How to Choose a Commercial LandscaperBy Kent GliadonOwner, KG Landscape ManagementMinneapolis, Minnesota

Hiring a Commercial Landscaper?

It can be tough finding a landscaper for your mall, apartment building, restaurant or office building. Don’t be the only commercial property on the block that doesn’t have a great landscape design.

I’m Kent Gliadon, owner and operator of KG Landscape in Minneapolis, MN. We get asked this question a lot, so I thought I’d share some of my opinions on criteria you should look for in a commercial landscape company.

Let’s get going, guys!

Reputation & SuccessA great commercial landscaper will have the reputation to back them up.

Ask yourself these questions to determine their popularity around town:➢ Chain or Independent?

➢ Family Owned?

➢ Local, Regional, National?

➢ Years in Business?

KG Tip!

Check out the Google Plus

reviews for landscaping

companies. They offer great

consumer opinions. You can

even see if the company has

addressed issues through

their responses!

Landscaping Services Offered

You don’t want a company that can’t perform all the services you expect.Ideal landscaping services include:

➢ High-quality Lawn Care

➢ Weed Control

➢ Fertilization & Thatch Control

➢ Retaining Wall Construction

➢ Walkway & Driveway Construction

➢ Irrigation Installation & Maintenance

➢ Patio & Firepit Construction

➢ Water Feature Installation

Look for variety as well as quantity.

These companies have experience with a variety

of services, which is a requirement of commercial landscaping.

Capabilities

Ask yourself these questions when considering your landscaper’s capabilities:

A great team will provide great service in a timely manner. Also, it’s nice knowing who will show up to your property. With a subcontractor, you will never know who is going to show up. It could be anyone.

➢ Do they proudly display and talk about their laborers?

➢ Do they seem like a “team” or a just a group of individuals?

➢ How old is their team - do they “hire & fire?”

➢ Do they subcontract out much (or any) of their work?

QualificationsIf the company is qualified, they’ll show it…A team of landscapers that are qualified should have the credentials to back it up:

KG TIP

Any great landscaping business knows to reinvest in the community.

This shows a sense of morality and goodwill toward the people that allow them to thrive.

➢ Higher Education in an Agriculture Related Field➢ Experience in Management, Business or Marketing➢ Commercial Accreditations (e.g. Housing Associations)➢ Community Involvement

Customer Service

Customer service quality is the most overlooked item on this list.Ask yourself these questions when checking out customer service capabilities:

➢ Do they have a designated customer service department?➢ Do they have an account management team?➢ What happens in the instance of an emergency?➢ What is their availability?➢ Do they offer high-quality knowledge?➢ Do the laborers offer great customer service as well?

Customer service is overlooked because it’s considered

after the point of purchase. It can mean the difference

between you resigning a contract - or tearing it up.

References

A great landscaper will offer references.➢ They should have a portfolio or gallery listed on their website

+ See examples of their work before committing to anything➢ Make sure that the company has a lot of experience in commercial - not just residential

+ These two property types are completely different beasts➢ What specific accounts have they worked on?

+ The bigger the names doesn’t necessarily mean the better. Just look for consistency.

➢ What are these accounts saying about them?+ You can try calling the landscaper’s clients and directly asking them.

Bid Process

Are they bidding on price or quality? Or both?The big guy won’t provide the customer service, while the little guy won’t have the resources to

serve you. Find the middle ground.

KG TIP

If you can’t break the bank, but still want high-quality service, look to an established, family-owned landscaping company. They’ll bid based on a mix of quality and price, giving you the benefits of both worlds.

Thanks for Viewing!Thank you everyone, I hope this helped in your landscaping decisions.

For more, read the Full Post on How to Choose a Commercial Landscaper.

If you have any questions or comments in regards to hiring a commercial landscaper, I would love to hear them. Feel free to call me, Kent at KG Landscape directly at: 612-669-9607.

Thanks, and good luck in your search!

- Kent