What to Ask a Landscaper Before You Hire

Landscaping is the trade where amateurs hide most easily — anyone with a ute and a shovel can call themselves a landscaper. Real professionals juggle licences, permits, plumbing, arboriculture and project management. These ten questions tell you which side of the line your quoter sits on.

1. What licences do you hold — builder, arborist, irrigator?

Landscaping is the most fragmented trade in Australia for licensing. Retaining walls over a certain height need a builder's licence in many states. Tree work needs an arborist (AQF Level 3 minimum). Irrigation tap connections need a licensed plumber. A real landscaper either holds the tickets, sub-contracts to someone who does, or is honest about what they cannot do. Beware the generalist who claims to do everything.

2. Council permits — who lodges them?

Retaining walls above 600mm or 1m, decks, pools, hardscaping near boundaries, and protected tree work all potentially need council approval. Some landscapers lodge the application as part of the project. Others leave it to you. Get it in writing. If approval is missed, the work can be ordered to be removed and your house resale becomes a nightmare.

3. Are materials included in the quote or is it labour only?

Plants, mulch, soil, pavers, retaining sleepers, irrigation parts — these can be 40 to 60 percent of a landscaping job. Some landscapers supply with a markup; some charge labour only and you buy at trade. Confirm which model is in the quote and ask for itemised lines: cubic metres of soil, number of plants by species, square metres of paving. Vague quotes blow out fast.

4. Irrigation — who connects it to the mains?

Drip lines and pop-up sprinklers can be installed by a landscaper, but the actual tap or backflow prevention device connecting to mains water must be done by a licensed plumber in every Australian state. Ask if the landscaper has a plumber lined up or if you need to arrange one. Unlicensed mains connection breaches plumbing law and can void your home insurance.

5. Tree removal — do you have council approval?

Most established trees over a certain trunk diameter (varies by council, often 3m height or 30cm girth) are protected and need a permit to remove. The landscaper or arborist either applies for it or confirms it is exempt. Cutting down a protected tree without approval can attract fines of $10,000 plus per tree, and it falls on you, the property owner. Get the approval reference before any chainsaw starts.

6. What happens to the green waste?

Mulched on site? Hauled away? Tipped at a recycling yard? Each option has a different cost. Confirm in writing what happens, who pays the tip fees, and whether there is a daily skip charge. A landscaper who quotes “all rubbish removed” without itemising may add it as a variation. Get the disposal plan in the quote.

7. What warranty do you offer on plants?

Most reputable landscapers warrant plants for 3 to 6 months — they will replace anything that dies through no fault of yours (poor planting, wrong species for the spot). Beyond that, watering and care become your responsibility. Get the warranty in writing, including what is excluded (drought, frost, pest damage, neglect). No plant warranty at all is a sign they are not standing behind their work.

8. Do you do a site visit before quoting?

Quoting blind from photos is fine for a basic mow-and-edge but not for a real landscaping project. Soil type, drainage, slope, access width, sun aspect — all need eyes on site. A landscaper who quotes a $30,000 backyard transformation without visiting is either guessing high or planning to hit you with variations later. A site visit is non-negotiable for any project over a few thousand dollars.

9. Machinery access — do I need to remove fencing?

Bobcats, mini-excavators and tip-trucks need at least 900mm to 1.2m of clear access. Many suburban backyards do not have it, and a side fence panel needs to come out (and be put back). Ask about access during the site visit, who removes and reinstates fencing, and whether neighbouring property is involved. This is the number one source of unexpected variations on landscaping jobs.

10. How do you handle calls when you are on site?

Landscapers spend their day with a shovel and earmuffs on — the phone is dead air. The good ones use an answering service or AI receptionist that books site visits, captures project details, and texts the customer to confirm. If a landscaper takes a week to call back during quoting, expect the same silence when a delivery is late or a plant dies in week three.

Green flags

  • Holds (or sub-contracts) builder, arborist, plumber tickets
  • Lodges council permits as part of the project
  • Itemised quote — soil, plants, paving by quantity
  • Site visit before quoting anything substantial
  • Plant warranty in writing (3 to 6 months minimum)
  • Honest about machinery access and fencing
  • Returns calls and confirms by SMS

Red flags

  • Claims to do everything, holds nothing
  • Vague on permit responsibility
  • Lump-sum quote with no itemisation
  • Will connect mains water themselves without a plumber
  • Removes a tree “quietly” without council approval
  • No plant warranty offered
  • Quotes blind from photos for big projects

What to do if things go wrong

If plants are dying, paving is sinking, retaining walls are bulging, or the project has stalled mid-build, raise the issues in writing with photos and a reasonable remediation timeframe. If the landscaper does not engage, escalate to your state Fair Trading or building authority. For unapproved tree removal or unpermitted retaining walls, speak to your council about retrospective compliance — penalties can be substantial. For unlicensed plumbing, the relevant state plumbing regulator handles complaints. Keep every invoice, contract, photo and message.

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