are a few things to consider. First of all,

• What services do you require?  Are you just looking for basic mowing and edging, or do you want regular treatments to promote growth and to prevent insects and diseases too? Do you want tree and shrub trimming?  Seasonal color expertise?  Scheduled weeding and bed care?  Landscaping advice?  Sine each of these services requires a specific skill set that all companies may not have, it’s important for you, as the consumer, to know your needs upfront.

Once you’ve identified your priorities, then it’s time to closely examine the business possibilities in your area. As you look at each company, consider:

• Reputation  Look for a company that has an outstanding reputation in the local community as well as the industry. Read reviews, but also ask for recommendations from the company’s previous and current clients to get a sense of their performance and their customer’s satisfaction. Ask how long they have been in business.
• Service List  Check to see if the company routinely provides the services you require, or would they be “add-ons”.  How will they charge for the additional services? Do they have staff qualified to perform any requested add-ons, or will they need to hire outside contractors?
• Professional Qualifications  Ask if individual members of the staff are both trained and experienced in the services they provide.  Are chemical applicators licensed or working directly under a licensed applicator? Is their arborist licensed? Is there a horticulturist on staff to provide plant recommendations? A designer to enhance or to add to the existing landscape?
• Professionalism  Out of respect for their company, their work and your property, each employee should, on arrival, be clean, neat and fully uniformed.  At the end of the day, are work sites free of dirt and debris?  Are excess materials properly stored?
• Safety  Upholding stringent safety standards is one sign of a well-run company. Are crews trained in the appropriate use of any equipment they are asked to operate?  Is all machinery kept in proper working conditions to prevent avoidable accidents? Are the tools available to the workers the correct ones for the job?
• Industry Affiliations  Find out if  the company has active membership in local, state and national industry associations.  Do they intentionally seek out the best and newest information?
• Portfolio   Ask to see recent examples of the company’s work, especially in the service areas that are important to you. Do the images meet your expectations?
• Sustainability  Holding to environmentally sound practices demonstrates a concern for the planet that goes beyond profit. Instead of indiscriminate dumping of chemicals, does the company use a combination of treatment methods based on the newest research in soil science?
• Responsiveness  Having a contact person readily available to answer questions and listen to concerns is essential to an effective professional relationship. Does the company provide a specific individual who is responsible for managing your property's needs? 

For those seeking a landscape maintenance company in the Kansas City area, Embassy Landscape Group is a locally owned company that checks all the boxes. Established in 1979, Embassy has developed an outstanding reputation in the industry, winning multiple awards throughout the years in landscape design and maintenance. Assigning dedicated account managers to each property that Embassy maintains means that all clients receive the individualized attention  they deserve. Embassy's staff includes licensed technicians, trained horticulturists, professional designers and landscape architects, all with years of experience in the field.  In their quest for sustainability, Embassy was among the first in the area to adopt a Green Solution mentality. Rather than relying strictly on chemical treatments,  Embassy chooses to use a highly successful science based model that adds micronutrients and beneficial bacteria to enhance the health and productivity of the soil over the long-term. 

Hiring a landscape maintenance company can be as easy as dialing the phone, but hiring the right one takes time and effort. In the end though, finding the company that checks all the right boxes, offers real rewards in the end  –  a beautiful outdoor environment for you and others to enjoy