How to Choose a Gardener or Landscaper in Los Angeles

Ask exactly what's included

"Full service" means different things to different crews. Get specifics before you commit:

• Is edging, trimming, and blowing included with mowing, or extra?
• Are green waste and clippings hauled away, or left in bins for you to handle?
• Is a one-time cleanup priced separately from ongoing maintenance?
• Are hedge trimming and weeding part of the regular visit or an add-on?

Insurance and licensing

Ask whether the crew carries liability insurance, since that protects you if a plant, fence, or window is damaged during work. In California, anyone contracting to perform work valued at $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials — which covers most landscaping installs — must hold a current license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).

Routine mowing and small maintenance visits usually fall under that threshold, but larger landscaping, hardscape, or irrigation projects generally require a licensed C-27 landscape contractor. You can look up a license number on cslb.ca.gov before signing anything.

Communication and flexibility

A good fit is someone who answers texts or calls in the language you're comfortable with, sends photos when the job is done, and doesn't require you to be home for routine visits. Ask if quotes can be given from photos you send in, which saves you from waiting around for an in-person estimate on simple jobs.

Also ask whether you're locked into a long contract or can start, pause, or cancel service with reasonable notice.

Red flags to watch for

Be cautious if a gardener or landscaper:

• Won't give any written quote or estimate range
• Asks for full payment upfront before any work is done
• Can't say who hauls away debris or where it goes
• Has no way to reach them besides showing up on mow day