Neil Sperry 
Going pro? How to find a landscape designer.
Special to the Star-Telegram
With more people now getting professional help with their landscape designs, installations, and ongoing maintenance, there are some tips you can follow for finding the right landscape contractor. Landscape contractors are somewhat transparent members of the nursery industry. Most don't have storefronts. They work out of warehouses and wholesale yards, and very few advertise. About all you see is their signed trucks driving down the freeway alongside you. Yet, they're the implementers of fine gardens -- people you definitely want to know.
How can you meet them?
Referral from a friend or neighbor. If you know someone who has been really happy with the work done by a particular contractor, his or her name needs to go onto your list. Ask your friend, of course, if you could take a look at the details of the work. See if it matches your expectations on closer inspection. If it was a new landscape, ask how long it has been in place. You really can't tell much for the first year or two. After that, any problems will begin to surface.
Known examples of great work. If you see a house that especially appeals to you, stop and ask the owner who did the work. Every gardener loves to get that kind of inquiry, even if they did the work themselves. If a contractor was involved, ask how he reacted to their wishes. You're hiring someone who needs to become almost a member of your family in order to anticipate your goals and needs.
Ask your local nurseryman. This works best when you're dealing with an independent retail nursery in your neighborhood. It's especially true if that nursery also has a wholesale division. Either way, they know who does the best work in your part of town, and they may even know a few examples of that contractor's work to cite as examples.
Member of Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. It has been about a decade since the Texas Association of Nurserymen merged with the Texas Landscape Contractors Association. It's a bonus if the contractors you interview are members of this strong organization. Look for a Texas certified landscape contractor. That's credentialing given to contractors who have passed a difficult exam in their work.
Specialty contractors. You might have forgotten this important community of support workers, but your landscape contractor won't. In fact, their work actually may be subcontracted by the contracting firm. This list is virtually endless, but, in broad strokes, it would include landscape lighting contractors, water-garden companies, paver, stone and concrete contractors, fencing firms and irrigation installers, among others. Each of these fields has its own skill set, and you should always choose quality and performance over a low price.
Actual interviews. You need to feel comfortable with your choice because he or she will be part of your team working toward a common goal. Discuss the level of involvement you're seeking. It might be just to do the design and installation, or it might be ongoing maintenance. Perhaps there are some things you'd like to do yourself. If so, discuss those during the interview.
