HIRING LANDSCAPE

PROFESSIONALS

Susan Haddock

Commercial Horticulture/Integrated Pest Management Agent III

UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough

(813)744-5519 ext. 54103

szcrmchz@ufl.edu

WHY HIRE LANDSCAPE

PROFESSIONALS?

Time

Knowledge/expertise

Some tasks too difficult

Just don’t like yardwork

Property Owner Landscape Professional

Needs

Expectations

Environmental awareness

Home Owner Association requirements and limitations

Budget

Communication

Contract

Experience

Training

Reliability

Communication

Environmental awareness

Guarantees

Certifications and licenses

Insurance

Pricing structure

Contracts

CONSIDERATIONS

OPTIONS

Mowing, edging, trimming

Fertilization

Pest control

Ornamental shrub and small tree care

Large tree care

Design and installation

Turfgrass aeriation, verti-cutting, top dressing

Irrigation maintenance: installation, audits and adjustments, water conservation devices

Corrective actions: replacement, drainage improvement, nutrient deficiencies, disease

How Do You Navigate?

What is the area of expertise?

Do they know what and how? Are

they experts or jack of all trades

and master of none?

What are your thoughts?

DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?

DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?

DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING?

Yellow pages, roadside signs, mailbox flyers ???

Check trade associations for members & certifications:

• FNGLA - Florida Nursery Grower Landscape Association

• LMA - Landscape Maintenance Association

• FTGA - Florida Turfgrass Association

• FPCA - Florida Pest Control Association

• ISA - International Society or Arboriculture

• TCIA - Tree Care Industry Association

Ask neighbors you trust for a referral or recommendation - what is their knowledge?

REFERRALS

CONSIDERATIONS

Business Ethics: proper insurance, permits, occupational licenses, local or state licenses, professional certifications

Security: property access - they will know your routines, security precautions, when you are home & away

Business Know How: sound business practices, fair pricing, customer references

CONSIDERATIONS

Equipment: has the right equipment & enough equipment...is it well maintained, your right to inspect

Technical Skill: Knowledge of turfgrass, plants, trees, pests & diseases, environmental law, materials, supplies, equipment to perform a quality job

Industry Trends: current on laws, regulations, environmental concerns, technical advances

INTERVIEW

1. Always interview companies prior to hiring2. Do not hire a company that offers a quote without evaluating the

property or project first 3. Do not hire a company that does not have a business license and

insurance4. Ask what services they provide: let them tell you the range of

services they provide to avoid the “yes man”5. How long have they been in business: new knowledgeable is better

than year of incompetence6. What is their relationship with UF/IFAS Extension7. Always ask for references, even new companies can provide

character references

INTERVIEW

ALWAYS INTERVIEW

BEFORE HIRING

• Business licenses, required permits, liability insurance

• Professional required licenses: fertilizer, pesticide, irrigation

• Certifications: GIBMP, ISA, FNGLA

• Trade association memberships

• Ratio of supervisors to crew member; number of employees/size of company

• Special or in-house training

• How do they handle diagnostic services

• How do they handle dissatisfaction/who responds/time frame

Ask about:

AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Know exactly:

•What will be provided

•What it will cost

•What is basic

•What is extra

AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGSAsk for an inspection & free estimate for the service

•Companies that quote a price without seeing are only guessing what you may need

Ask about the price system & what services are included

•Yearly, seasonal or project contract vs verbal agreement

•Charges or free for service calls addressing problems between regular service

•Discount for annual cost up front

AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGSHave a complete understanding before work starts•What the service can & cannot do•If treatments are included -purpose, what kind, number of treatments, when they will be done•What results can be expected

What is & is not guaranteed•Guarantee of performance•Corrections or refund if expectations not met•Are you being reasonable?

THE CONTRACTShould Lay Out:

• Exactly what services will be performed

• How often services will be performed

• Why services such as shrub pruning, fertilization and pesticide applications are performed

• Provisions for a guarantee of performance and what happens if your expectations are not met

• Address cancelation, renewal, billing and payment policy

Florida Pesticide Law

Structural/Residential Pest ControlChapter 482

Property associated with a structure

PCO (L&O, WDO, GHP)

Limited Lawn & Ornamental (LLO)

Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance (LCLM)

Limited Certification for Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer (LUF) - GIBMP Certified

Limited Urban Wildlife (LUW)

Public HealthMosquito ControlChapter 388

Control of arthropods of public health concern, except on one’s own private property

Mosquitos, midges, sand flies, yellow flies, etc.

Agricultural/RUP LicenseChapter 487

Property legally defined as agricultural areaPublic, private or commercialo Ornamental & Turfo Aquatico Natural Areaso Right of Wayo Private Applicatoro Many more

STRUCTURAL LICENSES

• Any site within 10 feet of a structure is considered "associated with buildings"

• Requires a license or certification for any pesticide general or restricted use — applied to the site

• This includes applications to turf, ornamentals, and grounds for ant control, etc., within 10 feet of a building

STRUCTURAL LICENSES Limited Commercial Landscape

Maintenance (LCLM)

Limited Lawn & Ornamental (LLO)

Limited Certification for Urban

Landscape Commercial Fertilizer (LUF)

Limited Wildlife Management

Limited Structural

Pest Control Operators• Lawn & Ornamental (L&O)• General Household Pests (GHP)• Wood Destroying Organisms (WDO)• Fumigation

TREE CARE COMPANIES

Proper tree care is an investment which can lead to substantial returns

Well cared for trees add value to property & are attractive

Poorly maintained trees can be a liability

CERTIFIED ARBORIST

Certified Arborist is a Credential

•Trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, & maintaining individual trees

• Knowledgeable about the needs of trees & are trained and equipped to provide proper care

• Achieved a level of knowledge through experience & by passing a comprehensive examination developed by some of the nation’s leading experts on tree care

• Must continue their education to maintain their certification & adhere to a Code of Ethics

• They are more likely to be up to date on the latest techniques in arboriculture

CERTIFIED ARBORIST

Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work

Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees

An arborist can determine the type of pruning necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance, and safety of trees

CERTIFIED ARBORIST

Beware of tree companies who:

•Want to remove a living tree, although sometimes needed should be last resort

•Recommend topping trees

YOU NEED TO

DETERMINE WHAT YOU

WANT FROM A

LANDSCAPE COMPANY

Mowing, edging, trimming

Fertilization

Pest control

Ornamental shrub and small tree care

Large tree care

Design and installation

Turfgrass aeriation, verti-cutting, top dressing

Irrigation maintenance: installation, audits and adjustments, water conservation devices

Corrective actions: replacement, drainage improvement, nutrient deficiencies, disease

Companies provide a wide range of services

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCEPARTNERSHIP

The landscape maintenance company youselect will become your partner in maintainingan aesthetically pleasing, environmentally safesurrounding. In addition to providing services,they should keep you informed & advise youon proper care.

Hiring Landscape

Professionals

Susan Haddock

Commercial Horticulture/IPM Agent III

(813)744-5519 ext. 54103

szcrmchz@ufl.edu