Best 5 Landscaping Companies in Columbus, OH

DIY Options vs. Professional Services

Many homeowners have basic lawn maintenance knowledge, but landscaping necessitates more advanced skills. Completing a full-scale landscaping project requires heavy equipment and intense labor. If you want to add complex elements such as a fire pit or irrigation system, you'll need someone with construction and machinery expertise.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping can work for smaller projects, such as adding a flower bed or removing overgrown plants. However, you should hire a professional landscaper if you’re completing a yard overhaul or don’t have basic lawn expertise.

Professional landscape designers and architects can enhance your lawn, recommend the most cost-effective upgrades, and help develop a long-term landscape maintenance plan. These professionals have the skills and expertise to elevate your outdoor space. Contactors that also provide lawn care services can improve the health of your lawn and prevent you from making costly mistakes.

Factors To Consider When Choosing an Columbus Landscaping Company

Experience and reputation are important considerations when hiring a landscaper, but it's also important that the provider offers the services you need at a reasonable price. Consider the following factors when hiring a landscaping contractor.

Services Offered

Assess your landscaping needs before selecting a provider. If you’re looking for assistance with yard health and maintenance, you’ll need a company offering lawn care services. These services might include mulching, mowing, fertilizing, pruning, and controlling weeds. Some companies offer additional pest control services and tree removal.

Look for full-service landscaping if you plan to revamp your yard or want new outdoor elements, such as a fire pit. Full-service companies specialize in outdoor upgrades and designs, including gardening, landscaping rock projects, and adding hardscapes. They may also help install retaining walls, sprinkler or irrigation systems, fire pits, and other architectural elements. Some offer lawn maintenance services.

Licensing and Experience

Your provider should possess the appropriate licenses from the Columbus city government. Contractors often also have advanced training and certification in areas such as outdoor design, lawn maintenance, and horticulture. Your provider might employ the following certified staff members:

• Certified fertilization or pesticide specialists
• Licensed arborists
• Licensed horticulture specialists
• Licensed or certified landscaping designers or architects

It may also have certifications from professional organizations, such as the National Association of Landscape Professionals and the Professional Landcare Network. These certifications are not mandatory but can add to a provider's credibility. Your landscaper should be fully bonded and insured. Most providers have liability insurance for protection against property damage or bodily injury. Request an insurance certificate or insurance numbers to confirm a company's coverage.

Reputation and Reviews

Seek out companies with excellent reputations and positive customer experiences. We recommend checking third-party review sites such as the Better Business Bureau. Explore both positive and negative reviews to gauge how a provider treats its customers. Stay away from companies with mainly negative reviews and frequent mentions of poor project results, delayed projects, or unreliable customer service.

Work Portfolio

Many landscaping and maintenance companies proudly share photos of previous projects with prospective customers. Request to see a portfolio of landscaping projects and designs, preferably ones that are similar to your own ideas. Often, companies have before and after photos to illustrate the quality of their work.

Sustainability Practices

Sustainability practices are essential for any landscaper. These practices include waste management, eco-friendly material options, and water conservation. Landscaping contractors should implement native plant life—such as swamp milkweed, wild columbine, and cup-plant—for best results. The work completed on your property shouldn't impact existing vegetation. The company should advise you of sustainability practices for your project and offer recommendations for reducing maintenance costs, water consumption, and waste.

Cost

We recommend requesting quotes from multiple companies. This lets you compare services and cost and may even help you negotiate a better price. Many companies offer free consultations to review your outdoor space, discuss project plans, and make recommendations. Your detailed quote includes information about various project costs, such as materials and labor.

Landscaping Costs in Columbus

Generally, landscaping costs $29–$43 per hour in Columbus. These costs vary based on project size and type. Less complicated work, such as gardening or mowing, will be less expensive than a larger project like resodding. Bigger projects need more labor, which will increase the final cost. Depending on your yard's size, the company may charge by the acre. The price will also be affected by the materials you choose. Here's the average cost of landscaping by project type:

Landscaping Service	Average Cost
Deck	$13,141 - $17,521
Landscaping Design	$2,171 - $2,894
Landscaping LandGrading	$429 - $2,572
Landscaping Mulch	$26 - $129
Planting FlowerBeds	$86 - $1,715
Planting Trees	$225 - $375
Sodding	$43 - $51
Swimming Pool	$32,577 - $85,728