08/27/2026
🌿 Hiring a Lawn or Landscape Professional? Ask These Questions First.
Your landscape is an investment in your home, so choosing the right professional should involve more than simply comparing prices. UF/IFAS recommends looking for someone who is properly licensed, insured, trained, and willing to clearly explain the work they recommend.
Before hiring, consider asking:
✅ Are you properly licensed for fertilizer or pesticide applications?
✅ Do you carry liability and workers’ compensation insurance?
✅ Do you have certifications such as GI BMP, Florida Friendly Landscaping™, FNGLA, or ISA?
✅ Can you provide references and photos of similar work?
✅ Will you provide a written estimate?
✅ Do you follow Florida Friendly Landscaping™ practices?
🌱 Watch for red flags: pressure to sign immediately, treatments recommended without inspecting the property, requests for full payment before work begins, or an inability to explain why a treatment is necessary.
The right landscape professional can help protect your plants, your property investment, and Florida’s natural resources at the same time.