We asked Dublin landscapers Darragh Connolly, Sean Mulvey and Leslie Walpole for advice for anyone interested in hiring a professional landscaping company.
What questions should customers ask before hiring a landscaping company?
What should the client bring to the process?
"What they want from the garden and their own ideas for the garden. Also, what materials they like or better still, what materials they don't like."
Darragh Connolly
"Budget. Some people are wary of revealing their budget in case they get ripped off. But, if a clients knows what they want and their budget,
we can definitely come up with something in budget and they'll end up getting a lot for their money. From a design point of view,
it's harder to come up with the best design when I don't know the budget."
Darragh Connolly
What exactly should the quotation include?
"A proposal or quotation from a landscaping company should list all aspects of the landscaping job and all materials.
If there is a possibility of any costs changing after further investigation, that should be specified.
And remember that an estimate isn't the same as a quotation."
Sean Mulvey
"We provide a full breakdown of costs - feature by feature. We also include a schedule of what work will be done each day, a design sketch,
a copy of our insurance certificate, national craftsman of Ireland certificate and 2 pages of references."
Darragh Connolly
When is the landscaper paid?
"I ask for one third up front as a deposit and to cover the cost of materials. Another third is paid when the work reaches an agreed stage.
The remainder is paid on completion."
Darragh Connolly
"Never pay the full amount up front. Always hold back a percentage of the fee until the job is finished.
Stick to a price and don't pay for something you didn't agree to, unless it's an unforseen cost which couldn't be predicted."
Leslie Walpole
Is there a "best" time of year to hire a landscaper in Dublin?
"Summer is the easiest time for landscapers. The weather is more reliable, the days or longer and the ground condition is better.
But it's also the busiest time of year. So, if you contact a landscaper in Summer you may be waiting two months or more to start your garden.
In terms of planting, winter or spring is best time of year.
With proper care and water, there's no reason why we can't plant anytime of year."
Sean Mulvey
"Any time of year is fine, unless ground is flooded or there's been snow.
Grass is dormant during from December - January so obviously that's not a good time to reseed the lawn".
Leslie Walpole
How long will it take to landscape a garden?
"Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks to completely landscape a small garden."
Darragh Connolly
What's popular with Dublin homeowners now?
"Grasses, bamboos and pebbles have been popular for a while now. It's a very swish contemporary look
and it's easy to maintain if they're well chosen. Natural stone paving is popular now too."
Sean Mulvey
"Maintenance free pebble areas, sandstone patios and decking are all popular"
Leslie Walpole
What are your personal landscaping likes and dislikes?
"Favourite trees are Paperbark Maple (Acer Griseum) and Laburnum (Laburnum vossii) which has good colour and shape, though note that the seeds are poisonous.
Favourite shrubs are Vibernum "Davidi", lavenders, bamboos and grasses and sarcococca - it looks well, is easy to look after and is relatively inexpensive."
Sean Mulvey
"Lighting - a few coloured bulbs can really lift a garden. A patio area where you can avail of the sun. Ferns and rhoddendrums. Also pebble beds with nice planting."
Leslie Walpole
"Each garden is different and the garden itself nearly dictates what should be done.
What I like is for something that's a little bit different - not a standard look.
I like simple styles and natural materials such as timber; simple water features; for planting - maybe woodland planting with trees and ferns."
Darragh Connolly
What are your top landscaping tips for homeowners?