15 Questions to Ask a Landscaping Company Before Hiring Them

Choosing the right landscaper is not just about price or pretty drawings. The best way to protect your budget and avoid problems later is to have a clear list of questions to ask a landscaping company before you sign anything.

These questions help you understand:

• What they actually do in‑house
• How they handle design, construction and irrigation
• How experienced they are with UAE conditions
• How they manage time, quality and communication

Use this list of questions to ask before hiring a landscaper for villas, compounds, commercial and institutional sites anywhere in the UAE.

1. What Services do you handle directly, and what do you subcontract?

This should be one of the first questions to ask a landscaping company.

Clarify whether they directly handle:

• Design
• Landscape construction (civil and hardscape)
• Irrigation
• Planting and lawn
• Lighting
• Maintenance

A solid landscaping contractor in the UAE might subcontract some specialist items (e.g. complex lighting), but they should clearly explain who does what and who is responsible overall.

2. Do you offer both design and build, or only one?

For many projects, it’s useful if one team can manage landscape design and construction together.

Key follow‑ups:

• Who prepares the design and drawings?
• Will we receive layout plans and planting/irrigation details?
• How closely will the built work follow the approved design?

This is one of the most important questions to ask a landscaping company if you want fewer gaps between design and execution.

3. Have you worked on projects similar to mine?

Always ask for examples that match:

• Property type (villa, compound, office, hospital, school, etc.)
• Size and complexity
• Emirate or similar climate/conditions

A reliable landscaping company in the UAE should be able to provide: 

• Photos or brief case studies
• What scope they handled
• Challenges and how they solved them

This helps you see if their real‑world experience fits your project.

4. How do you design and manage irrigation?

In the UAE, irrigation is critical. This is a key item in any serious list of questions to ask a landscaping company.

Ask:

• Do you design irrigation based on plant groups and sun/shade?
• Do you prefer drip, sprinklers, or a mix, and why?
• How do you handle controllers, pressure and zoning?

A professional landscaping company in the UAE should explain its irrigation approach in simple language, not just technical terms. 

5. How do you choose plants for UAE conditions?

Plant failure is expensive. Include plant selection in your questions to ask before hiring a landscaper:

• How do you choose plants for full sun vs partial shade?
• Which species have you seen do well long term in UAE gardens?
• How do you consider wind, salt, and reflected heat from walls and glass?

You are checking that they understand local climate, not just what looks nice in pictures.

6. What is your typical project process and timeline?

Ask the landscaping contractor in the UAE to explain:

• Steps from first meeting to final handover
• Design phase, approvals (if needed), mobilisation and construction
• How long similar projects usually took

This question helps you see if they have a structured process or are working “day by day” without a clear plan.

7. Who will manage my project on site?

One of the practical questions to ask a landscaping company is about people, not just the company name:

• Will there be a dedicated site supervisor or engineer?
• Who is my day‑to‑day contact?
• How often will someone senior visit the site?

Knowing this reduces confusion once work starts.

8. How do you handle changes during the project?

Changes happen in almost every project. Good questions to ask a landscaping company about variations include:

• How are extra items or changes requested and approved?
• Will you give written variation prices before doing extra work?
• How can changes affect the programme?

A clear answer shows they are used to managing changes fairly and transparently.

9. What is included and not included in your price?

Before hiring a landscaping company, ask for a clear scope list:

• Is design included?
• Are permits or community NOCs included?
• Are soil improvement, debris removal, and waste disposal included?
• What about lighting, timers, or pumps if needed?

Comparing quotations only makes sense when you know exactly what each one covers.

10. How do you plan for long-term maintenance?

Ask:

• How often will this garden need maintenance?
• Are you designing it to be low, medium or high maintenance?
• Will you provide a basic maintenance guide or schedule?

This is one of the smarter questions to ask a landscaping company, because long‑term cost often matters more than initial price.

11. Do you offer maintenance after the project is complete?

Many clients prefer that the same company that built the landscape maintains it, at least for the first year.

Ask:

• Do you provide maintenance contracts?
• What do your maintenance visits include?
• How do you handle plant replacement during a warranty period?

This gives you a smoother handover and less risk of misunderstandings.

12. How do you manage health, safety and site cleanliness?

Essential questions to ask before hiring a landscaper, especially for compounds, hospitals, schools and commercial sites:

• How do you protect residents, staff and visitors during work?
• Do you cordon off working areas properly?
• How often do you remove waste and keep paths clear?

A clean and safe site is a good sign of a well-managed landscaping company in the UAE. 

13. Can you provide references or site visits?

Ask for:

• Contact details (where allowed) of past clients
• Locations of completed projects you can visit or at least see from outside

This helps you verify quality claims and see real landscape design and construction results, not just edited photos.

14. How do you handle warranties on plants, irrigation and hardscape?

Before hiring a landscaping company, clarify:

• How long are plants under warranty, and what voids that warranty?
• How long do you cover irrigation workmanship?
• What about paving and built features like planters and walls?

Clear warranty terms show confidence in their own work and protect you from early failures.

15. How do payments work through the project?

Final in this list of questions to ask a landscaping company:

• What percentage is required as an advance?
• Are payments linked to stages or milestones?
• Do you issue invoices with clear breakdowns?

Well‑structured payment terms are another sign of a serious landscaping contractor in the UAE.

How AV Landscaping Fits In

AV Landscaping is a professional landscaping company UAE based, working across all emirates on:

• Villa and residential gardens
• Residential communities and compounds
• Commercial and office landscapes
• Institutional and government sites

Their services cover:

• Landscape design and construction
• Irrigation system design, installation and adjustment
• Planting and soft landscaping
• Ongoing maintenance contracts

The same types of questions to ask a landscaping company listed above can be used when you speak to AV Landscaping’s team. They can walk you through their process, show relevant project examples, and explain how they handle design, construction and maintenance for UAE conditions.

To learn more or request a consultation, visit their official website:
https://avlandscaping.ae

For official information about UAE government services and regulations in general, you can refer to the UAE Government Portal:
https://u.ae

FAQs

1. Do I really need to ask all 15 questions to every landscaper?
You can choose the most important questions for your project size, but it’s always recommended to cover design, scope, experience, irrigation, and maintenance.

2. When should I ask these questions—before or after getting a quote?
Ideally before and during quoting. Asking clear questions early helps you get quotes that match your needs, not generic offers.

3. What is the biggest red flag in answers from a landscaping company?
Vague or defensive answers, no relevant project examples, or unclear scope and warranty terms are all warning signs when hiring a landscaping company.