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HIRING LANDSCAPE
PROFESSIONALS
Susan Haddock
Commercial Horticulture/Integrated Pest Management Agent III
UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough
(813)744-5519 ext. 54103
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